Hi Sarah,

When it comes to towing, various factors affect the maximum weight of trailer you can tow. In terms of civilian vehicles, the ceiling is a 3,500kg braked trailer, which your horsebox will get close to attaining when it’s laden.

To get a car rated for 3,500kg, you need it to be: heavy; preferably a turbodiesel; four-wheel drive; and usually with a fixed towing hitch, not one of the electrically retractable ones (as these limit the trailer to around 2,600kg).

Thus, you’re looking at big 4x4s, SUVs and pick-up trucks. Check them all carefully, as not every large vehicle in these classes can necessarily tow 3,500kg (case in point: the otherwise excellent Mitsubishi L200 can only lug 3,100kg), but some of your options include the Toyota Land Cruiser or the Hilux, the Mitsubishi Shogun, the Land Rover Defender (a used car only now) or the Discovery, the BMW X6, the Range Rover, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class or a Volkswagen Touareg. All of these are 4x4s or SUVs; for one-tonne pick-ups, try the Volkswagen Amarok, the Nissan Navara, the Mercedes-Benz X-Class or the Ford Ranger.

However, there’s an outside, leftfield choice that is at an affordable price, and that’s the SsangYong Rexton. Check it out – it might be just perfect for your needs.