Hi All, I'm new to the forum and am wanting to purchase a used LandRover. I'm looking at a 2012 LR4. My family needs 3 rows (check), a compact size as we live in the city (check) AND my husband tows a trailer, one every 4-6 weeks (?). We are unsure if the LR4 is up to the task. The trailer is 24ft and weighs about 6500lbs. Any info on tongue weight, hitch upgrades ect? Our alternative is a Tahoe but the Tahoe is rather beastly. Thanks for the scoop.
Towing with the LR4
- Thread starter Lucinda
- Start date
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mbw
Full Access Member
Do a search here, you should find some good threads about towing and different setups. I think the LR4 is a great tow rig. I use the factory tow setup and I think it is fine for my 24ft boat which weighs about what you are looking to tow. You will read about some other options and opinions which people think they need, but I haven't found or heard anything convincing that proves to me that it is needed.
We tow our heavy SeaRay all over the place and locally for boating on the mississippi river.
We tow our heavy SeaRay all over the place and locally for boating on the mississippi river.
mbw
Full Access Member
We tow locally probably a dozen times a year plus a big trip to a lake which is 3+ hours each way. When we bought the boat we towed it about 5 hours to get it home.
Only thing I don't like is the width of the mirrors is a bit small for a 8'5" wide boat.. and mirror extensions kinda suck. They vibrate like mad, so I don't use them.
cperez
Full Access Member
What model year LR4? Did you use the factory hitch? I had wondered if a 25' Airstream would be pressing the limits of the LR4 (tongue weight, overall weight, wheelbase, etc.) and am interested in your real world experience, thanks.
crash1121
Full Access Member
I tow 5500 & 6700 lbs at high elevation (up to 11000 feet) during the summers, and my '13 LR4 does very well. Hopefully I'll get to knock that load down ~800 lbs once I buy my own trailer. The quick-release hitch's max tongue weight of 770 lbs is sufficient for me.
Also, Tahoes are great tow rigs and can take a massive beating. That may be the better long-term tow rig, but as an all-rounder, it falls short of the LR4's versatility, capability, and refinement in my opinion.
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Also, Tahoes are great tow rigs and can take a massive beating. That may be the better long-term tow rig, but as an all-rounder, it falls short of the LR4's versatility, capability, and refinement in my opinion.
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2012 with factory hitch. The trailer had a wireless remote brake controller. Rented trailer north of Richmond Va. Returned to Raleigh NC traveled through mountains in WV. WV Turnpike into Kentucky. Returned home through the mountains of NC. Plenty of power. you can pull in 3-6 gear at 65 MPH. Brakes were more than ample with the assistance of the trailer brakes. Used a Reese Dual Cam. I purchased some mirrors to attach to stock mirrors for better rear visibility. Forget what brand they are, but would not recommend them. They kept coming loose. My service advisor at Land Rover Cary NC has never heard of any hitch related issue in his 20 plus years.
Here is the BUT!! I would not recommend using the LR4 for an extended time as a tow vehicle. Brakes - tires lower control arm bushings etc etc are costly. I think working the LR4 as a tow vehicle for more than 5-10k miles per year could be costly.
Just purchased a 30' Airstream. I traded my Volvo xc70 for a Ram 1500 ecodiesel to pull the trailer. I will use the LR4 to tow it for short trips to the beach etc.
Here is the BUT!! I would not recommend using the LR4 for an extended time as a tow vehicle. Brakes - tires lower control arm bushings etc etc are costly. I think working the LR4 as a tow vehicle for more than 5-10k miles per year could be costly.
Just purchased a 30' Airstream. I traded my Volvo xc70 for a Ram 1500 ecodiesel to pull the trailer. I will use the LR4 to tow it for short trips to the beach etc.
cperez
Full Access Member
Thanks, sounds like a great trip as I am familiar with that route (grew up in WV). Still, impressive that the LR4 handled that size of a trailer over that kind of hilly terrain...even more amazed that you will tow a 30' with it, even for short trips! (Sidebar question: Where'd you rent the 25' AS...Safford's?) Congrats on the 30-footer.
