4x4 for Launching RIB

adams1x · 01 March 2008, 18:23

Hi....

I keep my boat at my local sailing club on Hayling Island and although there is a winch I am thinking a 4x4 would be the easiest way forward. I do not have much to spend as most went on the boat but would look around the £800 mark....

The beach is fairly hard snad or hard small shingle depoending on state of the tide

What is recommended? My girlfriend has decided a Rav 4 looks good (After spending lots on the boat I guess i ought to take her opinion on the launching machine in mind!!) but i am unsure about how good the pulling power of this would be (the small 3dr one). Other option that looks realistic would be the vauxhall frontera....

Cheers in advance...
Andrew

Pete7 · 01 March 2008, 18:34

Can't help but think that anything for £800 is going to be a whole heap of trouble. Diesel Landrover Disco for sale on Newgate Lane just south of HMS Collingwood for £2400 might be a better option. Certainly tow a 6m rib very well and return 29 mpg for a manual or 26 for an auto.

Pete

adams1x · 01 March 2008, 18:59

Thanks for the comments, the 4x$ is only really needed to get the boat fro slipway to spot in the car park and occasional trips for 2 or 3 miles away so figured as long as it has an mot on it till the autumn i would move it on again then....maybe i am being niave with my thinking... quite a few ebay bargains to be had for around that for a surprising amount of car.... but thoughts on this very welcome

Hightower · 01 March 2008, 19:07

My Kia Sportage is great to drive and pulls my 6.2 up a gravel slip at Haslar. No one wants them now, but the only trouble I've had from 4 years of service is the Heater Matrix leaking. If you're lucky it'll have the bull bars and side steps on, they look much better like that.

codprawn · 01 March 2008, 19:31

You won't get much for that but maybe a Disco V8 - they are much better than the diesel and much cheaper as well...............

Just looked here

http://www.adtrader.co.uk/

there are even a few diesels at that price!!!

PeterR · 01 March 2008, 19:38

i agree with Hightower but i do have a frontera bought 3 years ago £1500 L reg 2.3 65000 miles even pulls my pacific i was gobsmacked.It true their is a lot of rubbish out their especially on ebay.I do think ebay sets a low price but dont buy blind you have to look at the 4x4 before you bid and if you dont know what to look for take someone with you also consider insurance costs good luck better to buy wisely.I may have been luckyits only cost me an alternator in 3 years you may not.good luck

codprawn · 01 March 2008, 19:45

The Fronteras are pretty good - I know someone who has had a few.

One NOT to touch is the Ford Maverick/Terrano - I saw one which had failed it's MOT because the rear spring mounts were coming away from the chassis. I couldn't believe how thin the metal was and how small the chassis rails were. The vehicle looked well cared for and was only about 7 yrs old - far less rust on my 1987 Land Rover!!!

rickuk3 · 01 March 2008, 19:55

Have just bought a 5 door 97 P reg diesel Frontera, 109K miles goes like a dream, paid £1200. Had it serviced a few little faults but for the age and price a brill 4X4.
Richard

yoyo · 01 March 2008, 20:02

Lada Niva, I have one that I keep at the caravan on gods isle. It aint let me down yet, its got high & low 4x4 and a diff lock. Its that good that I had to pull an old landy out of the sand last year!! At 300 quid its been a bargin.

codprawn · 01 March 2008, 20:05

Yup also very good - coils all round - not much towing power. Autocar summed it up though - "Good in the fields but so is a tractor"!!!

yoyo · 01 March 2008, 20:08

Lada pics from a couple of years ago. lada still going strong!! but now have bigger Rib.

yoyo · 01 March 2008, 20:15

Here:

Roy Smith · 01 March 2008, 20:17

i have seen Lada Riva,s go though stuff that land rovers got stuck in
very basic but all the people that have owned one love them
i havant seen any for sale for a while, i don't know what they are like for towing
but four wheel drive and a diff lock should see you ok

yoyo · 01 March 2008, 20:20

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-Lada-Niva...QQcmdZViewItem

adams1x · 01 March 2008, 20:26

Thanks for all the advice so far....the lada looks amusing, might be worth it just for comedy value!! Anyone with experiences of the baby rav 4 for towing?

ian parkes · 01 March 2008, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

The Fronteras are pretty good - I know someone who has had a few.

One NOT to touch is the Ford Maverick/Terrano - I saw one which had failed it's MOT because the rear spring mounts were coming away from the chassis. I couldn't believe how thin the metal was and how small the chassis rails were. The vehicle looked well cared for and was only about 7 yrs old - far less rust on my 1987 Land Rover!!!

Must be the only one of each there codders . the maverick isn't a bad wagon as cheap 4x4.s go . Mine has given me no hassle at all in 2 years , certainly no rust at all and its 11 years old . On the other hand i have broken 2 landrovers in half in my time due to rusty chassis , nothing rusts as well as a landy chassis , .

But hey lest not start another bloody landrover post , you couldn't buy for £800 unless it was in a basket.

lada Niva is probably best bet for the price range here , or even a suzuki jeep would do the job . anything else for under a grand is likely to be very tired and expensive to repair , exept maybe the vauxhall .

ian parkes · 01 March 2008, 20:56

thinking about that mavericks have coil spring rear end so there is no spring mount to come away . You must be confused with another 4x4 that rust badly on the spring mounts like Land rovers

fred bolton · 01 March 2008, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

You won't get much for that but maybe a Disco V8 - they are much better than the diesel and much cheaper as well...............

Just looked here

http://www.adtrader.co.uk/

there are even a few diesels at that price!!!

And who gives a monkey about fuel consumption if it's only for launching

yoyo · 01 March 2008, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by adams1x

Thanks for all the advice so far....the lada looks amusing, might be worth it just for comedy value!!

Make no mistake The tough little lada is no joke. If its a short trip for launching they are great and cheap as chips. Codders is correct, you dont want to be towing a hudred miles with one but on the slip or beach at a budget price their hard to beat.

codprawn · 01 March 2008, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

thinking about that mavericks have coil spring rear end so there is no spring mount to come away . You must be confused with another 4x4 that rust badly on the spring mounts like Land rovers

Yes it is coil - the coils have to attach to something you know!!!

And whilst the Suzuki Jeep is incredible off road it's 1L or 1.3L engine doesn't exactly give much oomph for towing...............