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chaseav · 02-11-2015, 08:06 PM

I'm not sure where this topic should go but I was wondering if anyone tows a 5400+ pound Airstream with a Range Rover. It looks to me like the tow capacity is certainly there but the tongue weight with that airbag suspension would be a real problem. I'd all but ruled out the Range Rover as a potential tow vehicle until I saw Land Rover (Europe) doing some big promotion with a European Airstream in tow. It's #hybridadventure on Facebook and Twitter.

If anyone tows with one currently, I'd love to hear feedback. Thanks in advance!

rostam · 02-11-2015, 08:14 PM

Just FYI, the European Airstreams have a ~ 250# tongue weight, due to a different design (axles being more forward).

dkottum · 02-11-2015, 08:28 PM

What year and model Range Rover are you asking about? And what are your towing plans, locally to the State Parks or to Alaska?

chaseav · 02-11-2015, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rostam

Just FYI, the European Airstreams have a ~ 250# tongue weight, due to a different design (axles being more forward).

I certainly appreciate the feedback but I don't think that's accurate. If you're seeing a 250 number that's probably in KG not pounds and if that's the case, it converts to something like 550lbs. Which is exactly the max tongue weight of the Range Rover I'm looking at.

chaseav · 02-11-2015, 08:38 PM

I'd buy new or slightly used. I understand the diesel HSE will be available in the US next year.

chaseav · 02-11-2015, 08:39 PM

Tow plans are mostly in the Southeast with an annual trip across the Appalachians and back.

dkottum · 02-11-2015, 09:51 PM

So you don't have the truck or trailer yet. If buying near new you shouldn't have any trouble getting a Range Rover rated to tow a medium-sized Airstream. The greater question may be an expensive vehicle with a rather spotty reliability history, although I have heard the newer models are much better.

Personally a tow truck is nothing to me but a tool to get our Airstream where we want to go and back without a big investment. Not to big and not too small, but a good match to us, our Airstream, and our travel is the best choice.

rostam · 02-11-2015, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaseav

I certainly appreciate the feedback but I don't think that's accurate. If you're seeing a 250 number that's probably in KG not pounds and if that's the case, it converts to something like 550lbs. Which is exactly the max tongue weight of the Range Rover I'm looking at.

Here is the specification of a 27 ft Airstream in UK:

Specifications - Airstream & Company

Tongue weight (Nose weight) is between 110 to 150 KG, which is 242# to 330#. I suspect a North American 27 ft model would have a tongue weight close to 1000#.

dkottum · 02-11-2015, 10:38 PM

Here is a previous Land Rover discussion that a troll managed to get closed.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f516...ud-111985.html

Glenritas · 02-11-2015, 10:52 PM

I'm guessing the OP is thinking about a 23' FC , if so then the trailer is 8' wide x 23.9' long and dry wt starts at 4806# and gross wt is 6000# tongue wt with propane and no cargo or options is 468#.

We need to know the year , model and options of the Range Rover he OP is thinking about to be able to find out its tow rating in the US.

chaseav · 02-12-2015, 05:11 AM

Okay, I have a 2015 Intl Signature 25FB. Empty weight is 5400lbs, and tongue weight is 740lbs with full propane. The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover HSE has a towing capacity of 7716lbs which greatly exceeds that of my Chevy Avalanche at 7200lbs. (Much bigger engine). I can't even find the tongue weight anywhere right now but I believe it's about 550lbs. The tongue weight is the problem but for 2016, the diesel version may be available here which, may, have a higher tongue weight. Mostly what I'm after here is a first hand account towing with a Range Rover and if the tongue weight is accurate.

Also, our tow vehicle is always our multi-purpose, around town vehicle so I can justify the cost (sort of) but the performance doesn't really seem to be there. I'd settled on that a long time ago but seeing Land Rover not only use an Airstream but brag about its capabilities towing with it made me wonder. The rear suspension has a lock out function specifically for towing but I'm not sure what that does to tongue weight.

jmcarter · 02-12-2015, 05:18 AM

IMHO given your desire for a nice multi-purpose SUV you might be better served looking at the Mercedes GL, at least you can get some discounts. Great tow vehicle, especially with the diesel.

Tom_T · 02-12-2015, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaseav

Okay, I have a 2015 Intl Signature 25FB. Empty weight is 5400lbs, and tongue weight is 740lbs with full propane. The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover HSE has a towing capacity of 7716lbs which greatly exceeds that of my Chevy Avalanche at 7200lbs. (Much bigger engine). I can't even find the tongue weight anywhere right now but I believe it's about 550lbs. The tongue weight is the problem but for 2016, the diesel version may be available here which, may, have a higher tongue weight. Mostly what I'm after here is a first hand account towing with a Range Rover and if the tongue weight is accurate.

Also, our tow vehicle is always our multi-purpose, around town vehicle so I can justify the cost (sort of) but the performance doesn't really seem to be there. I'd settled on that a long time ago but seeing Land Rover not only use an Airstream but brag about its capabilities towing with it made me wonder. The rear suspension has a lock out function specifically for towing but I'm not sure what that does to tongue weight.

