Range Rover HSE 2014

[GreyLens]

New vehicle...new capacities...supposed 7700 lb tow limit. Any thoughts regarding the possibilities? It is a Supercharged V-6, 300+ horse...300+ torque.

[Jr1974]

I towed with an '04 Rover for two years and just completed my first trip with my new tow vehicle today (2014 Tundra). Honestly, although the Tundra is much better on the steeper hills, the ride with the Rover was better. Keep in mind that the 04 has less HP and Torque than the newer models, so I think you will be very happy. Don't let the naysayers discourage you (short wheel base, unreliable.... Blah, blah, blah). The range rover is a hell of a tow vehicle. Airstream website has a RR on their home page last I checked.

[Airrogant]

What do you plan to tow with it? How much "stuff" do you drag along with you in the vehicle? It doesn't have a high payload capacity. I think you could fill it with people and gear and go WAY over the vehicle's payload capacity if you weren't pretty careful.

[Vitaminsea]

Have the v8 supercharged. Lots of pulling power. The max hitch weight is 700#. It will pull 7700 by specs. But the hitch weight is limiting factor on bigger trailers.

The SUV is from the future in so many ways.

[andreasduess]

Just get the hitch reinforced and be done with it. Makes a huge difference.

[Vitaminsea]

Even with the 2014 range rover losing 700# with new aluminum, it's the suspension and total weight that limits me. The engine is amazing etc. My door sticker says 700# for the hitch. And about 1000# added for the gvw (people and gear and hitchThe SUV is great but for my 28' trailer not the right fit.

[rostam]

If your vehicle is under warranty, reinforcing the hitch may void the warranty. I have seen photos of some massive hitch reinforcements on this forum -- Its not something you could hide from your dealer. The dealer could (rightly) assume you are overloading the vehicle (otherwise you would not need such a major reinforcement) and blame the issue on the overloading and refuse to fix it.

[andreasduess]

I showed my hitch reinforcement to my dealer - I trust him and wanted to get his opinion about any possible warranty issue. He admired the work, called it "very professionally done" and assured me that this would in no way void any warranty.

However, if anybody would come in with damage that would suggest that the reason for the damage is (for example) that the payload has been seriously exceeded then eyebrows might well be raised.

[Tltulsa]

There is a lot of debate regarding the GVW, tongue weight and such...and i'm not discounting any of it. But i towed our similar sized 29' 93 Excella 2000 miles behind a 2011 LR4. Mind you, V8 under the hood, but i've been told the Sport and LR4 share a chassis/suspension. Having said that, the RR's also often have towing software built in that compensate for trailer sway and whatnot. I'd call your RR dealer and have a detailed conversation. Towing alone is not always the issue, sometimes stopping quickly will be the real issue...or holding the line during traffic and or windy road conditions. I believe the weight of the RR's is an asset when things get weird.

[GreyLens]

Wow, thanks to everyone for your replies. Much to think about.

I'm new to towing...reading as much as I can before we commit. Here's an older article that raises a number of issues. Whew!

Q: When you speak of hitch reinforcement do you mean reinforcement of an equalizing hitch like Hensley?

We haven't decided on the Airstream size yet but it will likely be 25' or 28' length in Sterling or Serenity layout...though I lean toward to rear bedroom. Only two travelers and not a lot of additional gear...no generator, etc. Plan to stay in RV facilities...no backwoods stuff with the Airstream.

[MrUKToad]

Originally Posted by andreasduess

I showed my hitch reinforcement to my dealer - I trust him and wanted to get his opinion about any possible warranty issue. He admired the work, called it "very professionally done" and assured me that this would in no way void any warranty.

That's my experience, too, my dealer was similarly impressed.

Strengthening the hitch addresses the frailties of the hitch, not the vehicle, and doesn't imply any overloading. There was a VAP audio file on here not so long ago in which the Canadian hitch wizard (He Who Must Not Be Named) explained that the SAE guidelines for hitch manufacture, those used by vehicle and after market manufacturers, were woefully inadequate and struggled to contain the forces exerted by even a moderately loaded weight distribution system, hence the required re-inforcement.

Talk of void warranties is at best, speculation.

[rostam]

Things could be different in Canada. Hence, I suggest the OP take a photo of the hitch reinforcement, done by He Who Should Not Be Named, to his dealer and verify that it does not void the warranty.

[JFScheck]

What is the max payload?

[NCstreamer]

Payload?
Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?