Help me decide on a tow vehicle

D-Ranged

D-Ranged

D-Ranged

Associate
Joined
18 Jan 2010
Posts
1,030
Location
London
So, I need a tow vehicle to tow my drag car, which weighs about 1300kg, probably less but lets just say 1300kg for now. Will have some spare tyres/wheels, some race fuel and tools, as well as obviously the trailer, which i haven't purchased yet. I'd also use it to tow other cars as i do like a project, especially old American muscle, so the towing capacity would have to factor that in too.

I currently have a 2014 F11 BMW 530D, which I do really like, it has been reliable and done lots of long 6+ hour non stop trips, it even has the factory fitted electric tow bar. I used some online calculators, and it seems just don't think it will be capable to tow that sort of weight safely. I'm not up to scratch on towing as it is, I've never done it before so if I'm completely wrong there, please correct me!

My budget is around 8-9k, which is the trade in value for my BMW. I can add a little more on if needed and its the right car. It will also be a daily, so no vans.
It needs plenty of boot space, as I also have a few dogs, and the obvious need for tool box space.
Also, comfortable for 5+ hour drives, as i tend to get lower back pain after a while.
Doesn't need to be ULEZ compliant.

I have been looking at the following, but they all have their issues. My budget is looking at the higher end of the mileage scale. I'm happy up to around 125k miles -

  • 2012 Range Rover 4.4 Diesel - ZF8 box. Obvious things first, its a Range Rover, they're always broken. But from what I've read so far, the 4.4 diesel is the better of the engines that are available. I don't mind a 5.0 Supercharged, but i think they're out of my budget, and a diesel is more likely better for towing. Highest towing capacity of the 3 listed I believe. Stopped looking at the Sport, as saw some people say they have some issues towing??
  • 2010-2013 BMW X5 30/40d - ZF box again. Same engine as my current BMW, and pretty reliable other than usual BMW issues and suspension issues a 4x4 tends to have. Interior is basically the same as my current BMW too. Probably a little less space in the back to the Range Rover. Smaller engine but shouldn't really struggle. Less towing capacity.
  • 2008-2014 Volkswagen Touareg - High towing capacity, can be had a little cheaper than the above cars. Can have catastrophic HPFP failure, but doesn't seem to be as common in the UK, compared to the US and their dirty fuel. Maybe not as comfortable as either of the above and a little ugly at times.
I'm open to any other suggestions so please throw them in, and if there is a reason why one of the above is a good/bad choice or if you own/owned any of them for towing or just daily use, I'd also like to here your opinions!
 
Last edited:
Can't speak for the first two but Touareg will capably do the job, from second hand experience Range Rovers wouldn't be something I rushed at.
 
Get an accurate weight of your track car with trailer/parts.

Your F11 can tow 2 tons, I’ve done a lot of towing with a 530/535d up to that limit and it is excellent.
 
Last edited:
Honestly, avoid the Range Rover. Only buy a Range Rover if you have a warranty.


Does it have to be a car?

I tow quite a lot and find a rwd pickup to be the best thing bar a long wheelbase rwd transit.

If you are peaked by the pickups, l200, ranger and Mercedes are perfect for road trips towing. Iveco, hilux are very utilitarian.

Plus you can keep all the tools out of your driving space so no clanging.

It’s a shame the big three Japanese brand stopped making the suvs based off the pickups like the surf. As they were a good compromise.
 
Dangerous Dave said:
Get an accurate weight of your track car with trailer/parts.

Your F11 can tow 2 tons, I’ve done a lot of towing with a 530/535d up to that limit and it is excellent.
Click to expand...

It's up to 2ton but doesn't it have to be 85% which should be about 1800 or less?

Abraxaz1 said:
Honestly, avoid the Range Rover. Only buy a Range Rover if you have a warranty.


Does it have to be a car?

I tow quite a lot and find a rwd pickup to be the best thing bar a long wheelbase rwd transit.

If you are peaked by the pickups, l200, ranger and Mercedes are perfect for road trips towing. Iveco, hilux are very utilitarian.

Plus you can keep all the tools out of your driving space so no clanging.

It’s a shame the big three Japanese brand stopped making the suvs based off the pickups like the surf. As they were a good compromise.
Click to expand...

It doesn't have to be a car, just no vans but unless the truck is extended cab it's no good anyway for the dogs and also prefer auto
 
D-Ranged said:
Interior is basically the same as my current BMW too.
Click to expand...

It's really not - it looks like it at first glance but this car is a generation behind your current BMW, it is based on the previous 5 Series. You'll need a late 2013 or newer X5 if you want an X5 that is effectively the same as yours. I'd really not want to move from your car to the older X5 as it's really going to feel like a backward step.
 
Your current car will definitely be capable of towing that weight safely, whether it will be capable of towing it 100% legally is a different matter. As you like the car so much, I'd be tempted to buy the trailer, load up the drag car and tools etc, then take it to a weighbridge and see exactly how much the whole thing weighs, then decide if you really need to get a new car or not.

If you have to change, I'd go for the Range Rover from the list, the sport will also tow fine too. 4.4 diesel is a good choice, if you can get one that's had all the expensive stuff addressed it'll be a great car.
 
