Forum:
I'm considering buying a Daihatsu Fourtrak with the purpose of towing a horse trailer loaded with one 14.2 pony. I've done some general research and I've heard mostly positive feedback, however I have heard a couple of negative comments too. Any advice from those with experience of towing horses with a Fourtrak (please mention which model) would be much appreciated.
I've towed horses and ponies
I've towed horses and ponies with just about every Daihatsu 4x4 there is, and they will all pull a trailer with a 14.2 in it (even the most rotund cob) withg no problems. For towing anything though the best platform would be the long wheel base Fourtrak, preferably the F75 as it's leaf springs make it mo stable. The F78 (Indipendent) would do just as good a job at out and out power (better actualy if you have the intercooled version) but is slightly less stable due to the coil springs on the rear. That said for the small weight your talking of pulling that diffrence will hardly notice, and the F78 is a fare more comfortable to drive.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Thanks. I assume the "F78"
Thanks. I assume the "F78" model is any of the "Independent" models? The ones I've seen advertised are called TDX Independent, TDL Independent, TDX-SE Independent and TDL-SE Independent? So would any of these with the long wheel base and with intercool be equally as good as each other for my purpose?
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I think Nev answered your question but I will say it for him again "Any of the late type F78s will do the job" I,v pulled just about all types of big loads with Fourtraks & never had a problem regarding power or more important safety they were all more than man enough for the job. The only other 4x4 that can hold a candle against a Fourtrak that I,v owned myself was a Tricked Up SWB Nissan Patrol Turbo Diesel it had lots more power but used twice the amount of Diesel to do the same job & was also the size of a Lancaster Bomber it was a great vehicle but it wasn,t a Fourtrak STRM
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thanks. what difference is there exactly between the long and short wheel base? Nev recommended the long wheel for towing, is that because it's more stable? Also what does the intercooled function have?
The TDL is the short
The TDL is the short wheelbase and the TDX is the long wheelbase. Either will do fine with a horse trailer but the TDX has a bigger boot and thats about it. The intercooler simply gives you a bit more power. My TDX tows a horse trailer with no problem at all. The only thing to make sure of it that the radiator is ok, its a bit of a weakness on these especially as they get older, one thats on the way out means the engine temperature rises when towing not a huge issue but one to watch
highly recomend 4trak
as said i highly recomend the fourtrak for towing horse box,we've towed for years and the f78 2.8tdx is the best ive used,pulls our 2 heavy built pony's no probs.the wife handles it easily and she impresses at how easy manouvered it can be compared to others in pony club.as u know most shows parking is in feilds and on more than one occasion we've had to help others out, it pulls in 4 wheel drive a treat.not the most comfortable but if ur not snobby and want a hard working jeep then i recomend the f78 independant
happy towing bill
I only recomend the LWB as
I only recomend the LWB as it is slightly more stable as a towing platform due to the longer wheel base. It is only a slight diffrence, as the diffrence between wheel bases is only about a foot. The LWB is also more comfortable as a car for the same reasion. However it has a larger turning circle, and is therfor less manuverable, a problem sometimes when revursing your trailer.
If you go by the F number, the F78 is the LWB Indipendent and the F73 is the SWB Indipendent.
For what you want I think the F75 or F78 would be best, depending on how much you have to spend.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
Thanks Nev. I'm much
Thanks Nev. I'm much clearer as to which model to look for now. My budget is £2,500 - hopefully I'll be able to get a decent F78 for that. My only concern with going for the bigger (long wheel base as opposed to short wheel base) is that I'm only petite (5'2") however I'd rather have the most stable option for towing. Guess I'll have to try one and see how i feel.
5'2 u'll manage
as i said my wife manages ours she's only slightly bigger at 5'4 but petite and she loves it has no probs with stearing and she can see visually very well for manouvering. hope u get a nice one if u look back old posts u'll find some on what to look out for on fourtraks but for 25oo u should get somin half decent.only prob u'll find is getting a saddle out and in boot is a pest with trailer on as door hits jockey wheel but thats nothing easy solved.
happy jeep hunting bill
The answer to the rear door
The answer to the rear door problem (if there is room to do it) is to park with the car 'jack knifed' to the trailer. ie pull up then back up on full lock as far as you can without damaging enything. I know at a lot of show grounds this is not really an option, but surtainly helps if you can do it.
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
that's a handy tip! I'll
that's a handy tip! I'll make sure I consider this slight problem when I start to view. Depending on how restrictive the problem is, I suppose you can always either use the front passenger seat for saddles or presumably you can access the stuff in the back of the vehicle via the driver or passenger door?
no room at shows
never been to many shows that would allow space for jack knifing like that and certainly as a organiser of many shows we wouldnt allow it but possible i suppose, if ur jockey wheels the same as ours on a ifor williams there is room its just not too handy but nothing worth going to bother for,many times we just use the back seat. happy hunting for ur jeep bill
do you know if the boot
do you know if the boot door/jockey wheel is an issue with other makes of trailer such as Rice or Sinclair? I only ask as I haven't bought my trailer yet and I'm not fussed what make it is as long as it's safe and in budget! As I'm starting from scratch I might as well avoid the boot problem if it's possible. thanks
boot prob
to be honest its nothing to worry about u can get in and out it just doesnt open up properly,i'd forget i said anything.if its bothering you still i did move my jockey wheel on old trailer but really not worth it.i'll send u a pm on trailers ive had since your just starting out it may be some help about weights and stability.
bill
I bought a 1991 from a lady
I bought a 1991 from a lady in France who used it regularly to tow a twin axle box capable of taking two horses. I beleieve she towed it from the Midlands to the Limousin in france.
Since owning the vehicle I have towed a 20foot yacht on trailer back from the south of France, and many trips of building materials, wood , sand cement etc.
F75 turbo deisel lwb resin top - living in the Limousin, France
F75 turbo deisel lwb resin top - living in the Limousin, France
Fourtrak to tow Horses
Yes, Yes, Yes, absolutely!!!
In GB, I towed with a Fourtrak for over 10 years. Easily pulled a Rice Beaufort double horse trailer and loads of kit! Never let me down. Sadly parted with vehicle before coming to France.Then decided I couldnt do with out a Fourtrak, called Rocky here, so I got another and am so pleased with that as well. I have a saying, Just Do It, and that is what you should do, buy it!
4trak towing
Hi, I've towed various caravans with 2 4traks (Independant LWB's) and the only problem I've had has been overheating on very long uphill sections of motorways in France. This was partly due to my inexperience with diesels (overfuelling, ie. too heavy on the go pedal to keep the speed up instead of dropping down a gear and keeping the engine revving freely (and the viscous fan).
My 2nd 4trak was fitted with a larger (3 core) radiator under warranty which together with the correct driving technique improved things vastly. There's only been one dodgy time since, stuck behind a low loader on a mega uphill section started things warming up again. I'm going for the belt and braces approach an fitting an electric fan in front of the rad to assist the viscous one.
My dealer (in the middle of the Pennines) tells me he's had local 4traks in for servicing where the owners have "bolted up" the viscous fans so that they run at engine speed all the time. A colleague off roads a Rangey space frame special and he's done the same thing to solve his overheating problem. In short, if you are not going to tackle very long uphill sections you shouldn't have any problem, if you do, drop down a gear earlier than normal and keep the engine revving freely. Apologies if I'm "teaching granny to suck eggs", if not I hope it helps.
Happy 4trakking.
Slomoshun