Towing horse float with new Hilux. Auto or Manual best?

Submitted: Saturday, Jan 19, 2013 at 22:56

ThreadID: 100084 Views:8536 Replies:8 FollowUps:8

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Twinkles

My daughter is about to buy a new Hilux. She tows a large horse float. Would a manual or auto be best. She currently has an 06 manual Hilux and find first gear a bit tall.

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Reply By: DiscoTourer - Saturday, Jan 19, 2013 at 23:06

Saturday, Jan 19, 2013 at 23:06

I would go auto. The current hilux clutch I don't think is up to it. Toyotaways is doing a number of clutches each week and none are covered by Toyota (as with any manufacturer due to the difference in people's driving styles).
Auto is just so much more comfortable, and great for low speed offroad working.
Brett....

AnswerID: 502991

Follow Up By: Ross M - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 00:45

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 00:45

For the control and the takeoff where there is heavy loading the auto will be far more flexible and smooth for the horses.
They will love you for it.

Just make sure you or someone else checks the servicing of the vehicle, before and after.
You will want reliability and if not serviced properly you won't get the reliability, No good broken down on the side of the road with two horses.

However, the new BT50 will walk all over the Toyota for ride comfort, control, braking and towing ability and reliability.

To me it would be auto BT50 unless Toyota is suddenly dropping the price $10,000, even then the BT50 is better.

Ross M

FollowupID: 779598

Reply By: Life Member - Doug T (NT) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 07:50

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 07:50

My Daughter tows a large trailer with a 2007 Auto Triton, V6. it carries 2 large Braford Bulls and this weekend and last weekend we went down near Wellington and the Triton towed the trailer near full of Hay bales back to Orange. The Triton handles the job with ease although I do think the Turbo Diesel would be better in the hilly country.

Triton and Trailer

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Follow Up By: IronMan - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 10:59

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 10:59

How's the "cattle dog" in the photo go rounding up the bulls?

FollowupID: 779612

Follow Up By: Life Member - Doug T (NT) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 11:17

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 11:17

IronMan
He does ok when all the Poodles back him up.

.

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Follow Up By: wizzer73 - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 12:55

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 12:55

haha thanks for the laugh!

wizzer

FollowupID: 779626

Reply By: get outmore - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 11:34

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 11:34

even way back in the day my parents always used autos for the nags, alot smoother for them and alot easier to reverse the float into position

and make sure the hilux is up to it - alot of the towing they did was with a big heavy F100 with campervan on and it still would get thrown around in a crosswind with the horses mucking around in the float

AnswerID: 503007

Reply By: Lyn W3 - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 12:37

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 12:37

Twinkles,

When you say large horse float do you mean large warmblood size, if that is the case I would steer your daughter away from the Hilux and direct her towards one of the "newer generation" trucks like the BT50, Ranger etc with their 3000-3500kg towing capacity.

The Hilux's light towing capacity has always been one of their shortcomings, put a couple of decent size horses in a trailer and have them move around a bit and you will be thankful for a more stable ride and safer towing.

But back to the original question AUTO is the answer

AnswerID: 503012

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 20:38

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 20:38

The Hilux is every bit as capable as the others to tow the load, Toyota Aust is just more conservative / realistic of a vehicles capabilities in Australian conditions
The ridiculous towing capacities that some manufactures are spouting for a medium size vehicle is madness
The auto is probably the better way to go but I have a mate who regularly tows a small excavator with his manual Hilux
A bigger transmission cooler might be a good additio, they are around $100 plus fitting

FollowupID: 779636

Reply By: Member - Rick P (NT) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 12:47

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 12:47

Sorry Twinkles but the Hilux may not do the job for you. BT50, Ranger or the Navara will and cheaper, yes an auto.
cheers
Rick P

AnswerID: 503014

Reply By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 16:57

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 16:57

Hi Twinkles,

An auto with a gearbox cooler. I find my 2012 Hilux woefully under powered and I tow a 1.2 t boat certainly not in the league of its competitors and the clutch is weak at best.

I get a 1.7t caravan in a few weeks and im worried it wont have the herbs to get it going at any sort of speed. 90km/h would be good but i dont like my chances

Have you considered any other brands.

Cheers Wilko

AnswerID: 503023

Follow Up By: Ross M - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 20:06

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 20:06

AS Wilko said they are under powered, less power compared to all the competitors even the 2 litre VW makes more and 1000cc less.
As I mentioned earlier ,go AUTO as I know the Toyota clutch is 25mm less diameter than a Dmax clutch and in clutches that is a large amount.
Dmax have some clutch issues with constant heavy use.

The 4wd off road blokes take the new clutches out when/if they buy one and immediately put in a aftermarket heavy duty item.
For Horses and floats = AUTO.

The low power of Hilux is possibly why most enthusiasts or towing people fit a chip, but that is another story.

Ross M

FollowupID: 779633

Reply By: p_marns - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 21:17

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 21:17

I have an 07 hilux and been towing a camper for 210 thou ks ,still original clutch. What is everyone talking about!

AnswerID: 503038

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 21:30

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 at 21:30

I hear you, there are plenty of satisfied Hilux owners New Hilux forum that regularly tow trailers, I don't think that Hilux it outselling all of its competitors because it is it as good but agree the others are offering a fancier product at present but Hilux is a good honest product

FollowupID: 779641