P38 range rover diesel autos are slow , as previous posts if its low miles towing then V8 best bang for buck , in auto (the Zf box is very tough and reliable) in either P38 or discovery , if td5 auto , they work quite well and as in 300tdi , cover the lack of grunt from low revs. Forget defenders , too pricey for what you get . JMHE
What 4X4 for towing a horse box.....
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Silverlandy
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Td5 auto disco2 for me too and I tow horses.
Turboman
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Silverlandy
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Probably quite nice until yu have tried the V8 auto
You put the fuel in...I'll give it a go
Turboman
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You put the fuel in...I'll give it a go
Not great economy, I grant you, but then most things don't do great mileage with three tons hanging off the rear bumper
Silverlandy
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Not great economy, I grant you, but then most things don't do great mileage with three tons hanging off the rear bumper
True. But there's bad fuel economy and then there's **** fuel economy. If I had the money, I'd have bought a V8. I very nearly did but as my disco is used for work as well turned out to be better decision not to...but I would like one!
Turboman
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Yes, if it is used for other mileage as well as towing, the diesel would be a better option. I only really use mine for towing, or when I need the huge loadspace to take stuff to the tip or why.
Just out of interest, what mileage do you get out of td5 auto towing a horse box?
Silverlandy
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Tbh I've never really checked. I don't check my mpg anyway. I will next time though.
The V8 I nearly bought was black, very nice, but I was talked out of it.
Still, Silverlandy is nice
The V8 I nearly bought was black, very nice, but I was talked out of it.
Still, Silverlandy is nice
Turboman
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Tbh I've never really checked. I don't check my mpg anyway. I will next time though.
The V8 I nearly bought was black, very nice, but I was talked out of it.
Still, Silverlandy is nice
She always looks very tidy in the pics
Towing mileage is pretty variable, totally different on a long haul on the motorway to going to a local show, say. I would guess I get about 18-20 to the gallon, the 180 hp fuel injected V8 is quite underworked at trailer speeds. Maybe a bit less on little roads. It is great to kickdown and cruise up the steepest hill at a steady sixty, though. Really smooth, especially with the auto, the beasts are really relaxed when they arrive.
Towing wise I have used an old 4.0 cherokee sport (the smaller jeep, but was still rated for 3500kg towing) on LPG. With the auto and cruise control it was a dream, and running on gas not excessively expensive, hills no problem, and even on road tyres I rarely had to put it into 4x4, never mind low, although mine did have the LSD at the rear to help. The other option is almost any green oval product.
Jap stuff, especially imported autos I would be avoiding, the imports are not used to heavy work normally, so long hard drives, steep hills and big trailers can cause failures.
Please be aware that at these kind of weights, the car may not be your biggest problem, she will need +E on her licence as you will be well over 3500kg train weight, which if she only first passed after 1996 is a separate test.
Jap stuff, especially imported autos I would be avoiding, the imports are not used to heavy work normally, so long hard drives, steep hills and big trailers can cause failures.
Please be aware that at these kind of weights, the car may not be your biggest problem, she will need +E on her licence as you will be well over 3500kg train weight, which if she only first passed after 1996 is a separate test.
Turboman
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My mate has a 4.0 auto Cherokee, and it isn't too bad for towing, but he has had it since new, and always kept it immaculate. I would be wary of an old one that has had a number of owners, reliability is paramount when you are towing live animals!
Licence considerations only apply to babbies, and who cares about they, us old guys and gals rule the road!
Thanks for the responses guys, she has all the necessary licenses has been towing for 5years.
Funny enough her sister is looking to sell her 2000 plate Grand Jeep Cherokee, 4.7 V8 auto on lpg for £1000. Unfortunately she isnt selling it for another 12months but they had the gas fitted profesionally 8 years ago and has it regularly serviced, flys though mots with no advisorys and just done 100k.
Problem is my missus prefers her mates TD5 manual Disco when she borrows that but i dont think you will get as good Disco for that kind of money, plus i guess the Jeep more fuel efficient based cost of lpg vs diesel.
Funny enough her sister is looking to sell her 2000 plate Grand Jeep Cherokee, 4.7 V8 auto on lpg for £1000. Unfortunately she isnt selling it for another 12months but they had the gas fitted profesionally 8 years ago and has it regularly serviced, flys though mots with no advisorys and just done 100k.
Problem is my missus prefers her mates TD5 manual Disco when she borrows that but i dont think you will get as good Disco for that kind of money, plus i guess the Jeep more fuel efficient based cost of lpg vs diesel.
Skynet
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There's nothing wrong with a Freelander TD4 Auto towing up to 1500kg (more is allowed but this is comfortable.) cheaper to run, easier for retired folk to get in /out of.
Look after it by making sure you keep to the 'new tyres on the rear axle' rule and the VCU wont let you down. Off road, like any vehicle, it's the boots that you wear that give the grip on the ground. So don't listen to soft-roader comments as I dont expect you see many tractor sized ruts at horse events.
If your missus was towing up to 3500kg then I would agree with the TD5 comments above. But she isn't, so a later TD4 is a contender in my book.
Look after it by making sure you keep to the 'new tyres on the rear axle' rule and the VCU wont let you down. Off road, like any vehicle, it's the boots that you wear that give the grip on the ground. So don't listen to soft-roader comments as I dont expect you see many tractor sized ruts at horse events.
If your missus was towing up to 3500kg then I would agree with the TD5 comments above. But she isn't, so a later TD4 is a contender in my book.
What's people's opinions on the swb mitsubishi shogun or pajero? I had a lwb 2500 few years ago and people said I should have got a 2800.
What's the newer 3.2 DiD like?
I asked years ago on here when I wanted to replace my troublesome p38 and people said if you wanted a reliable 4x4 I should have got a shogun or a hi lux.
What's the newer 3.2 DiD like?
I asked years ago on here when I wanted to replace my troublesome p38 and people said if you wanted a reliable 4x4 I should have got a shogun or a hi lux.
Datatek
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The Shogun/Pajero LWB is a very good tow vehicle, not very quick but reliable, the 2.8 is good IMO, I had an auto and it used to average 28mpg commuting to the UK. The 3.2 is supposedly very thirsty and more prone to engine problems, not had one so I can't confirm.
If I had the cash I would have one in place of the P38. However at my £5k budget, there is nothing to compare with a P38 diesel and if V8 is your preference you can get a good one for £3K.
Cheers for reply, I've been reading about the 3.2 Did seems camshaft guides and sensors on the diesel pump are common issues?
I'm not wondering as we only want a manual 4x4 how difficult some of these will be.
As I said I'm a mechanic and I do clutches regularly however I wouldn't like to be doing a T30 x trail on the drive if I could help it so it's made me wonder how hard some of these vehicles are.
Also the shogun 3.2 seems to have an expensive Dmf as expected, anyone looked at a solid conversion for these?
Can anyone tell me does the discovery Td5 use a Dmf?
Datatek
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Auto's are generally better for towing IMO. You will not find a decent 3.2 Did for less than £10K from my experience when I was looking.
DMF's, work of the devil, it is possible to weld them up but of course an auto manages without one
Look on Shogun/Pajero forums for more info on the DMF.I still think you could do worse than a P38 diesel
Grahame of the shires
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Me too. Well not me but the better other half does!
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