D-Ranged said:
It's up to 2ton but doesn't it have to be 85% which should be about 1800 or less?
Click to expand...

It's recommended that you only tow upto 85% of cars weight not 85% of its towing capacity. It's not a legal requirement and you can legally tow two tons with your F11.

I put both the car and trailer/caravan on a weigh bridge to get an accurate weight when they were loaded up, the car loaded with tools/spares/tyres or luggage/bikes/passengers etc would always be over 2200kg so not always in the 85% window but close it towed great never had any issues over I'd estimate 30k of towing.

I've towed with plenty of other cars including a TDV8 L405 Range Rover I wouldn't say it tows significantly better but does allow higher weights with it being approx half ton heavier than the F11.
 
Last edited:
Take a good look at WK-gen Jeep Grand Cherokees (~'05-'10), preferably in Overland specification, with the 3.0 Mercedes-Benz OM642 diesel V6. Great for towing, spacious, comfortable, stacked with kit, reliable, affordable, etc.
 
Last edited:
Have you looked at how much insurance is on the range?

My dad has a 2007 V10 tdi touareg. It's a hell of an engine but it has had lots of electrical issues.

I would be inclined to go with the X5.
 
ezekial said:
My dad has a 2007 V10 tdi touareg. It's a hell of an engine but it has had lots of electrical issues.
Click to expand...

The V10 IIRC is the more troublesome of the engine choices (not just engine) but also a great engine when it is working. But if you can do a bit of DIY yourself or know a good mechanic they generally aren't bad compared to the prices you can pay otherwise - my brother in law bought one cheap with issues because the previous owner had been quoted like £5-6K and did it all himself for just under a grand IIRC.

I know someone who flood damaged their brand new one and the bill on that was north of 15K oof.

The 3L V6 auto version can be laggy - some people posted tips on here that apparently allows you to completely side-step the turbo lag but I've not tried them myself.
 
Last edited:
D-Ranged said:
It doesn't have to be a car, just no vans but unless the truck is extended cab it's no good anyway for the dogs and also prefer auto
Click to expand...

Though can be good for tools pickups do lack for proper boot space ironically which sounds like you need - people do get them with the Truckman style hardtop for dogs but personally I think they look a bit silly and IMO not the greatest place for dogs and you take away a lot of what makes a pickup a useful compromise IMO when you stick a hardtop on it.

Personally would not want to be doing a lot of road miles in a Isuzu or Toyota pickup and even the L200 I'm not a big fan of on the road. The Ford models usually actually have towing features as well which are absent on a lot of UK spec pickups. I like the Navaras but the D23 feels quite nervous when towing any weight IMO though it does it fine it doesn't inspire you with confidence while the D40s you probably don't want to tow with given the potential chassis weakness issues :( though the 3.0L V9X is a very good engine for towing. The Amarok is kind of brute force and ignorance when it comes to towing LOL.

A pickup in the 8-9K range is probably going to need a lot of money chucked at it as well :s

EDIT: Also:

D-Ranged said:
Also, comfortable for 5+ hour drives, as i tend to get lower back pain after a while.
Click to expand...

Pickups are very hit and miss there - for some people the higher seating position and legroom work great, for others their posture is all wrong and some pickups have leaf spring only rear suspension which makes for a less than sophisticated ride especially when empty. In my Navara Outlaw the seats are just awesome and make up for a lot of the rather basic ride, in a lower spec pickup the seats are often hard and not supportive.
 
Last edited:
D-Ranged said:
it even has the factory fitted electric tow bar. I used some online calculators, and it seems just don't think it will be capable to tow that sort of weight safely. I'm not up to scratch on towing as it is, I've never done it before so if I'm completely wrong there, please correct me!
Click to expand...

85% is just a recommendation, not a law, you can tow up to 100% no problem, no need to change vehicle unless you want to.

Obviously you have the weight of car and trailer to think of but 2k kgs should be fine, depends on the trailer you buy and what else you want to put in it.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Good to know I might get away with using my current car. Although, I am going to have to retrofit a reverse camera so I can keep an eye on the trailer and see what I'm doing!

I think I'll get a trailer and get it on a weigh bridge with the car and tools on, then see how much it all weighs, as suggested. I might test drive a couple of the cars as well to see how they fair too.

I don't do many miles as I work from home, I just drive to the gym 5 times a week and sometimes take the dogs somewhere so the usual worries of fuel costs and maintenance arent too much of an issue.
 
Rroff said:
The V10 IIRC is the more troublesome of the engine choices (not just engine) but also a great engine when it is working. But if you can do a bit of DIY yourself or know a good mechanic they generally aren't bad compared to the prices you can pay otherwise - my brother in law bought one cheap with issues because the previous owner had been quoted like £5-6K and did it all himself for just under a grand IIRC.

I know someone who flood damaged their brand new one and the bill on that was north of 15K oof.

The 3L V6 auto version can be laggy - some people posted tips on here that apparently allows you to completely side-step the turbo lag but I've not tried them myself.
Click to expand...
Yeah it can be troublesome, we have had to do the waterpump and alternator but we did DIY. The waterpump was considered an engine out job by VW.... But tbh the main issues we have had have been electrical. the engine itself has been fine. There are 2 batteries, not sure if the V6 has 2 but there are constant issues with that system.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom