Has anybody towed with a Range Rover Sport Supercharged?
09-02-2009, 12:25 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Has anybody towed with a Range Rover Sport Supercharged?
I'm considering one as a DD/very-occasional tow rig. With the 2010s coming out w/ a new interior, slightly redesigned exterior (I'm not a fan), and 510hp I'm seeing a LOT of great deals on '06-09s. I still drive my car to most events, but for things 2+ hours away it'd be nice to start towing (particularly since I'm going to an ARE dry-sump so I'm ditching AC). With my work/travel I would say I make it to events where I'd tow about 1 time a quarter, once a month MAX. Yes, I know a dizzy is the way to go for those that tow a lot, but that's not where I'm at.
Of course I'd be using an (light) open trailer.
Potential strengths of the RRS SC for towing:
Potential weaknesses of the RRS SC for towing:
Thoughts (and flames)?
-TJ
PS- I would never, ever, EVER own a Land Rover of any sort w/o an extended warranty that covers as long as I intend to own it. So please don't give me the British car reliability song 'n dance. RRS's are actually pretty decent, and heck my Lexus was Lemon Lawed so who knows anymore!
Of course I'd be using an (light) open trailer.
Potential strengths of the RRS SC for towing:
- ~7,700lbs tow rating - more than a C5Z on an open trailer
- ~5,500lbs curb weight
- auto-leveling air suspension
- Brembo brakes
- 390hp/410tq
- comfy/nice place to spend time
Potential weaknesses of the RRS SC for towing:
- ~7,700lbs tow rating - not a LOT more than a C5Z on an open trailer (overkill is king)
- heat-soak w/ the blower towing (no idea, just seems like it could be an issue)
- MPG
- General d-bag/yuppie soccer mom image
Thoughts (and flames)?
-TJ
PS- I would never, ever, EVER own a Land Rover of any sort w/o an extended warranty that covers as long as I intend to own it. So please don't give me the British car reliability song 'n dance. RRS's are actually pretty decent, and heck my Lexus was Lemon Lawed so who knows anymore!
Last edited by tjZ06; 09-02-2009 at 12:28 PM.
09-02-2009, 12:57 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area CA
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Full warranty coverage = smart plan 
As for the other things, really just depends on what you are looking for in a DD, more so that it does a tow vehicle. You could go the Escalade/Denali route for the same concept without the possible heat soak issues.
You could also go pick up a mid to high mileage diesel truck for the tow option and pickup some lease return for similar total cash I would bet.
I love my 06 Duramax CC shortbed. Fully loaded, pulls down 19+ mpg every tank and rides pretty damn nice. Have a set of HD Bilsteins waiting to go on it in another 10-15k miles.
G'luck man
Fej
As for the other things, really just depends on what you are looking for in a DD, more so that it does a tow vehicle. You could go the Escalade/Denali route for the same concept without the possible heat soak issues.
You could also go pick up a mid to high mileage diesel truck for the tow option and pickup some lease return for similar total cash I would bet.
I love my 06 Duramax CC shortbed. Fully loaded, pulls down 19+ mpg every tank and rides pretty damn nice. Have a set of HD Bilsteins waiting to go on it in another 10-15k miles.
G'luck man
Fej
09-03-2009, 01:19 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Full warranty coverage = smart plan
As for the other things, really just depends on what you are looking for in a DD, more so that it does a tow vehicle. You could go the Escalade/Denali route for the same concept without the possible heat soak issues.
You could also go pick up a mid to high mileage diesel truck for the tow option and pickup some lease return for similar total cash I would bet.
I love my 06 Duramax CC shortbed. Fully loaded, pulls down 19+ mpg every tank and rides pretty damn nice. Have a set of HD Bilsteins waiting to go on it in another 10-15k miles.
G'luck man
Fej
As for the other things, really just depends on what you are looking for in a DD, more so that it does a tow vehicle. You could go the Escalade/Denali route for the same concept without the possible heat soak issues.
You could also go pick up a mid to high mileage diesel truck for the tow option and pickup some lease return for similar total cash I would bet.
I love my 06 Duramax CC shortbed. Fully loaded, pulls down 19+ mpg every tank and rides pretty damn nice. Have a set of HD Bilsteins waiting to go on it in another 10-15k miles.
G'luck man
Fej
I don't have time/space for buying 2 more vehicles. The priority is DD but towing too is a consideration. And you'd be surprised at the deal I'm getting on the rig I'm picking up today.
