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Old 06-08-2009, 12:54 AM   #1
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Ideal Tow?

At present we tow our Fletcher around with a 174BHP Volkswagen Caravelle tows very well but it cant be good for the car! plus no 4 wheel drive means im a little worried about it sliding into the drink!

so weve decided to look for a cheap 4x4 to lug the boat around, and wondered if anyone knew what the ideal tow car was. most strong contenders for me at the moment at the Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon V8 or an old land rover discovery or range rover
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Old 06-08-2009, 07:41 AM   #2
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Can't go far wrong with a Landy Discovery 200tdi, or even 300tdi by now. They're pretty bombproof mechanically, and don't rust/fall apart as fast as the defender. You can ususally pick up a decent one for under a grand, which makes them reasonably disposable after a few years towing in and out of salt water.

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Old 06-08-2009, 08:09 AM   #3
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Caravelle

Don't suppose you want to sell the Caravelle do you?
I have been looking for a 174bhp window van or caravelle for a few weeks now.

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Old 06-08-2009, 08:17 AM   #4
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Another thought would be a V6 Pajero, the disco might have a bit too much turbo lag for english speeds.

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Old 06-08-2009, 08:39 AM   #5
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Can't go far wrong with a Landy Discovery ......and don't rust/fall apart as fast as the defender.

Go on...explain how a defender "rusts" more than a Discovery.
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Old 06-08-2009, 09:16 AM   #6
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We've just sold our defender 2008 90 (attached) to pay for the boat! I did ponder whether the landy wouldve been a better tow than the caravelle, but in the defender your constantly shifting through gears all the time. thats why the idea of either an auto range rover classic, V8 disco, or land cruiser amazon seemed appealing
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Old 06-08-2009, 01:57 PM   #7
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I used to use a HiLux 4x4 never had any trouble pulling boats out with that on and over the sand too. High body so can get the truck quite far into the water.
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Old 06-08-2009, 08:50 PM   #8
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Go on...explain how a defender "rusts" more than a Discovery.
I guess i didn't quite word that right, I meant that they rust away quicker than a discovery. Mainly i was meaning the bulkhead, door frames and other steel parts which tend to be fairly shot on medium age defenders. Over here we get a lot of trouble with electrolysis too on the ally body.
The discoveries aren't exactly great for rust, but in my opinion tend to be in slightly better nic for the same age/price than a defender. I've owned more than 25 in total, defenders, disco's, classic rangies and a P38, loved em all.

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Old 06-08-2009, 08:51 PM   #9
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We've just sold our defender 2008 90 (attached) to pay for the boat! I did ponder whether the landy wouldve been a better tow than the caravelle, but in the defender your constantly shifting through gears all the time. thats why the idea of either an auto range rover classic, V8 disco, or land cruiser amazon seemed appealing
From experience, Auto gearboxes don't like towing too much, that was the demise of 3 of my RR classics and one disco! I now know that it helps if you keep it out of drive for the tricky bits like launch/recovery.

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Old 06-08-2009, 09:35 PM   #10
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cant beat the ole rangie classic with a splash of leather and wood thrown in...3.5 V8..2" lift..constant 4x4..and all the whistles and bells some fvker once paid good money for,ive never ever found a better towing car for so little wonga
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Old 06-08-2009, 09:39 PM   #11
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From experience, Auto gearboxes don't like towing too much, that was the demise of 3 of my RR classics and one disco! I now know that it helps if you keep it out of drive for the tricky bits like launch/recovery.

James
never had any bother from the later ZF boxes (4 speed)..bigger oil cooler keeps them happy
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Old 06-08-2009, 09:42 PM   #12
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Mine were all quite early ones, and it's all constant gearchanges over here, probably what caused it. That's a lovely looking rangie in your pic above, nice and simple, but effective! They are fantastic value for money, helps if you can maintain it yourself though.

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Old 06-08-2009, 09:45 PM   #13
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Mine were all quite early ones, and it's all constant gearchanges over here, probably what caused it. That's a lovely looking rangie in your pic above, nice and simple, but effective! They are fantastic value for money, helps if you can maintain it yourself though.

James
thanks mate...had this one for 2 years now,took the 3.9 out of it and nailed a far better 3.5 in its place. Your right they are fantastic value for money
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Old 06-08-2009, 09:52 PM   #14
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Toyota Landcruiser's can be picked up for a good price, short wheel base bit cheaper still for a good one
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Old 06-08-2009, 10:05 PM   #15
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i too am a land rover fanatic but after owning a 4.2 V8 defender soft top im all too familar with the prices of running an old landy compaired to a cheap jap 4x4, the land crusier amazon is a lovely vehicle but they are still going for quite alot of dough
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Old 06-08-2009, 10:15 PM   #16
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i too am a land rover fanatic but after owning a 4.2 V8 defender soft top im all too familar with the prices of running an old landy compaired to a cheap jap 4x4, the land crusier amazon is a lovely vehicle but they are still going for quite alot of dough
thats a cracking defender
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Old 06-08-2009, 10:25 PM   #17
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thats a cracking defender
cheers she went like stink! sounded lovely too had a straight flow exhust so you could hear it a mile off! didnt always keep her that clean though
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Old 07-08-2009, 05:11 PM   #18
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cheers she went like stink! sounded lovely too had a straight flow exhust so you could hear it a mile off! didnt always keep her that clean though
landie doin what they do best...class pics there ..theres only 1 4x4 ive ever owned that i can say was better at its job and it was when i lived in california i had a full size ford bronco running on 33's with a 3" lift and a fully switchable front locking hubs facility..she was a 94 eddie bauer edition and all my pics and memorys was on my old lap top which some thieving piece of scrotum skin took off me
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Old 07-08-2009, 09:14 PM   #19
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landie doin what they do best...class pics there ..theres only 1 4x4 ive ever owned that i can say was better at its job and it was when i lived in california i had a full size ford bronco running on 33's with a 3" lift and a fully switchable front locking hubs facility..she was a 94 eddie bauer edition and all my pics and memorys was on my old lap top which some thieving piece of scrotum skin took off me
yeah there are very few vehicles who can match the landie off road! modified Suzuki SJs give em a run for theyre money but they dont have the personality that the land rover has!

Christ thats a shame bet the bronco was a beauty! if i had a little more time on that V8 90 I think I wouldve taken of the BF goodrich ATs and put on the larger general grabber tyres that were on the 2008 90.
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Old 07-08-2009, 09:44 PM   #20
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yeah there are very few vehicles who can match the landie off road! modified Suzuki SJs give em a run for theyre money but they dont have the personality that the land rover has!

Christ thats a shame bet the bronco was a beauty! if i had a little more time on that V8 90 I think I wouldve taken of the BF goodrich ATs and put on the larger general grabber tyres that were on the 2008 90.
i always go down to 15" rims and go up a couple of sizes in the tire...able to run as low as 20psi on the road with this combo for a softer ride and tire prices in 15" is more than half the price as 16 and 17's...The big thing ime looking forward to when i go back to Cali to live in 2 years time is getting back into my 4 wheeling again
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