It’s all fun and games until you blow a tire or have to cross a tall bridge with wind issues, etc.
[QUOTE=jenm;8009143]
LMFAO!!! Touched a nerve, did I? :lol:
Um, I’m towing a 2H GN trailer and am very happy with my truck and feel very safe. I also appreciate being able to throw a bale of hay in my truck bed rather than the back of a car.
I don’t know anyone who tows with an SUV so I guess out here in California we consider safety “old school”. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
Well, I actually live close to you so come out and check out my Touareg anytime! I put the back seats down and fit a full hay bale bag in there, plus all my camping gear and still have room.
I’ve been hauling my horse all over the state for four years now, including the Sierras, and I have not had one single issue with my setup. I pull a Brenderup.
When gas was still over $4/gallon, lots of people came up to me in the various ride camps (we do Endurance) to talk to me about towing and just like on this board, the questions and opinions ranged from the most condescending and ignorant to some really good exchanges and people walking away with a sense of at least considering an alternative (for those of us with one or two light Arabians.)
Couldn’t pay me enough to haul with one of those. No way.
Some really old fashioned thinking here -I tow with a Nissan Navarra and have towed 2 large horses (1/2 and 3/4 WBs) over some damned steep roads. No trouble at all - yes,I noticed it as I well should. Was I able to stop?? Yes, in an emergency too!!! Dam$$$$ cyclists. And I wasn’t doing 30kph either -I was driving at our speed limit of 90kph (55mph).
And, yes, I have had a tyre blow on the trailer. And, where I live, believe me wind is a constant 
! No it isn’t a SUV - but a ute. With wet dogs, I don’t want to have them in my car :).
If you google “Rimatukas” or “mt Bruce” , you will see the elevations that I tow over. The highest summit is 555m at the top of the pass. Basically, the whole route I took today, going up to Fielding, to see a stallion, was windy - and I am not talking about a gentle breeze 
- we class anything under 50kph as a breeze.
I also use it for doing hay runs, rock runs, taking the dogs to the river (along and over the river bed -love braided rivers) and drive to work.
You need to match your vehicle to what you are towing. Yes, 4wd, diesel 3l turbo diesel is the minimum for me. Add to that a ladder chassis as it adds strength. And LEARN how to drive and tow. If the designers says “can tow xxxx”, believe that they have done the research -including the on-road test drives- and follow their recommended maintenance and driving. The Nissan Navarra was tested on the GP tracks in Europe to make sure that they knew what to recommend.
Comments about safety being “old fashioned” are just silly (please excuse my bluntness). My Nissan would be a lot safer for me, my passengers and my horses.
Personally, if I needed to tow 10tonnes , I would buy a truck!
Up top & bookmark Isu500…!!!
