Can I pull a horse trailer with my car?

It's not what you are pulling, it's how much it weighs.

Check your car manual for guidance as if you attach something too heavy you will find the car struggles to accelerate, and more importantly - stop!

There's probably a good reason you usually see these things being pulled by Landrovers :)
 
It can be done...but doing that is VERY stressful on your transmission...I would strongly advise against it...if you do then install an aftermarket transmission cooler and take it really easy...and still I don't recommend it!
 
It'll struggle to pull it, especially with a horse inside.

My parents have an Ifor Williams, almost exactly the same as that, and their old Freelander 2.0 TD4 struggled badly. In the end they got a Range Rover, it's the only thing that can actually seem to haul it along at a reasonable pace.

Also, I'd expect you to be towing it across muddy fields etc., where 4 wheel drive is extremely useful.
 
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Your car is rated for 1500kg braked, that trailer is 905kg unladen and mgw is 2340kg. legally no unless the trailer is plated to 1500kg mgw.

Also you need B+E on your driving licence to tow anything over 750kg.
 
Look in the car manual just don’t forgot to add the horse weight with the trailer weight and car passengers.

A lot of people forgot to add the horse weight and its surprising how much all 3 are together. Make sure you got a licence to tow as well.
 
When did you pass your driving test?

Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles. e.g. - trailers etc
 
People with horse trailers drive like they are in a hearse, speed is not an issue.

As your were 12 in 1997 you will need to do the B+E test, its not hard as long as you can do a few manoeuvres, hitch / unhitch and reverse round a cone into a bay and stop in a box without hitting the back pole. Then drive about for about 45 to an hour, it’s the same test as the class C 7.5t one.

The best tow vehicles by far are pretty much all landroves (especially defenders) as they are rated at 3500kg (maybe not freelander) and daihatsu four track rated at 2400kg.
You want a big heavy vehicle up front with lots of low down torque and preferably manual.

Ifor Williams trailers are indestructible but like all trailers cash on wheels, keep it locked up and out of sight. You might be better with a horse box van, I have seen some transit conversions that are under 3500kg MAM so you could drive on your current licence without additional tests.
 
OK, looking decidedly like a no for the Focus!

Vipernet & Amatex: I'm 21, so passed my test well after that date - thanks for the heads-up, didn't realise I needed B+E on my licence (I've just checked and I've currently only got B, B1, f, k & p). Have you any idea what this additional test consists of, and what it costs?

Think we may investigate the feasibility of picking up a second hand Discovery or similar, as it looks like we may start towing horses around ourselves, rather than relying on our (4x4 owning) friends. :)
 
Official line from DVLA:

DVLA said:
Driving Licences
A full (not provisional) driving licence is required to tow a caravan. From 1 January 1997, new category B (generally held as 'normal' car entitlement) vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kg Maximum Authorised Mass allowing a combined weight of up to 4.25 tonnes MAM OR a trailer (for example a tourer) over 750kg MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM. This would mean that many drivers who possess only a category B on their licence would be able to tow a caravan provided it was not heavier than their car, and that car and caravan combined, does not weigh more than 3.5 tonnes.
New drivers of outfits over these limits must take a category B + E test.
Further information from: Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA)
www.dvla.gov.uk
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So for example, im looking at getting a caravan. I would be ok to tow it as long as my car and caravan dont exceed 3.5T (which they wouldnt do), and i passed my test after 1997, but from reading that confusing info, you would only need the E entitlement on your licience if the whole outfit was over 3.5T, but i stand to be corrected on what i have said.
 
It may just about manage it within the law and within rated specs,but it will ruin the car if used regularly (which it sounds like your planning). Unlike with a caravan,with stock when your transporting them,any jumping about ,or even stepping back of forward is going to occasionally put the the max ball load a long way past your cars limits = suspension in bits if your lucky,chassis twisted if your not.

p.s. if you do go for the ifor Williams trailer,never leave it parked for any length of time with the handbrake on -block the wheels if necc.They seize -very common problem with them apparently.



AmaTeX said:
The best tow vehicles by far are pretty much all landroves (especially defenders) as they are rated at 3500kg (maybe not freelander) and daihatsu four track rated at 2400kg.
You want a big heavy vehicle up front with lots of low down torque and preferably manual.
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Freelander is only 2t max -more car than workhorse tbh
4trac will do 3.5t

check here for all your towing wgt needs
http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/kerbweights.htm
 
Trust me, the old Freelander is rubbish for towing ;)

Hopefully the new one will be a bit better.
 