-TJ
09-03-2009, 03:00 PM
#5
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Posts: 30,606
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Why do the British drink warm beer?
Lucas refrigerators
Don't get me wrong I love British cars, you just have to be a bit of a masochist to own one!
Lucas refrigerators
Don't get me wrong I love British cars, you just have to be a bit of a masochist to own one!
09-03-2009, 03:56 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Haha. I guess it's a bit "pimp" but honestly one of the reasons I'm not big on the Escalade is the "hood rich" image. I guess I'm going to get the "white guy with more money than common sense" image though.
But as I said, bumper to bumper extended warranty with a low/no deductible is a requirement for me (and the one I'm getting has that).
-TJ
09-03-2009, 07:44 PM
#8
Team Owner
OK, it will tow 7700 lbs. Di=oes it have provisions for installing an electronic trailer brake controller? Will you have to get an aftermarket hitch of at least a Class 3 if not a Class 5? Does it have a good tranny cooler? HD cooling, big battery, What is the load range rating of the tires?
A C5 Z06 on an open trailer shouldn't be much more than 5500lbs even with an all-steel trailer. If you don't go over 80% of the maximum recommend towed weight (and that 5500 is right around 80%) you should be OK.
But what is the GCWR of the R-R? That is the Gross Combined Weight Rating and is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer including all passengers and cargo. You have to total up the weight of everything you will be bringing with you. Tires, tools, friends, kids, the dog, whatever. All that weight has to be added and can't exceed the GCWR of the vehicle. And the tongue weight of the trailer (about 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight) has to be added to that weight.
You may not want to hear about the relative poor service/maintenance record of R-R's but the fact is that they do have some issues and the cost of repairs are higher than comparable Tahoe's, Suburbans, Expeditions, etc.
If it's going to be a DD, you really should consider a pickup. You can carry a lot of cargo you need for track days in the bed, extended cabs have lots of storage space and can carry folks in decent comfort, and you will probably get better gas economy.
My 08 SIlverado 4x4 Extended cab LTZ and 6.0L gas motor does an excellent job of hauling my 87 coupe and 18' steel trailer (total weight about 5400 lbs) and gets 11.5 to 12 mpg in the process at freeway speeds. It has a HD trailering package that includes an integral trailer brake controller, big tranny cooler, HD everything and a Class IV hitch.
But is sounds like you are ready to go with a R-R anyway. Hope it all works for you, but most everyone I know that tows a car for some sort of motorsports activity will either have a pickup (gas or diesel) or a Ford or Chevy SUV like a Tahoe, Suburban, or Expedition
A C5 Z06 on an open trailer shouldn't be much more than 5500lbs even with an all-steel trailer. If you don't go over 80% of the maximum recommend towed weight (and that 5500 is right around 80%) you should be OK.
But what is the GCWR of the R-R? That is the Gross Combined Weight Rating and is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer including all passengers and cargo. You have to total up the weight of everything you will be bringing with you. Tires, tools, friends, kids, the dog, whatever. All that weight has to be added and can't exceed the GCWR of the vehicle. And the tongue weight of the trailer (about 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight) has to be added to that weight.
You may not want to hear about the relative poor service/maintenance record of R-R's but the fact is that they do have some issues and the cost of repairs are higher than comparable Tahoe's, Suburbans, Expeditions, etc.
If it's going to be a DD, you really should consider a pickup. You can carry a lot of cargo you need for track days in the bed, extended cabs have lots of storage space and can carry folks in decent comfort, and you will probably get better gas economy.
My 08 SIlverado 4x4 Extended cab LTZ and 6.0L gas motor does an excellent job of hauling my 87 coupe and 18' steel trailer (total weight about 5400 lbs) and gets 11.5 to 12 mpg in the process at freeway speeds. It has a HD trailering package that includes an integral trailer brake controller, big tranny cooler, HD everything and a Class IV hitch.
But is sounds like you are ready to go with a R-R anyway. Hope it all works for you, but most everyone I know that tows a car for some sort of motorsports activity will either have a pickup (gas or diesel) or a Ford or Chevy SUV like a Tahoe, Suburban, or Expedition
09-04-2009, 12:13 AM
#9
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
OK, it will tow 7700 lbs. Di=oes it have provisions for installing an electronic trailer brake controller? Will you have to get an aftermarket hitch of at least a Class 3 if not a Class 5? Does it have a good tranny cooler? HD cooling, big battery, What is the load range rating of the tires?
