WHAT TYPE OF 4WD DO I BUY

If its a turbo deisel make sure it an auto.

Diesel "lesser performing"? Try a CRD. It will change your mind. I reckon my CRD-engined Jeep is a genuine sports car compared to the 4L petrol version. With 120kw & 400nm from 1800rpm it goes like stink - and all for 8L/100km. It's a beautiful machine as a family car and it tows our float and 16.2 hand horse like it wasn't even there.

Maybe one of the new common rail Toyotas? Are they doing CRD's in anything other than the Hilux yet?

Actually - what about trying the new Grand Cherokee with the 3.0L CRD V6 - 160kw and 510nm. Goes harder than the 4.7 V8 version (0-100 in 9 flat) and tows houses for breakfast. It even out-torques the new 5.7 Hemi bu 10nm. Oh... and it returns around 8.5-9.0L/100km. Can't hurt to take one for a spin...

Only thing I don't like about it is the new IFS up front - but that may suit you as a family car requirement. Much better handler than mine with the live axle.

Which equestrian centre Signman?

Gotta agree with Gary. An F250 seems like overkill and not really practical as a family car. My folks carted us kids, 2 thoroughbreds and all the camping and horsey gear around the countryside for years with a V8 Ford Marqui. Before that they used a Nissan Urvan (gutless and slow granted but it did the job). A Prado, Patrol or L/cruiser would easily do the job. See plenty of them being used for that very purpose on any given weekend around here.

:o) Melissa

No it's not.

Commodore and Falcon can legally tow 2000kg and he's talking 1600kg maximum. The sedans may well have better brakes too. Certainly better handling and would be much better to drive when not towing.

The killer would be the fuel consumption in the cars.

Peter

Hi there pjchris, you are kidding arn't you about towing 1600kg is better behind a car than a large 4wd. I'd rather tow my 1760kg ski boat and trailer behind my uncle's 100 series turbo cruiser anyday than my VX V6 S pack commodore . Have done both and there is a huge difference, (1) dont even know it's behind the cruiser (2) Uses a heap less fuel (3) will pull up without brake fade (ever had a commodore ask any mechanic how many warped disc'c there replaced without towing) the list goes on.Regards Steve M

Stephen,

My reply related solely to your statement that it was illegal to tow 2000kg behind a sedan. It isn't.

Would I buy one to do that? No.

However in any performance situation towing up hills etc. I would expect the sedan to get to the top sooner and drop less speed doing so as its power to weight ratio (Even with the load) is better than the 4WD.
Brakes? If your electric brake controller is set up properly the towing vehicle only has to cope with the extra load of the down weight on the ball so the brake performance of either vehicle would be more affected by five adults and their luggage than the trailer.

The reason I don't choose to use a sedan is simply to do with fuel consumption (Diesel economy is much better), weight and strength..

In an emergency situation a large 4WD will be less affected than a sedan by the mass of the trailer. Note: not immune just less affected.

Whether this makes up for the fact that most 4WDs handle much worse than the average sedan I don't know.

What I do know is that even the Integrated chassis 4WDs are built much stronger than most sedans and will last longer doing so.

I only tow occassionally and I keep my vehicles for 10+ years generally so the Diesel 4WD being stringer and more economical made sense. if I had a company vehicle or changed every 3 years then the fact that the purchase price of the sedan was cheaper might have lured me that way.

Peter

Hi there pjchris,point taken I apoligise didn't mean to sound arrogant and I also didn't read your response properly,better handling better to drive when not towing, I jumped the gun and thought it said when towing,and yes agree with you in regards to electric brakes,but on a boat trailer which I had electric brakes on I pulled them off and put the cable type back on which relies on the cars breaks as water was a major problem with the electric brakes forever blowing fuses and had trouble with the under dash controller. Brakes were already on the traler when I bought the boat so put the controller in the car under dash but had problems. I think it was all to do with the trailer brakes themselves was going to cost me a furtune to get fixed that's why I ripped it all out and went back to basic stuff. Have a great night Regards Steve M

It might tow up to 2100kg but not the horse float in a worst case scenario.

900kg trailer, Horse 1 700kg, Horse 2 700kg. Total comes in at 2300kg by my calculations. 200kg over the max - also what is the max allowed for a dunnydoor when car and trailer are taken into account - there is normally a limit on all up weight (train weight) . A dunny door may tow 2100kg but can it also carry any weight in the car at such a load?

You wouldnt use a dunnydore for towing. An older Falcon with rigid rear axle and leaves would be better, or at least rigid rear axle. Commodes have had problems with cracking/stretching bodyshells IFIRC, and Holdens response was to limit their towing capacity.

regardless of what manufactures claim as the max tow cap, it doesnt translate to how well the vehicle will cope in the real world. Have towed with a commodore and it was pathetic. Falcon was much better, TD 100 series would to the Falcon, towing the boat, pulling the commodore, and do it easier still. Go a decent TD fourby with plenty of lowdown torque. Simple.

You are kidding Marquis refer to reply by stephen m above