Also have a Ford Ranger twin cab J&H - yay - it was the best thing we've ever bought, like EVER! Just renewed insurance - I am 35 with older named driver, been driving since 17 and 5 yrs no claims and the best I could do on a commercial policy was £400.
It was up in the field this week unloading/loading pigs and has been a Godsend as we have no quad (yet). We have a 6x4 livestock trailer and a 5x8 Ifor Williams job - the truck can tow both fully laden have towed livestock, mini diggers, dumper trucks, trailer full of our stuff across Europe twice in a month - you name it it has coped. Fuel econ isn't bad did a 360 mile round trip last week on a tank, £80 ish to fill. It's a 57 plate apparently that's when a new engine was being rolled out and that's made it perform a lot better than older models. Sailed thru it's MOT every year, inc today, still got the original rear tyres on with 60k on the clock. Max towing is about 2700kg, the bigger trailer is the same total max weight so both compatible. It drives better when loaded IMO, all round great vehicle
I also have a Range Rover P38, sitting off road ATM because it was too expensive to tax and insure and not get much use, but that will tow a good 1000 kg more than the Ranger, so it may need to be back on the road soon...they are fraught with electrical problems but I love mine, 4.6 petrol monster!
Speaking to a bloke today who reckons Defenders are going up in value, new ones are too complicated, stick to older ones...think we've missed the boat there!
Freelanders - looked at them too, watch for transmission probs apparently because it's permanently in 4wd or something, it can be disengaged...? Also the petrol engines were dodgy, made by Rover, the diesels were built by BMW and far more reliable. Some of that may be wrong, it's just from memory but I found out loads on the forums when we were looking for a Rover, loads of good tips.
What was the pick up on Top Gear that just wouldn't die, toyota, Hi-lux? That seems like a good bet!
You could always get a cheap 4x4 that's an MOT failure and just use it on the land to start with, get used to towing etc? And for the minimum miles you're allowed to go off with a farm vehicle, check insurance etc. Or what about just a quad?
Something like the little almost wanna be jeeps/suzuki Jimny springs to mind or the likes. They should be reasonable to buy, have some towing capability and are small enough to make insurance feasible - I'd try a few insurance comparison websites and some of the ad sites to gauge prices...