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Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:18 am
by Foz
So I want a new daily/tow car, I saw the current RS6 can be fitted with a factory deployable towbar, but its only rated to 2100kg, which is below the plated weight of my trailer - 2400kg so technically illegal..
I also want to get a shuttle anyway which may increase the weight.
Other than the usual big British/German 4x4 stuff with the 3500kg rating is anyone aware of anything interesting that has a decent tow rating?
No defenders
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:23 am
by Sundayjumper
You won't get 3500kg with any kind of saloon / estate, you will need a large 4x4.
"Interesting", if you don't want German or Jap, probably means something American.
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:33 am
by Foz
The A6 Allroad is 2500kg but its a bit #jobbo
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:45 am
by Jobbo
Foz wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:33 am
The A6 Allroad is 2500kg but its a bit #jobbo
Get it with big wheels and painted plastic arches if you want it to be a bit less me
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... 6038627976
or
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... 9051912594
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:45 am
by drcarlos
Amarok or Merc Pickup V6, older Navara V6 (made in Thailand so Chassis is not an issue and the 3.2 V6 doesn't suffer the big issues of the 2.5).
The newer 2.4 pickups are all a bit feeble, the 2.5's are just cooking models really.
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:52 am
by Foz
the BiTdi engine is the one to have but bet they are like hens teeth!
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:57 am
by Foz
drcarlos wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:45 am
Amarok or Merc Pickup V6, older Navara V6 (made in Thailand so Chassis is not an issue and the 3.2 V6 doesn't suffer the big issues of the 2.5).
The newer 2.4 pickups are all a bit feeble, the 2.5's are just cooking models really.
yeah a pickup could go through the business actually although i always through the benefits were fairly marginal..
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 11:00 am
by scotta
From the experience of towing the race shuttle with the XJR - Just dont.
one the way back from a race weekend we had a massive moment. Crosswind caught the trailer and the resultant weave took us out of the lane we were in without control back and forth between the lanes. Most scared in a car ive ever been. Honestly though we were going in to the central barriers. so much so i had pulled the seatbelt as tight as i could get it to go.
Stick with a 4x4 SUV/pickup.
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 11:01 am
by Sundayjumper
How much is a shuttle going to weigh fully loaded ? Probably over two tonnes ? I'd always prefer to have capacity to spare [1] so while the A6 might be legal at 2400kg you'll probably find it struggles a bit [2]
Another factor if you're getting a shuttle is that with big boxy trailers it really helps the stability of the whole thing to have a large towing vehicle punching a hole in the air and the trailer in the slipstream.
So I guess what I'm saying is: don't compromise. Get the RS6 as a daily, and a mental Yank truck for towing.
[1] Hence a 16ft trailer and a 5.0 V10 to tow an E36 Compact
[2] I borrowed my neighbour's Defender 90 Td5 recently , it's rated to 3500kg but even at less than half of that it was
painfully slow. But perfectly legal.
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 11:21 am
by Jobbo
Foz wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:52 am
the BiTdi engine is the one to have but bet they are like hens teeth!
The BiTDi isn't *that* rare - and I'd agree, it's the one to have mainly for the 8sp ZF automatic rather than 7sp S-Tronic DSG gearbox. Torque converter for the towing win.
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 11:56 am
by mik
Canyonaro?
The Disco3 and Disco4 are on your list of "obvious choicues" I am sure, but are awesome towcars.
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 12:11 pm
by jamcg
Porsche Cayenne turbo? 3500kg towing capacity
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:12 pm
by RobYob
Unusual you say....
Ford Territory F6X. 2500kgs with HD tow pack + eminently tunable.
Choice of 2 on the market
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:19 pm
by ZedLeg
My mate's dad has a Power Stroke F350 for towing cars for shows etc. It's a big old thing but it'd probably pull your house down if you wanted it to
.
He was talking about putting a fifth wheel on it and getting one of those ridiculous giant trailers with living space and car storage. Don't know if he ever got round to it though.
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:22 pm
by DeskJockey
Chevy?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... obcid=soc3
Could probably fit the race car in the boot, so no need to tow.
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:28 pm
by Broccers
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:36 pm
by V8Granite
It depends what kind of distances you want to tow. Plus where you want to tow.
For stability and being able to just sit at 60 all day long the Defender is great, but around Aberdeen and slow speeds and steep hills it would be a pain, just not enough power.
I’ve only towed with a Hilux and it was pretty rubbish, it just didn’t seem to have much traction.
What about a nicely specced GL or a D4 ?
Dave!
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:46 pm
by Sundayjumper
Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:54 pm
by Sundayjumper
V8Granite wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:36 pm
For stability and being able to just sit at 60 all day long the Defender is great...
As long as it's a light trailer and there's absolutely no hills. I was driving this a couple of weeks ago, the trailer is basically an empty box with a desk in it, so not heavy at all, and on a slight incline (the A3 south out of Guildford if anyone knows it) it wouldn't top 40mph. With the full 3500kg it probably would have been down to first gear
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Re: Interesting tow cars
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 1:54 pm
by Sundayjumper
The Chevy is more what I had in mind