We're faced with a similar need & multipurpose vehicle, & wanting the smallest package with a V8, & came to the 2006-10 Porsche Cayenne S as our best bet & what we liked & what alos fit into other activities (e.g.: PCA vs. BMW-CCA, etc.), with the VW Taureg V8 or V10 & V6 TDI cousins as maybe. Similar 7716# TW & 770# HW (with WD, 5000/500 wt. brg. on some specs) as your L.Rover above.

For comparison - our TT is a restored with some mods vintage kin 1960 Avion T20 which Avion brochures from 1960 stated 2680#TW & 275# HW, but I just did a HW last weekend with my new Sherline Scale & got 535# HW - with it loaded as we travel - save a few food & clothing items/bags - plus several wt. adding items probably not included in the 275# HW, including: 2x 30# LP tanks, Hensley Cub WD/AS hitch, Tekonsha RF Brake Controller on an 18x24x1/16 steel plate, & a full larger than stock replacement polypropylene water tank (IIRC it's 27 vs 20 gals.). I'd guess the TW is probably more in the 3-4000# +/- range wet & loaded, & I'll be adding an RV bumper bolt-on 2" reciever & cargo rack with the spare & 2 cruiser bikes to the Avion's 4" rear bumper, which may off-load some HW.

I posted a similar "...give me your feedback...." post & got some good feedback, & some trolls & truck-only folks. Frankly, I found more towing feedback & info on the other Porsche & VW forums. I'd also talked with a bunch of Porsche mechanics & other owners with them, in order to get the full good, bad & ugly on them. I also looked at MBZ ML's, BMW X5's, LR & other mid-sized US & Asian SUVs (Durango/Grand Cherokee, Trailblazer/GMC, Explorer, Land Cruiser/4Runner, etc.) from the mid-late 2000's, before zoning in on the Cayenne S.

Hopefully you'll get some good actual experience here, but suggest that you also follow that approach in checking out the LR to make sure it fits your needs. If the LR is what you want, then check it out thoroughly & know any pitfalls.

If you're not sold on LR only, then maybe look at the other choices out there, & I think the Cayenne S or Diesel are good options in the premier end of the range - along with LR.

No sales pitch, since we're still looking anyway! But more for some ideas on an approach to checking it out for your AS's TV duties.

Good Luck!
Tom
///////

andreasduess · 02-12-2015, 03:12 PM

There's a reason that Land Rovers and Range Rovers are much loved tow vehicles in Europe, not just for travel trailers (which are different over there) but also for heavier jobs, such as horse trailers and even light artillery. I have personally taken a Land Rover British Army truck across the high passes of the Pyrenees, with zero trouble - and not always on paved roads.

They are excellent, sturdy vehicles. The model you're referencing has a US published towing capacity of over 7700lbs.

The HSE has a Jaguar sourced engine, Aston Martin developed the gearbox and the brakes are 19" Brembos. About as far from a toy as you can get.

vanster · 02-12-2015, 03:15 PM

I towed a 3600# race car with tools and spares using a U Haul tandem axle trailer
with bias tires halfway across the country with a V8 Cayenne. Aside from the gas mileage Porsche has engineered the best tow vehicle made. You can pitch it sideways at 60mph and it will correct itself without blinking. Try that with a big Chevy or Ford. Lots of You Tube videos of this as well. I would imagine the VW sister or and or the diesel would be even better. Anyone that has ever towed a U Haul trailer knows what crap they are. They do not want to follow you home.

Jkbrothers · 02-12-2015, 04:38 PM

Not sure it will be helpful, but We began towing our 23D wit's a 2010 land rover and after two trips ended up getting a f-150. We found the combination of the air suspension and the short wheelbase to be not ideal. With the truck I almost forget the trailer is back there, while with he Land Rover I felt every bump, gust of wind and passing semi.

Silverleaf · 02-12-2015, 05:23 PM

I tow my 1997 30 Classic with a 2008 ML320 CDI diesel. I also considered the VW, BMW, and Porsche diesels. They all use the same 3.0L twin turbo six. I chose the ML as we are long time Mercedes owners. These are all great as tow vehicles, but they all have weak hitches. Check out CanAm RV website for info on how Andy Thompson beefs up these hitches to make them safe for towing Airstreams. Couple that with a quality hitch (I use a Hensley Arrow), and you can tow almost anything Airstream builds.

Silverleaf · 02-12-2015, 05:45 PM

Didn't mean to exclude the Range Rover in my last comment. I've wondered about them as well. CanAm RV can probably give you an expert opinion on the RR and back it up with real life examples. BTW, I am not an employee - just a very satisfied customer.

elsewhere · 02-12-2015, 06:11 PM

I have towed my 27fb with a 2011 Range Rover about 3800 miles so far with no problems. Very smooth plenty of power,good breaking and as always felt very stable except for the time when we encountered 25 mile an hour direct cross winds coming across the Mohave Desert had to slow down to under 50.

chaseav · 02-12-2015, 09:34 PM

Somebody had a comment about the wheelbase of the Range Rover. Great point there. They do have a long wheel base model but no desire to buy that.

And thank you for the first hand feedback, whomever gave it. (Sorry, I'm using the App and can't see names once I start typing!)

My Chevy Avalanche does great with my Airstream but the 5.3L does lack the power for the big hills.