Towing Weights /horse Trailer Help !

[blake276]

Hi again... I wondered if anyone had any experience of towing large trailers (namely horse trailers !) with their Rav.

I know the book states max braking weight of 1500kg....

I have a horse weighing 600 kilo approx....

and am looking at older trailers (Rice Beaufort / Ifor Williams 510 or 505) which seem to vary in weights from 750kg to 1100... depending which website you look at.. and in the second hand trailer market it could all be guesswork tbh

So I know it would be cutting it fine if I manage to get say an 850kg trailer plus horse, but does anyone routinely tow this kind of weight, I have a friend who tows same type trailer with smaller horse easily, but notice a lot of 'talk' online of the rav not being able to cope with a horse trailer :-(

anyone any experience or knowledge of these things ? would be very grateful for any insight (and if you tow one, what trailer do you have please !!)

[bothwell_buyer]

Theres been a few questions on the forum about towing trailers - from boats to.....

If you manage to get a braked trailer (recommended) then 1800kg is no problem. Reversing tends to be more of an issue, but you can always get the horse out and tell it to walk.

I would be sensible about towing speed though - it depends on how much weight you have in the car; fuel on board etc etc; passengers - a stability issue which can be reduced by the use of the stabiliser type bars for trailers. Snaking along a motorway with a horse on board that starts panicking :shutit: :shutit: :shutit:

If possible, why not try it out with someone elses horsebox.. with weights in it . A kerbstone weighs 90kg so you won't need many to simulate a horse!

[three5]

Hi again... I wondered if anyone had any experience of towing large trailers (namely horse trailers !) with their Rav.

I know the book states max braking weight of 1500kg....

I have a horse weighing 600 kilo approx....

and am looking at older trailers (Rice Beaufort / Ifor Williams 510 or 505) which seem to vary in weights from 750kg to 1100... depending which website you look at.. and in the second hand trailer market it could all be guesswork tbh

So I know it would be cutting it fine if I manage to get say an 850kg trailer plus horse, but does anyone routinely tow this kind of weight, I have a friend who tows same type trailer with smaller horse easily, but notice a lot of 'talk' online of the rav not being able to cope with a horse trailer :-(

anyone any experience or knowledge of these things ? would be very grateful for any insight (and if you tow one, what trailer do you have please !!)

Hi - could you update profile, particularly your model details ( 4.2 or 4.3/year/engine/fuel/3or5 doors etc ) please, as it gives us a better idea about the capabilities of your vehicle. If it is a diesel 4.2 or 4.3 ( with Dual Mass Flywheel )I would have some concerns about how long the said flywheel would last. A petrol doesn't have the same problem but does have less torque. How often / how far / over what sort of ground do you tow? Your neck of the woods has a reputation for "not being too hilly" - that is definitely in your favour. If all the conditions stack up the right way and providing the rig is not overweight and providing you drive with the maximum of empathy for the vehicle, you, IMHO would probably get away with it.

[blake276]

Theres been a few questions on the forum about towing trailers - from boats to.....

If you manage to get a braked trailer (recommended) then 1800kg is no problem. Reversing tends to be more of an issue, but you can always get the horse out and tell it to walk.

I would be sensible about towing speed though - it depends on how much weight you have in the car; fuel on board etc etc; passengers - a stability issue which can be reduced by the use of the stabiliser type bars for trailers. Snaking along a motorway with a horse on board that starts panicking :!Removed!: :!Removed!: :!Removed!:

If possible, why not try it out with someone elses horsebox.. with weights in it . A kerbstone weighs 90kg so you won't need many to simulate a horse!

Thats good to know that braked trailer increases towing weight... the IW and Rice are all double axle braked trailers ... I have a friend with a 510 which unladen is 1020kg which I thought (with horse !) would be too much for my rav, so may have a try with that one (Im pretty pants as reversing with a trailer so need some practise with that anyway as I havent done it in years)

[blake276]

Hi - could you update profile, particularly your model details ( 4.2 or 4.3/year/engine/fuel/3or5 doors etc ) please, as it gives us a better idea about the capabilities of your vehicle. If it is a diesel 4.2 or 4.3 ( with Dual Mass Flywheel )I would have some concerns about how long the said flywheel would last. A petrol doesn't have the same problem but does have less torque. How often / how far / over what sort of ground do you tow? Your neck of the woods has a reputation for "not being too hilly" - that is definitely in your favour. If all the conditions stack up the right way and providing the rig is not overweight and providing you drive with the maximum of empathy for the vehicle, you, IMHO would probably get away with it.

ooo - Chris now you are asking man questions lol I dont even know what a flywheel is , its a 2004 XT3 D4D 5 door, does that help ? mostly standard B or A roads for towing, it is pretty flat round here but windy roads so would have to limit speed anyway, but I would have to tow on country track / single lane for about half a mile to get to the road. Ive deliberately gone for a double horse trailer with twin axle and 4 wheels as I have heard bad things about single trailers tipping and jack knifing due to instability ...

[redlew]

I've got a Wessex Clubman which has taken two ponies . I think two large horses would be pushing it. Biggest pain is not being able to open the RAV rear door which is where all the tack is.