Range Rover Defender LWB
Submitted: Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:08
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Member - Vern
Hi all
I am looking for some opinions on the Range Rover Defender as a Tow vehicle and also as a off road vehicle. I currently have a Nissan Pathfinder and tow a 2.9 tonne caravan and am looking at the defender as it has a 3.5 Tonne towing capacity.
Your thoughts and opinions would be appreciated.
Vern
Reply By: ben_gv3 - Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:12
Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:12
I don't see many RANGE ROVER Defenders around here... Landrover Defender yes though......
CHeck out the Aulro
forum for some
views.
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459093
Reply By: Member - Vern - Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:22
Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:22
My mistake that should have been Land Rover Defender
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459094
Follow Up By: Brian Purdue - Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:30
Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:30
IF you can find ANYTHING better buy it. I have had in no order, 2 X Range Rovers, 2 X Landcruisers, a Nissan Patrol, and (don't laugh), a Suzuki LJ 50. Each had advantages and faults. I have never owned a diesel powered vehicle in my life - driven them right up to road trains.
For a vehicle which will take you anywhere, except where the Suzuhki LJ 50 would go, the Land Rover has NO superior except, if you can get one the Perentie.
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Follow Up By: Brian Purdue - Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:36
Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:36
Sorry, TWO Land Rover SWB (One was a 1950 model that no-one could get going. A bloke from the RAAF at
Learmonth paid me $50. for it and DROVE it away.)
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Reply By: Axle - Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:35
Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 18:35
G/Day Vern,...Range Rover Diesel will have more grunt than you need, not sure on their legal towing weight ....I own a old Defender Trayback and up to two ton its a brilliant tow vehicle for the size of the motor!, as far as the rated 3.5ton capacity goes!...Its strong enough,But theres no way i would attempt to go any major distance!,,,,,On saying that i have a 100s ToyoLC with the same rating, and theres no way i would tow 3.5t with it either!, Actually in standard form its more unstable than the defender towing the same weights.
My Motto for what its worth is....The gross weight of what ever towed, should not exceed the weight of the towing vehicle! ( always a safe bet)...But theres plenty around with all their towing aids take things to the limit.
Cheers Axle.
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459097
Reply By: Member - Duncs - Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 21:32
Sunday, Jul 03, 2011 at 21:32
Vern,
I can't comment from personal experience but what I know of Landrover is that they surprise with their towing ability.
A few months ago I was travelling along the M5 between Riverwood and the tolls (110 speed limit). The lane I was in was travelling the quickest and I was keen to see what was towing the huge boat up ahead. It was a Defender, just after I went past he changed lanes and sat a couple of cars back all the way to Brooks Rd where I got off the M5, about 20km (?). My speed varied between about 70k/h and 110k/h. The huge boat was a 28 foot plate aluminium with twin outboards about 200hp each.
I don't know what it felt like in the car but it was definitely towing that load with ease. The driver looked pretty relaxed too.
Duncs
AnswerID:
459109
Follow Up By: Stevesub1 - Monday, Jul 04, 2011 at 09:07
Monday, Jul 04, 2011 at 09:07
Our Landrover nutcase friends in NZ have 2 Defenders, both 130's. One is about 4 years old and has the TD5i motor, the second is 1 year old with a Ford based diesel.
They tow a 21ft caravan with both and are happy as with the performance when towing with the newer one being better (more power).
They also use them both extensively offroad as they run an offroad touring, offroad training and also earthmoving/farmwork businesses and have had no problems.
Not that the Defenders are used for the earthwork or
farm work but they have to access difficult sites from time to time with staff, etc.
One thing they have done with all their Landrovers is take out after market warranties when the manufacters ones run out. This has saved then heaps of grief when they had their Discovery but the Defenders incl an older one they had (V8) have all given no problems at all - unusual in a Landrover.
Stevesub
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Reply By: Steve M1 (NSW) - Monday, Jul 04, 2011 at 10:00
Monday, Jul 04, 2011 at 10:00
You'd be hard pushed to find a better off-road vehicle but, as for the 3.5 rating, it refers to the chassis' capability rather than the engine's. I agree with the earlier poster who said you're pushing your luck with anything much over 2 tonnes. It will certainly do it but if you want to travel long distances you'll find the going v-e-r-y slow on the highway going up those l-o-n-g hills. Nothing unique about that though. I've had a 98 V8 Disco and petrol Landcruiser which also struggled up those long hills. If you are patient enough and are prepared to occasionally slow following traffic down as you climb, then ok. The diesel Disco is a better bet and also takes some beating off-road. I've had three Land Rovers and the only problems I've had with them has been shonky workmanship with after market accessories by blokes who are lost on anything not Toyota/Nissan/Ford'Holden.
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Reply By: wendys - Monday, Jul 04, 2011 at 22:04
Monday, Jul 04, 2011 at 22:04
Our van loaded is approaching 2 tonnes. Tow with 1997 110 defender, station wagon style. No problems sitting on 100kmh on open road. Hills slow us down a bit. Where we have to start from a stop (like traffic lights) on anything other than a slight
hill, the Driver will use low range, then stop when he can further on to put it back in normal drive. There seems to be that underpowered spot before the turbo can kick in. Given that, I don't know that we would want to tow much more weight with ours than we do.
Offroad is totally brilliant. Ours has done OTL on
Cape York with its hairy creek crossings;
Simpson Desert - it gobbles up sand dunes; back tracks in the
Kimberley; back tracks - some not on maps - in the Gulf country; and so on.
Fuel consumption is pretty good too. We get 10-12 km per litre not towing, and average nearly 8 towing.
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