toyota rav jeep, what do you think of them for towing horses and are they expensive on desil or petrol?

Question

toyota rav jeep, what do you think of them for towing horses and are they expensive on desil or petrol?
i just love them, haven't driven a jeep before but need one for the horses and always wanted one of them. i only really do short durings and odd time once a month or Should go to shows and sales. are they expensive on Diesel or petrol. which is best. also i want a 5 door but i think they are very bug so think i will go for a 3 door even though i hate 3 doors of any kind. i will only be for me. are they easy towing any problems with them, want a second hnd maybe 2003 for price. any faults with them or any bad years or good years. what do you think of them. thanks

Answer 1

You should certainly look at a diesel if you will be towing regularly. Diesels have more torque, meaning pulling power and strength. Petrol engines have more overall power but not when under a load, towing or full of gear. Like comparing a wrestler and a sprinter!



A diesel, especially the older 2003 engine models, will be noticeably slower with normal driving. Not due to age but because diesels' have developed a lot since with the newer models. But as I mentioned far better for towing. Diesel engines last much longer too, generally a 4 cylinder petrol will need a rebuild at 180 - 200,000 kms, sooner if it's had a hard life. I mention this as 2003 models you are looking at may be getting up there!



RAV 4 would be a bad choice for towing anything but a small garden trailer, the V6 model maybe, but would suffer under towing especially with 2 horses.



I have owned 2 and driven many Jeeps. Newer models are slightly better but they all suffer from build quality issues. Except the 2001 Grand Cherokee LTD model I owned, but that was built in the Graz, Austria, factory not in the US. For 2003 ish model JEEP's , buying a good one would be hit and miss and you run a strong risk of inheriting someone elses nightmare.



Landrover Defender, good for towing, but not comfortable for the trip to the shops. Discovery should be considered, Freelander the earlier noisy diesel engines should be avoided and not so good.



Possibly Mitsubishi Pajero diesel or if you can get into the price range a 2001-3 ish BMW X5 diesel.



These two may be scrutinized by other car boffins, but when you consider a neat more reliable car for a lady, with good towing, 'when it's only for 2 horses for short journeys' and suitable for shopping, look seriously at these two.



Just to add to Redogrollin who commented after me, 'this lady is in Northern Ireland. Not one of the trucks you mentioned is readily available there, and certainly not in the 2003 RAV 4 price range!' . . . . . Great info though!

Answer 2

A.) A RAV is not a JEEP. Not even close.

B.) Even if you used a lighweight aluminum trailer, you would be over or right at the limit of a V6 RAV's engine and suspension.



I would look at something with a minimum 5,000 towing capacity (more if you're considering a gooseneck or 5th wheel). A Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 or Diesel would be a good selection if you want a sport utility. Otherwise, a standard- or medium-duty pickup truck is the way to go.

Answer 3

Although I have never owned one, my bosses wife has one. She loves it. The Maximum towing capacity is 1,500 pounds with the 4-cylinder, 3,500 pounds with the V6.



Diesel/gas -- Gas/Diesel -- that would be a matter of preference. Diesel engines have the power on the low end of the pull and gas engines have the power on the upper end of the tow. If you're going to use this vehicle for mostly pulling the horse trailer I would get the diesel. But if you're going to be driving it more like a car most of the time, a gas engine would serve you better.



For pulling, I would suggest that you check you're total trailer load weight before buying a RAV

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Nope a RAV is just not going to do it. Maybe a single horse trailer, but not a double. You would need something that will pull 2800kg or 6,000 pounds.

The 6 cylinder RAV will pull 3500 pounds or 1687 kg. Thats' just the weight of your horses. Now you have to add the weight of your trailer and tack and feed, etc.

You're going to have to get a real truck.

Answer 4

1st off a toyota rav4 is NOT A JEEP . not even close. if you want to tow a horse trailer then get

a full size 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck. they will have no trouble with a horse trailer. the load you are going to tow will destroy the little toyota. they are not set up to do this kind of towing. the jeep commander can tow. it is rated for 6000 pounds. your 3/4 and 1 ton trucks(ford chevy/GMC, dodge)

can be purchased with their company's diesel engines and can easily tow 2 horses and the trailer with no problems. all are rated for towing 9,000 pounds or more. the cummins turbo diesel and the

powerstroke are the the best light truck engines out there. the duramax is good but doesn't have quite the power of the other two.

Answer 5

the Rav 4 is a front wheel drive or all wheel drive THAT IS NOT Suitable for towing youll damage your engine and driveline.



The jeep with a v6 will struggle to even get on the road if you even dare try to tow, youll be going like 20 mph with your foot on the gas while your rpms gonna be reving like crazy. Which will enventually cause damage....



If you want to tow a hourse you need a truck, most likely a 3/4 ton (2500).

Answer 6

A Rav would struggle with a two horse trailer fully loaded ,you need something heaver,a struggling Rav will use more fuel than say a L/Rover or a Mitsubishi.

Answer 7

sure you may positioned a hitch on a 2003 Rav4. in case you like a Toyota hitch, the area # is PT214-42050. The wiring harnes is 08921-42861. you may get a ball mount from abode Depot or someplace like that for less costly than a Toyota Dealership. yet once you like a good hitch it extremely is a good theory to bypass with a oem.