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What are the rules or recommendations regarding towing weights vs vehicle size/power?

I loosely recall something like, the trailer weight should not exceed the vehicle weight but thats a rather dim and distant recollection.

I'm thinking of buying a small horse for my daughter. I am presently looking for a first car for her and wondering if I can combine her first car with the tow vehicle ( I only drive a 1.8 )

Would a Toyota Cavalier 2.4 Litre do? It is still a reasonably small sized car for her to drive.

I'm afraid I don't know the weight of horses.

Steve

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 14 December 2009

Oh dear, you risk walking into a mine field here.

The Toyota Cavalier is one Toyota model you should stay well clear of. It was born out of a joint venture with Chevrolet some years ago, and one which I suspect Toyota have lived to regret ever since.

Some parts prices now outweigh the vehicles value and their reliability record is poor. Even the most immaculate example should be avoided.

To tow a horse float you need a vehicle that can comfortably exceed the weight of the trailer and horse combined. The huge risk you are taking is putting an inexperienced driver into a large vehicle, a possible lethal combination.

There is no towing weight vs. vehicle size rule that I am aware of. The rule that does apply is for the ability for a vehicle to stop within 7 meters at 30kph regardless of the load.

My best advise is to get your daughter a small easy to drive reliable vehicle as the first priority and forget the horse float for a while.