Pickup Truck Advice

samt · 04 December 2009, 15:47

I need to change my car, renault clio, to somthing abit more useful. I don't need to do any serious towing as I'm 21, and havn't taken a trailer test, so can only tow 750kg. 4WD would be nice, but not essential. Looking to spend upto £4000

I don't know alot about them yet. Was hoping somone could recommend any models I should look at or avoid.

Oh and this means I can get another rib!

GaryC · 04 December 2009, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by samt

I need to change my car, renault clio, to somthing abit more useful. I don't need to do any serious towing as I'm 21, and havn't taken a trailer test, so can only tow 750kg. 4WD would be nice, but not essential. Looking to spend upto £4000

I don't know alot about them yet. Was hoping somone could recommend any models I should look at or avoid.

Oh and this means I can get another rib!

I was under the impression that you could tow more than 750kg without the trailer test. Subject to a max MAM of 3500kg.

samt · 04 December 2009, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryC

I was under the impression that you could tow more than 750kg without the trailer test. Subject to a max MAM of 3500kg.

it seems to be a very confusing topic, but I think you can if you passed your driving test before 1997...

GaryC · 04 December 2009, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by samt

it seems to be a very confusing topic, but I think you can if you passed your driving test before 1997...

As far as I am aware (and I looked at this issue because we have a club RIB and need to know who actually can drive it.) if you have a Class B License. i.e everyone after 1995. Then the max is 3500kg. This is MAM. It results in something quite stupid, in that the limit becomes the MAM of the Car. ie. the smaller the car the better. 1350 Trailer and 2150 Car. (subject to the unlaiden restriction)
The trailer MAM must not exceed the unlaiden weight of the car. Check out the website below. Sorry not sure how to put a proper link in.

Let me know if this is wrong...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...es/DG_10013073

Poly · 04 December 2009, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryC

I was under the impression that you could tow more than 750kg without the trailer test. Subject to a max MAM of 3500kg.

That's certainly what this information says: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...es/DG_10013073

That may influence samt towards a "smaller" tow vehicle. e.g. a tow vehicle of 2 tonnes MAM with a towing capability of 1.5 tonnes would open up more boating options than a 2.5 tonnes tow vehicle.

One point that older drivers need to be aware of is that it is not actually the date of your test pass that matters - it is the date your license is issued. Anyone who has a license reissue for medical grounds (diabetes, epilepsy, certain eye problems, etc) on restricted terms (e.g. every 3 years) will have had a new license issued (this is not the same as changing the name/address on your license). The DVLA do not make it obvious in this process that you have lost certain categories/entitlements.

GaryC · 04 December 2009, 16:48

We came to the conclusion that if someone had a 1.9 Audi or something like that, then they could tow a 1350 trailer but if they had a Landrover then the couldn't which did not seem to make much sense in the safety grounds. But after all this is government.

Interesting about the license. Mine has just gone away for updating (new pic)

markg · 04 December 2009, 20:49

i have had 3 pick ups over the last 10 years, all 4wd, they get worked hard mostly off road all day, i had a hilux then a nissan d21 and now an l200, the hilux was a bit underpowered and was not good towing anything of any size, quite comfortable though and fairly reliable apart from front axle swivels and prop shaft ujs,
d21 was far from comfortable, ugly and underpowered although it did tow quite well once you got it rolling, very reliable no problems except wear parts like brakes clutch etc
l200 is an 05 on 50k miles and its just had a new fuel pump @ £1500, its got more power and tows well but its pretty thirsty and parts are expensive, i would not want another one,
the nissan was probably the best value for money, then the hilux and the l200 last

chewy · 04 December 2009, 21:30

My local garage has had three L200's and loves them, had no problems apart from normal wear and tear.

I've got a Discovery its a tdi and used as a second car, I thought it would get on my nerves with been slow but it hasn't bothered me that much. Its not a pick-up but I do think its a good car and is easy to work on. Parts are cheap and with no ECU doesn't have too much to go wrong on it.

I did look at pick-ups but would only have bought a hard back to go over the load bay.

markg · 11 December 2009, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

My local garage has had three L200's and loves them, had no problems apart from normal wear and tear.

I've got a Discovery its a tdi and used as a second car, I thought it would get on my nerves with been slow but it hasn't bothered me that much. Its not a pick-up but I do think its a good car and is easy to work on. Parts are cheap and with no ECU doesn't have too much to go wrong on it.

I did look at pick-ups but would only have bought a hard back to go over the load bay.

discovery tdi especially the 300 are pretty good value for money these days everyone seems to want defenders and the disco has virtually the same running gear for a lot less money , certainly cheaper to keep a disco than a jap 4x4, our td5 disco only cost £100 more for the whole car than the fuel pump on the l200 its got heated seats and leather trim and stuff as well

chewy · 11 December 2009, 09:53

Disco and one of these:

http://www.longranger.net/page4/page3/page3.html

samt · 15 December 2009, 15:50

Thanks for the replys guys.

did look into the L200 or Navara, as much as I want one. They're too big, so decided to go for a van. I still get to play with landrovers at work anyway.