HELP! Land Rover Tow Vehicle?

[Voyageur]

Just looking for some educated opinions...

We have owned our 1972 Overlander for around 20 years. Previously towed with an 86 diesel Suburban (underpowered) and most recently a 99 Suburban, 3/4 ton, with a 454 V8. Plenty of power and a great towing engine. Well, I sold (gave) that to our daughter, who has two children, one with wheelchair needs.

We currently own a 1999 Land Rover, Discovery II with a 4 ltr V8. Our Airstream is well within the towing specifications of the Disco and we are equipped with an equalizing hitch, Reese, friction type, anti-sway bars and a Prodigy controller, I am a sedate driver (read as slow) and would like to use this as our primary tow vehicle. In the "Old Days" I used to see regular sedans towing Airstreams all the time.

My concern is the relatively short 100" wheelbase.

All right. bring on the pros and cons. Is anybody already towing with a Land Rover?

Thanks and Merry almost Christmas,

David

[Voyageur]

Potential tow vehicle. Thanks for any thoughts...

[Der Sand]

Have a Range Rover Sport and it tows very well with our Safari trailer. We are here in Colorado dealing with the mountain roads as well.

I believe the wheel base is about the same as yours.

Be safe!

Merry Christmas to you too!

Dave

[Cantrell]

David,
There are a number of threads concerning Range Rovers towing Airstreams--some very recent. Go to the search function on the blue tool bar above and use the Google function. Lots of info there.
Good luck and Merry Christmas to you!

[ROBERT CROSS]

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...cle-48224.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...ory-17136.html

There may be more...

[moosetags]

First off, welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.

As to the Range Rover towing a 27' Airstream, the short wheel base could present some uncomfortable towing moments with a 27 foot trailer. All I can suggest is that since you already own the Range Rover and the hitch system, give it a try.

If you are not happy with the results, consider going to a Hensley or Pro-Pride hitch system. One of these may provide a more stable towing situation. I know that these hitch systems are expensive, but they are a lot less expensive than
buying a new tow vehicle.

Brian

[Aage]

Hi and welcome to airforums.com, Voyageur!

My brother has a Disco as well (I don't know the year) but he tells me that his book states that it will only allow a 300 lb tongue weight.

What does yours say?

Here's his rig:

[Voyageur]

The stated GVWR on our "all aluminum" 1972 Overlander is 6200 lbs. I don't know hitch weight...

Seems that is well within the rated "towing specs". A friend of mine retired and then started a second career delivering mobile homes. He said the shorter wheelbase of his "towing tractor" greatly increased his maneuverability.

Our Land Rover has a curb weight of 4576 lbs. so it won't exactly be "Tail wagging dog". The suggestion of a Hensley or Pro Ride hitch, at around $2,000, would indeed make a big difference in towing safety and would be way less than another vehicle.



Sorry Lucy wasn't smiling. ;o( All of our cabinets and bulkheads are aluminum. The only wood in our rig is the floor. I think it is quite a bit lighter than a new coach.

The Disco engine produces less than 200 HP but shows 300 torque. Our old tow rig had a GIANT V8 and burned a GIANT amount of fuel.



I think I will hitch it up and give it a careful try. Just a short trip with a it of highway speed (55 mph) towing will tell me a lot.

We love the comfort and luxury and definitely don't want to tow without 4WD.

David

[Voyageur]

Thanks for the welcome.

My daily driver is a 1996 Discovery I. Your brother has the same "Safety Devices" roof rack and Hella lights. I love the color... Sorry, I know it is not a Land Rover forum. My bad...



My 1996 Disco I, "BELUGA" day at the beach...

[Voyageur]

The owner's manual on Lucy's 99 Disco II says 500 lbs tongue weight. I don't know the tongue weight of our 1972, 27' Overlander. Maybe I can find it online.

Guess a test-pull is in the works, I think tomorrow I'll hitch her up and give it a careful go...

[cameront120]

According to the 1972 Airstream brochure, the Overlander with the double bed has a hitch weight of 480 pounds, while the unit with the twin beds has a hitch weight of 540 pounds.

http://service.airstream.com/files/l...8e63399933.pdf

[Voyageur]

Thanks Cameron...

With an unladen hitch weight of 480 and the addition of the full tanks and the other "Stuff" we carry that could put us well over the 500 lb tongue weight restriction of the Land Rover, I don't reall want to think about moving "Stuff" fore and aft, just to try and lower the tongue weight.

Anybody got a 4WD, 454 Suburban for sale cheap?

[bob34787]

I do not know about your's but my 02 disco had a max. towing weight of 5000#

[Aage]

Originally Posted by Voyageur

The stated GVWR on our "all aluminum" 1972 Overlander is 6200 lbs. I don't know hitch weight...

According to the AS specs, a '72 Overlander twin has a hitch weight of 540 lbs, and the double is 480 lbs.

Either one is well over the 300 lbs that LR rates my brother's Disco at for hitch weight, and I was just curious what your Land Rover manual gives as the rated maximum hitch weight allowable.

He wanted to be able to tow a large AS to camp in, but it had to be with his LR since they like to go off-roading in it.

No soap so far, they won't go with a little AS, so the whole idea is in limbo right now...

edit: Ooops, I guess I didn't read down far enough, your AS seems to be doable, or within a few pounds. 300 pounds just didn't seem reasonable for such a husky vehicle as his: body-on-frame, V8, with a puny 300 lbs? Maybe it's a misprint in his book.

[redstart]

Originally Posted by Voyageur

Anybody got a 4WD, 454 Suburban for sale cheap?

i think i just saw one in the classifieds!!

2005 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 - Airstream Trailer & Airstream Motorhome Classifieds

[Voyageur]

Thanks "Red Start". Funny, last night I bought a new Optima red top battery. As soon as she saw it she said, "Looks like it's "Red"y to start". Kind of like your nickname...

I don't want a tow vehicle without 4WD. I have been stuck many times, in our 99, 454, Sub. Lots of power - NO TRACTION! These weren't even off-road conditions. Once in Sarasota at the rally. I was towing over a wet part of a field and she just started slipping and digging in. Had to get pulled out with Airstream still attached. I know it is still possible to get very stuck with 4WD but it sure ups the odds...

David

[redstart]

oops didn't read the ad closely heh heh. i agree on the 4x4 !!! those suburbans are difficult to find used - we tried but ended up with the dodge ram (4x4!!), which we also love.

[jaacina]

I have owned a couple of Land Rovers and used them to tow trailers. Not my Airstream as of yet since I am in the process of restoring it. 1968 Safari.

However, I have towed a 1960 Ford Thunderbird and a 1955 Land Rover Series I 107 pickup on a 24 foot car trailer. The trailer did not have brakes. I have towed with both a Series I and II Discovery. Both vehicles handled the weight with no issues and was able to stop the trailer with out problems. Granted these were properly loaded trailers. The Rover 4.0 V8 is a bit under powered, but it is still has good torque. It does the job, just slowly. I also have Old Man Emu heavy duty springs which help with the weight.

The articles that are linked are regarding the LR3 which has a different hitch design. In the UK they have better hitch available that does get securely bolted the chassis and not just use the quick release system that we have in the states.

I am looking at picking up a truck my family owned when I was younger to be my Airstream tow vehicle... a 1975 Ford Crew Cab 4x4. It will get a rebuild with a newer 5 speed, fuel injection etc... however.