Towing with a Range Rover - The Hull Truth

baja232 · 03-23-2009, 08:18 PM

I have a Baja 232 Islander and am thinking of getting a Range Rover for my everyday car. Supposedly the dry weight of the boat is around 3,700 lbs

Has anyone tried to tow with a full size range rover (not the sport model)? It claims to have a tow rating of 7,716 pounds and the car has a gross weight of 6,834 lbs.

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks,

Andrew

intrepid289 · 03-23-2009, 08:30 PM

I have the sport, non supercharged, same engine as the full size and i have no problems towing my 289 intrepid. I'm pulling 7000 lbs loaded, i wouldn't go 200 miles, but my marina is 5 miles away with no problems.

Besides, the rr is the best suv you could buy.

Mist-Rest · 03-23-2009, 08:32 PM

I have nothing good to say about RR so I changed my mind about posting.

xyzzy · 03-23-2009, 08:33 PM

I've towed a PIper Archer Cherokee Airplane 85 miles through off-road desert terrain with an 06 with no problems.

(dont ask)

davepen · 03-23-2009, 08:35 PM

Here in MN, a Range Rover is guaranteed to have cancer in two years.

This is probably not an issue for you in CA, but leads me to believe they aren't that well-made.

baja232 · 03-23-2009, 09:39 PM

Intrepid 289,

why wouldn't you tow 200 miles? Could you make it up hills etc. if you had to? I'm pulling about 6,500 pounds loaded, and just not sure what the RR would feel like towing that much.

When I go somewhere with the boat, I take it up to the foothills at about 2,000 feet elevation. (from zero). Would it make it?

Andrew

rdollie · 03-24-2009, 10:46 AM

RR's are phenominal off-road vehicles - when they aren't in the shop. Their resale values absolutely stink though - bad for an owner but good if you are looking to buy used.

intrepid289 · 03-28-2009, 10:02 AM

Baja, if you need to go through 2,000' climbs i don't know. I had to change my breaks pretty soon after I started towing, driving long distances just makes me feel iffy about the brakes. If you must do a sudden stop it won't be short. At 6500lbs your at the upper limit of what youshould be towing. I also have used an '04 cadillca escalade ext 4wd to tow my boat and it handles it better. Off the line it's smoother and it stops better also. My trailer is brand new with discs on all four wheels, even with that it puts a strain on the rr.
I can't think of to many gas vehicles i'd feel comfortable towing 7000lbs with over long distances and large hills.

As far as the quality of the rr, I haven't had any issues with mine in 3 years, but i do agree, it a car better leased than purchased b/c the resale does suck and if when you have repairs in the future everything is expensive. But there really aren't many suv's that are nicer, and for off road luxury suv there is no other suv to compare.

i know i didn't clear up your concerns, but it's not an easy answer.
good luck

yamtt125 · 03-29-2009, 06:22 PM

Baja,
A friend of mine has a RR sport (non-supercharged) that he has towed his Scout 222 Dorado with, and has had no problems. The drives are typically a couple hundred miles with a combinaion of highway driving and driving on hilly backroads in Vermont. I have driven it before, and have never been concerned. I've also towed that boat with '04 suburban and also not had any trouble, but I felt better with the RR.

-Andrew

gbough · 03-29-2009, 10:12 PM

Ive towed extensively, with a 2000 4.6 HSE RR, my boat weights about 3,600 dry, and I never felt it lacked power or braking, I also towed with a 2003 RR, Either RR has been the best tow vehicle Ive owned. (Ford Explorer, Nissan Titan, Toyota Land Cruiser)

I had to tow on several ocations my wifes 2003 RR that weights 6724 lb, with my 2000 RR
It kept breaking all the time. They are not cheap to own, they break up regularly.

Afishinado · 03-31-2009, 05:05 AM

In the late 80's, early 90's I towed with a buds RR. Pulled off to check the lights etc after a while, and it wouldn't come out of Park.. WTF? Something about a safety feature if a brake or tail light bulb goes out it locks into park.... Funny now, but pretty pissed at the time, Thanksgiving morning sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.

That said, same guy, 2 RR's later we were towing his Parker to Florida in a storm that should have parked us. Amazing vehicle. He used to joke that he never had an issue with his RR's, they only would break when someone else was borrowing them, it was true too. He has had 2 Yukons, and 2 Denalis since the 3 or 4 RR's and would never go back. Funny story, The last one locked itself in the middle of the street in front of a fancy restraunt in downtown Phila waiting for the valet to take it. Had the area in a knot for an hour, it got traded next day, he was pissed.

meadorbust · 08-11-2010, 07:56 PM

I have a 23' Yamaha weighing just under 5K lbs. with trailer and I pull it with my RR Sport for well over 250 miles one direction several times a year. My RR handles the trip without any problems. I am traveling from sea level to well over 5,000 ft elevation, and it pulls the weight without much effort maintaining highway speeds. The RR Sport has the same engine as the full size, so you should not have any problems. Also - I haven't had any problems with my RR, like some of the others describe here. It is an amazing vehicle and I love driving it.

805gregg · 08-11-2010, 08:15 PM

Get a Jeep, RR is just a status symbol, when not in the shop.

BIG R JR · 08-11-2010, 10:07 PM

I have yet to see a Range Rover with a Tow Hitch , didn't even know they came with one until reading this thread.....Not something I see here in South Florida, and I have seen plenty of RR but zero with tow hitch on vehicle. That's odd, I do like the look of the vehicle, but never drove one.

Regards,
Big R

8-13-10 Edit Update saw my first Land Rover / Range Rover with a Trailer Hitch included at the Advance Auto store today.

stringer bell · 08-11-2010, 10:26 PM

Every RR has a tow hitch, except newer supercharged ones. They are horrible at towing, my '03 struggles with 7000lbs and transmission get hot pretty often. Mileage is horrible as well.

Tuna Colada · 08-12-2010, 06:02 AM

If you get one make sure it is under warranty for the period you own it. I bought a new 2003 for $75K and 5 years later had to dump it for $6000. I swear it had a self destruct timer exactly equal to the warranty period. Not a vehicle you want to own without a warranty

big money · 08-12-2010, 10:29 AM

A friend had a two month old RR and called them to see if it would be OK to tow a 23 Whaler a distance of about 200 miles on level roads. The dealer says "Definitely" no propblems. Half way through the drive the transmission burnt up, slinging transmission fluid all over the boat. THe best part is the RR ended up in the shop for 3 months due to a part shortage, but they did give him a loner vehicle....a Suburban. I've always heard the same thing, they drive good when running and look cool, but they tend to break.....a lot.

285exp · 08-12-2010, 01:46 PM

I have three friends who have purchased Range Rovers. None of them would ever do it again.

fundbroker · 08-13-2010, 09:17 PM

I had a 2000 Range Rover. Loved the idea of having one until I actually purchased it and it left me stranded on the first interstate trip. The dash lit up like an Xmas tree. Based on what they charged me to fix it, I would have been better off just parting it out! I wouldn't have another one....certainly not one out of warranty. I now have a Denali and Land Cruiser with zero issues for either. No experience towing with it as it was replaced before it made it out of the shop......

Infintas · 08-15-2010, 10:04 AM

Baja we have a 2008 RR, which we have used to pull our MasterCraft ski boat on numerous occasions. I have not had any issues. It actually pulls quite well do to the airbags suspension on all 4 wheels. This is our second and we will probably get another, very comfortable and drives great.