Starting to think about a new towmobile

BrAinZ · 29 July 2010, 21:29

I currently tow our Ribeye 650S with my trusty old 2001 LandRover Freelander 1.8L petrol.

It does a fine job, but in a perfect world, I THINK the diesel would make a better job of it.

Also, mainly to help encourage the wife to drive the rig off the slipway, I reckon an Automatic would make life easier as well.

I really like the Freelander as it's very practicle for what I need (towing the Rib, Jetski and carrying my kayak), but was wondering if there's anything else that would do an equal or better job than the Freelander.

Any suggestions or comments would be welcome.

Downhilldai · 29 July 2010, 21:32

A mate of mine has a 2005-ish Toyota RAV4 diesel, which he uses to tow a 5.85 Ribcraft. He reckons it does the job well and is really economical.

willk · 29 July 2010, 21:46

A quick shufti around the web suggests that the RAV4 has a towing capacity of 1500kg against the Freelander's 2000kg.

An important difference in the 6.5m rib towing arena

oh, and RAV4s are for girls

HUMBER P4VWL · 29 July 2010, 21:59

the old freelander would struggle with 6.5m rib uphill!! I take it willk refers to the new model?

Mollers · 29 July 2010, 22:05

Need more info inc. budget.

Chris · 29 July 2010, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinZ

I currently tow our Ribeye 650S with my trusty old 2001 LandRover Freelander 1.8L petrol.

It does a fine job, but in a perfect world, I THINK the diesel would make a better job of it.

Also, mainly to help encourage the wife to drive the rig off the slipway, I reckon an Automatic would make life easier as well.

I really like the Freelander as it's very practicle for what I need (towing the Rib, Jetski and carrying my kayak), but was wondering if there's anything else that would do an equal or better job than the Freelander.

Any suggestions or comments would be welcome.

There are a lot of Discovery II's popping up on ebay. 5k will get you a goodun.

Downhilldai · 29 July 2010, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

RAV4s are for girls

I'll tell him you said that......

Although it doesn't have a low ratio box, 1500kg isn't a lot for a 2.2 litre diesel 4WD

willk · 29 July 2010, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

I'll tell him you said that......

No worries - I've already had the kickin's from me two mates wot have had them too. One was know as the Pansy Wagon, it was a 2L petrol and wouldn't pull the skin off a custard. The other is diesel and better. The lack of the low box is only an issue on sand and steep slips

Remember I'm spoiled on the towing front so don't make the most objective poster. I believe there are Turbo problems cropping up on the Diesels.

Downhilldai · 29 July 2010, 23:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

RAV4s are for girls

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

I've already had the kickin's from me two mates wot have had them too.

Did these 2 laydees gang up on you, or were the kickin's done independently to give you a chance?

BogMonster · 30 July 2010, 00:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

There are a lot of Discovery II's popping up on ebay. 5k will get you a goodun.

+1 for that option

A Td5 has a sort of anti-stall fitted so in low range 1st gear you could almost certainly toddle off up the slipway with a 6.5m rib on the back without touching the throttle. It is nowhere near as good as the anti-stall on the latest Puma Defenders which would tow a 6.5m rib up a cliff without touching the throttle, but I think you'll notice the different to a 1.8 Freelander

The Td4 Freelanders are OK once you get the motors wound up but for any sort of towing and particularly something like boat recovery they have two drawbacks, no real low end torque until about 2000rpm, and a poxy clutch that stinks after a steep hill start never mind a woman towing a ruddy great boat up a slipway

The Td4 auto Freebie is not bad though, and would make a much better job of it.

BrAinZ · 30 July 2010, 09:21

I could spend up to about £10k, but don't really want to (who does?!?!). Probably thinking around the £7-8k mark really.

My current Freelander is the 2 door version, which makes it relatively short. I find this handy due to the limited width of a couple of the slipways we use. Friend has a Double Cab Navara, and I like the "concept" of them, seems a little bit big and unmanouverable on the slipway.

Can anyone confirm my theory that an Automatic gearbox would be a good idea on the slipway? The wife hates hill-starts at the best of times, let alone with £30k+ worth of boat and the sea behind her

My current Freelander has the 1.8L engine which is prone to blowing head gaskets. It blew it a couple of years ago and cost about a thousand squid to mend, including the updated bits to minimise it happening again. Still concerns me though, that it could go again seeing as it does struggle a little going uphill with the boat on the back.

Mollers · 30 July 2010, 09:27

Yep, auto is good. I use either an auto Disco or an old shape L200. Both haul out with ease.

£7-8k would by you a lovely Disco2 TD5 Auto.
Auto double cabs are rare.
Perhaps an auto Shogun SWB would be another option.

BrAinZ · 30 July 2010, 09:30

A Disco would be OK, but I need to use it as my "normal" vehicle as well, so didn't really want anything as big.

In a perfect world, I would like a small, but powerful 4x4, with lots of torque and an auto gearbox.... Oh... And those nice roofbars that go down the back, just like a Freelander (they are great to hold on to on a slippery slipway!)

Any suggestions?

Mollers · 30 July 2010, 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinZ

A Disco would be OK, but I need to use it as my "normal" vehicle as well, so didn't really want anything as big.

In a perfect world, I would like a small, but powerful 4x4, with lots of torque and an auto gearbox.... Oh... And those nice roofbars that go down the back, just like a Freelander (they are great to hold on to on a slippery slipway!)

Any suggestions?

Blue sky thinking here- How about an auto Freelander?!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

BogMonster · 30 July 2010, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinZ

My current Freelander is the 2 door version, which makes it relatively short. I find this handy due to the limited width of a couple of the slipways we use. Friend has a Double Cab Navara, and I like the "concept" of them, seems a little bit big and unmanouverable on the slipway.

Optical illusion - in fact the 3 door and 5 door Freelanders are exactly the same length bumper to bumper

so don't rule out a 5 door though you won't get the "Jesus handles" on the back of a 5 door

As I said above, a Td4 auto Freelander would be an option you might consider.

Downhilldai · 30 July 2010, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinZ

... let alone with £30k+ worth of boat and the sea behind her

Your profile needs updating.

willk · 30 July 2010, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mollers

Blue sky thinking here- How about an auto Freelander?!

Nice looking motor - I wonder what made the gearbox go bang at 40k? At least it wasn't towing horseboxes. How much to have a towkit fitted to those rigs? Lotsa money I suppose

Mollers · 30 July 2010, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Your profile needs updating.

Maybe he tows two at a time.

Hightower · 30 July 2010, 11:37

Sounds like you need an Audi Quattro or a 4x4 Volvo

Poly · 30 July 2010, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinZ

Also, mainly to help encourage the wife to drive the rig off the slipway, I reckon an Automatic would make life easier as well.

Why does Mrs B not like doing this? I've only just managed to get Mrs P to do this; she still won't drive it any distance though. I think this is just a "perception" thing - where she thinks it is difficult / scary rather than it actually being a problem; it probably doesn't help when she sees my shocking reversing - which makes he believe towing is difficult! (If she would bother to try it/learn it, her "helpful" comments would be much more constructive - "you need to turn left" is not very clear - the steering wheel, the car, the trailer etc) I wonder if the same is true for you and so an autobox will not help?