Thread: Range ROver Tow Capacity

4000kg according to http://www.drive.com.au/buy/market_v...&body=4D+WAGON but I can't tell you why they dropped it. Might have been when they went to monocoque?

Steve

Thanks very much for the info. I'm looking for a vehicle to tow a boat in the vicinity of 3.5 to 4 ton. I've got a 130 rated to 4 ton but it has the stock 2.5 litre engine and it's that noisy my hearing is going off. I've managed to find a 93 model range rover with a 6.5 litre chev diesel that should be much nicer, I'm trusting the rangies are quieter and more comfortable than the defenders. Regards the downgrading from 4 to 3.5 tons, I was once told this was due to the addition of ABS and whilst this seems to be true for the defender the Range Rover according to the website you supplied (excellent source by the way) came out in 1995 with ABS and towing 4 tons so not sure what the answer it. Either way thanks for your reply. Now I just need to get a ride in a 1993 Rangie or talk to an owner to see if they are comfortable and quiet !

The chev 6.5 diesels are fairly noisy as well. The RR may have a bit more sound insulation than a Defender however........

As I understand it in Australia there was a change to some of the rules for towing. You used to be allowed to tow a trailer that weighed more than the towing vehicle providing the trailer had command brakes (brakes that come on before the vehicles brakes and release after or can be applied without using the vehicles normal brakes). Thus what the vehicle was plated at being able to tow was what it could actually tow.

The newer rule says that you can only tow upto what the vehicle weighs but must have brakes for anything over 750kg and command brakes for anything over 2T. Im not entirely sure ( the writing changes a bit state to state) as to if this means you can tow upto the the rated fully loaded weight of the vehicle or if you can only tow what the vehicle weighs. So for compliance reasons the GVM for a trailer has been lowered. Personally after using a Series III to pull a loaded 5 ton trailer Id be more than happy to pull 4 tons with Big red. It just wouldnt be legal.

Im not sure why the rule changed other than the usual suspects of;-

a, someone worked out a way to for mr taxman to get a dollar from it
b, the yanks did it first
c, the europeans did it first
d, it was a knee jerk reaction to a safety problem
e, it was self justification of someones existance in a beurocracy.


Dave

"In a Landrover the other car is your crumple zone."

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

As I understand it in Australia there was a change to some of the rules for towing. You used to be allowed to tow a trailer that weighed more than the towing vehicle providing the trailer had command brakes (brakes that come on before the vehicles brakes and release after or can be applied without using the vehicles normal brakes). Thus what the vehicle was plated at being able to tow was what it could actually tow.

The newer rule says that you can only tow upto what the vehicle weighs but must have brakes for anything over 750kg and command brakes for anything over 2T. Im not entirely sure ( the writing changes a bit state to state) as to if this means you can tow upto the the rated fully loaded weight of the vehicle or if you can only tow what the vehicle weighs. So for compliance reasons the GVM for a trailer has been lowered. Personally after using a Series III to pull a loaded 5 ton trailer Id be more than happy to pull 4 tons with Big red. It just wouldnt be legal.

Im not sure why the rule changed other than the usual suspects of;-

a, someone worked out a way to for mr taxman to get a dollar from it
b, the yanks did it first
c, the europeans did it first
d, it was a knee jerk reaction to a safety problem
e, it was self justification of someones existance in a beurocracy.


Dave

"In a Landrover the other car is your crumple zone."

Just checked NSW rules.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...ngtrailers.pdf

These used to limit the maximum trailer mass to the unladen mass of the towing vehicle (regardless of manufacturer's limits) and require brakes for over 750kg. (used to book unwary interstate visitors for overweight trailers)

Current requirement is the trailer mass must be the lesser of the towbar and coupling rating, trailer rating, tyre rating, and vehicle rated maximum towing capacity, which if not stated may be taken as 1.5 times the unladen mass of the towing vehicle, provided it cannot exceed the mass of the towing vehicle if brakes are not required.

Brakes are required for all trailers over 750kg, and over 2T these have to operate on all wheels, be command brakes and apply automatically on breakaway.

For all vehicles post Jan 1992 the tow bar must be permanently marked with the manufacturer's name, vehicle it is designed for (or part no.) and maximum towing mass.

Nothing in these changed regulations would affect Landrover's specification of maximum towing mass - more likely would be changes in UK or EU requirements, perhaps to do with some change to tax implications.

John

these command brakes,,
I gather they are electric?

cant see how hydraulic could come on before the car---


its amazing some of the cars I see towing huge boats up to the ramp at Hervey Bay,,,

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

these command brakes,,
I gather they are electric?

cant see how hydraulic could come on before the car---


its amazing some of the cars I see towing huge boats up to the ramp at Hervey Bay,,,

Command brakes these days are most commonly electric, but they could be air or vacuum. Most heavy vehicles would use air, vacuum used to be the common type for lighter vehicles, but I think it has been largely superseded by electric which is easier to install, particularly in cars.
John

IIRC

<750kg unbraked.
750kg - 2000kg with over run brakes.
2000kg - 4000kg with coupled brakes.

Basically the same as a Defender....

However, this is all going to be subject to local regs too. e.g here in the UK, if towing commercially, you have to have a tachograph fitted to he vehicle unless you're towing a specifically exempt trailer.

M