Basically the government wont let you tow much more than a shopping trolley unless its classed as an agricultural vehicle, then it could be 30t for all they care. :rolleyes:

If you have no or some trailing experience I would get some lesions, I have done a lot of trailing with L plates before my test but I still had some lesions so I know what the examiner is looking for and what the procedure is. The DSA charge £89 for the test there is no theory just a practical. I paid about £30 using the school car and trailer or about £25 just using there trailer. I would recommend doing it in the car you have most experience in or will be doing the test it. Some places offer day lesions others go by the hour. Oh and for the test you need to do it in a box trailer so you can’t see through it like a flat bed.

The NTTA has some good info on there site.

For the test you have to: uncoupling and coupling, driving on the road, reverse manoeuvre (not on a public road), a controlled stop (not on a public road) the test should take 45min to an hour. If you have a handy field practice reversing straight, reversing round stuff and then you can lay out the manoeuvre cones and practice that.

Theres some info here about the here.

The good thing about a defender or discovery is that it will have a low box, you can use this for reversing as you have the advantage of more control because of the slower speeds and more power. :D
 
Dtab said:
Freelander is only 2t max -more car than workhorse tbh
4trac will do 3.5t[/url]
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The thing with the 4trac is that it’s not plated at 3.5t although I agree it is more than capable, hell I have shifted 4t in my defender (off the public highway of course ;) ).
 
Nonononononooooooo!!!

Please dont! A trailer with a horse on it is not a stable thing to tow, and a loaded up trailer is going to wipe the floor with your car should anything happen. And it does happen, really easily.

I tow with a Terrano 2.7td, it's brilliant. It can tow my humungous trailer two up easily and it drives more like a normal car than Landies etc (imo). I still have to watch my weights, 2 horses are going to be pushing a tonne on their own, not to mention all the paraphanalia that goes with them like water etc. Cant go wrong with a Landie either, but the older ones are basic and expensive to fix.

I'd also not be touching an Ifor Williams either, but thats a whole other story ;)
 
Landrovers are generaly cheap to fix and not difficult to do your self. There are loads of patent part manufactures and supplies such as paddock, britpart etc.

Jap stuff is the most expensive to fix when it does go wrong as almost all parts have to be imported. On my dad Colorado a vacuum sensor hose barb snapped off (old plastic going brittle) new the part is £180+vat for a little bit of plastic. Hand brake is almost out of adjustment and I hate to think what a new cable is going to be. Saying that it is a very good reliable motor, 3ltr diesel lost of power but it’s an auto and lacks what makes the defender special.

Dangerous said:
Not actually true you can tow anything as long as the car+towing weight doesnt exceed 3.5 tonnes

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/D...sArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4022521&chk=UotF/k
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Yes but you have to go into the weights of the tow vehicle and trailer and remember its MAM not unladen weight:

With effect from 1 January 1997 the second EC Directive on Driving Licences (91/439/EEC) came into effect, affecting new drivers passing their test after that date and HGV drivers who obtained their licence after 31 December 1991.

The net result is that new drivers will only be allowed to drive and tow the following combinations:

* Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (category B) with a 750kg trailer (4.25 tonnes total MAM).
* Category B vehicles with larger trailers i.e. > 750kg, provided that the combined MAM does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and the gross MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. To be able to tow combinations outside this ruling requires the passing of an additional test.
* New HGV drivers and those who have passed their HGV tests since 1 January 1992 will be restricted to towing trailers up to 750kg until they pass an additional test.
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So basically you could tow a large shopping trolley, maybe even a wheel barrow. :p
Best to the test then your covered.
 
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AmaTeX said:
Landrovers are generaly cheap to fix and not difficult to do your self. There are loads of patent part manufactures and supplies such as paddock, britpart etc.

Jap stuff is the most expensive to fix when it does go wrong as almost all parts have to be imported. On my dad Colorado a vacuum sensor hose barb snapped off (old plastic going brittle) new the part is £180+vat for a little bit of plastic. Hand brake is almost out of adjustment and I hate to think what a new cable is going to be. Saying that it is a very good reliable motor, 3ltr diesel lost of power but it’s an auto and lacks what makes the defender special.



Yes but you have to go into the weights of the tow vehicle and trailer and remember its MAM not unladen weight:



So basically you could tow a large shopping trolley, maybe even a wheel barrow. :p
Best to the test then your covered.
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I had to phone the DVLA over this so make sure I can TOW anything as long as my total weight doesnt exceed 3.5 Tonnes which your statement clearly says? :confused:
 
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