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deejayen



Member Since: 18 Sep 2017
Location: Inverness
Posts: 56

Scotland 
Towing weights
Just wondering what the advised and legal maximum towing weights for a Land Rover 90 Td5 Hard Top are. I always thought it would be able to tow just about anything, and I think one of its ratings is for 3500Kg. However, I've been reading up on caravans, and it seems that the maximum advised tow limit is 85% of a vehicle's kerbweight. I think the 90's kerbweight is around 1780Kg, and 85% of that would be around 1500Kg. Does that mean that I should be looking at a caravan with an MTPLM (or should that be an MRO?) of no more than 1500Kg? Does that 3500Kg rating include the vehicle's weight along with the caravan's weight? It's all quite confusing!
Post #721003 2nd Aug 2018 11:28am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
The 85% recommendation for caravans is just that, a recommendation, and really aimed at people towing with ordinary cars. A Land Rover is officially rated at 3500kg with overrun brakes and will happily tow any caravan that you can put behind it. As long as it's loaded correctly. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #721004 2nd Aug 2018 11:38am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
Oh, and the 3500kg is the limit on the weight of what you're towing. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #721005 2nd Aug 2018 11:40am
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5084

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
While the permissible towing weight is 3500 Kg with overrun brake’s it is advisable when purchasing a caravan to go well below that limit. Most caravans these days because of the design and use of lightweight materials tend to fall in the 1350 KG to 1500 Kg bracket so with a caravan of that weight you would be fine.

Edit due to wrong factual data Embarassed For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1


Last edited by gilarion on 2nd Aug 2018 1:01pm. Edited 2 times in total
Post #721012 2nd Aug 2018 12:01pm
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deejayen



Member Since: 18 Sep 2017
Location: Inverness
Posts: 56

Scotland 
Thanks for that!

I found the 1780Kg figure on the Internet, so it could well be wrong!
Post #721014 2nd Aug 2018 12:10pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
Gilarion, it looks like that's been lifted from UKTOW? I'm afraid it's miles out - the kerb weight of a 90 is around 1770-1870kgs, depending on spec.

https://workshop-manuals.com/landrover/def...b_weights/ Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #721023 2nd Aug 2018 12:20pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16808

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
gilarion wrote:
... Most caravans these days [...] tend to fall in the 1350 KG to 15000 Kg bracket so with a caravan of that weight you would be fine.


A fifteen tonne caravan?! Wow! Rolling with laughter

A Defender will have no trouble towing 3500kg if driven sensibly and if the trailer of van is loaded sensibly.
Post #721024 2nd Aug 2018 12:22pm
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5084

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
Quote:
A fifteen tonne caravan?! Wow!


gilarion wrote:
1350 KG to 15000 Kg bracket so with a caravan of that weight you would be fine.


Embarassed Embarassed

Although that might explain why when towing my caravan I can never get out of first gear Laughing For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1
Post #721040 2nd Aug 2018 12:58pm
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Wangers



Member Since: 19 Jan 2013
Location: West London
Posts: 265

United Kingdom 1995 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Aintree Green
But will also depend when you passed your driving test, and what licence categories you have as to what you as a driver are legally allowed to tow, as opposed to what your vehicle can legally tow....... and then it's also a driver's ability. TY&GN
10 years in a WOLF, WIMIK and Snatch and this is all I have to show!
Post #721105 2nd Aug 2018 5:57pm
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X4SKP



Member Since: 29 Nov 2013
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2284

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey
Hello deejayen

I went through the same logic, all be it in the knowledge that it is potentailly possible to drag 3500kgs with a Defender...
I certainly wouldn't want to cover serious mileage with that kind of weight, let alone break at any kind of reasonable speed with standard Defender's breaks.

I worked on 1800Kgs kerb weight (semi-loaded), and 85% of that would be around 1530Kgs

Our Caravan is 1200kgs... loaded 1500kgs (I managed to get it on a 'weight table' at a local aggregates quarry Mr. Green )
and with a combination of same height, and same width as a Defender together with a 'bullet shaped' front end she tows exceptionally well.


Click image to enlarge


So I concluded that Defender (90) + a 1500Kg 'towed vehicle' combined would get to a figure approaching 3500kgs.

But I have to say that we are near enough always the smallest 'rig' when we go anywhere, and I've seen some truly massive set ups behind Defenders, with no apparent issues.

Good luck... SKIP
https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html
Post #721114 2nd Aug 2018 6:36pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2519

Scotland 
Defender brakes are very good, they’re designed to be used to carry loads and tow after all.

As has been point out the 85% ‘rule’ is for numpties towing caravans with piddly little cars. A Defender is a very capable towing vehicle and will tow just about anything, to just about anywhere.
Post #721118 2nd Aug 2018 6:45pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

United Kingdom 
We tow 3.5 tonne trailers and caravans on a regular basis. The Defenders tow well but they have been remapped. A close eye needs keeping on the speedo so that speed limits are not exceeded. Also I tend to leave a bigger 'safety zone' when towing and tend to take regular breaks.


Brendan
Post #721130 2nd Aug 2018 8:02pm
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Paulv8



Member Since: 09 Jun 2013
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 616

1989 Defender 90 V8 Petrol CSW Alpine White
I tow a1680kgs Coachman Pastiche 525/4 van with my standard 13 plate 110. It tows it well but up hills it does struggle. I wouldn't want heavier without a map. V8 90...WIP
Post #721145 2nd Aug 2018 8:58pm
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Paulv8



Member Since: 09 Jun 2013
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 616

1989 Defender 90 V8 Petrol CSW Alpine White
I would suggest a 90, with a shorter wheelbase night need extra care in selecting a van. V8 90...WIP
Post #721146 2nd Aug 2018 9:00pm
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deejayen



Member Since: 18 Sep 2017
Location: Inverness
Posts: 56

Scotland 
Thanks for that. I love the Eriba! I've wanted one for years, but now that I've begun look around, even old ones are really expensive. The van I'm thinking about getting weighs around 1250Kg with a maximum weight of 1650kg. My Defender is older (2004) and higher mileage, but it has been remapped, and I've always had it serviced.

PaulV8, why do you say that a 90 might need extra care in selecting a van, and what van designs/features should I be choosing/avoiding?
Post #721169 3rd Aug 2018 6:35am
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