A C5 Z06 on an open trailer shouldn't be much more than 5500lbs even with an all-steel trailer. If you don't go over 80% of the maximum recommend towed weight (and that 5500 is right around 80%) you should be OK.
But what is the GCWR of the R-R? That is the Gross Combined Weight Rating and is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer including all passengers and cargo. You have to total up the weight of everything you will be bringing with you. Tires, tools, friends, kids, the dog, whatever. All that weight has to be added and can't exceed the GCWR of the vehicle. And the tongue weight of the trailer (about 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight) has to be added to that weight.
You may not want to hear about the relative poor service/maintenance record of R-R's but the fact is that they do have some issues and the cost of repairs are higher than comparable Tahoe's, Suburbans, Expeditions, etc.
If it's going to be a DD, you really should consider a pickup. You can carry a lot of cargo you need for track days in the bed, extended cabs have lots of storage space and can carry folks in decent comfort, and you will probably get better gas economy.
My 08 SIlverado 4x4 Extended cab LTZ and 6.0L gas motor does an excellent job of hauling my 87 coupe and 18' steel trailer (total weight about 5400 lbs) and gets 11.5 to 12 mpg in the process at freeway speeds. It has a HD trailering package that includes an integral trailer brake controller, big tranny cooler, HD everything and a Class IV hitch.
But is sounds like you are ready to go with a R-R anyway. Hope it all works for you, but most everyone I know that tows a car for some sort of motorsports activity will either have a pickup (gas or diesel) or a Ford or Chevy SUV like a Tahoe, Suburban, or Expedition
A C5 Z06 on an open trailer shouldn't be much more than 5500lbs even with an all-steel trailer. If you don't go over 80% of the maximum recommend towed weight (and that 5500 is right around 80%) you should be OK.
But what is the GCWR of the R-R? That is the Gross Combined Weight Rating and is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer including all passengers and cargo. You have to total up the weight of everything you will be bringing with you. Tires, tools, friends, kids, the dog, whatever. All that weight has to be added and can't exceed the GCWR of the vehicle. And the tongue weight of the trailer (about 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight) has to be added to that weight.
You may not want to hear about the relative poor service/maintenance record of R-R's but the fact is that they do have some issues and the cost of repairs are higher than comparable Tahoe's, Suburbans, Expeditions, etc.
If it's going to be a DD, you really should consider a pickup. You can carry a lot of cargo you need for track days in the bed, extended cabs have lots of storage space and can carry folks in decent comfort, and you will probably get better gas economy.
My 08 SIlverado 4x4 Extended cab LTZ and 6.0L gas motor does an excellent job of hauling my 87 coupe and 18' steel trailer (total weight about 5400 lbs) and gets 11.5 to 12 mpg in the process at freeway speeds. It has a HD trailering package that includes an integral trailer brake controller, big tranny cooler, HD everything and a Class IV hitch.
But is sounds like you are ready to go with a R-R anyway. Hope it all works for you, but most everyone I know that tows a car for some sort of motorsports activity will either have a pickup (gas or diesel) or a Ford or Chevy SUV like a Tahoe, Suburban, or Expedition
All it needs as far as a "hitch" is this receiver adapter thing: http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/KNB500080G.cfm as the rest is integral to the frame.
I believe the Supercharged model (what I got) has HD cooling for the motor and trans, regardless I'm going to look into an additional tranny cooler.
The battery and tire load-rating questions I'll have to research a bit (aka walk out to the truck and look at them, haha).
GCWR is 13318, Curb Weight is listed at 5670, leaving 7558. Going ahead and taking 80% of that you get 6046. Figuring 1000lbs of ppl and stuff in the truck that "only" leaves ~5k lbs for the car/trailer to stay under 80% of what the truck is rated for. That will be very close w/ a steel trailer.
It'll do it... but if I were towing more than a handful of times per year I'd go to a dizzy pickup.
And here she is:
-TJ
09-04-2009, 10:40 AM
#11
Safety Car
TJ my brother is a GM for Range Rover and he has a handfull of customer that tow with your truck, and he says they have gotten better over the years but as long as you have a warranty you will love the truck. PM me if you need anything.
Nando
Nando
09-04-2009, 01:54 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Thanks.
Awesome, thanks!!! And yes I have an extended warranty on it, only 2 years (unlimited miles) at this point but it was no-cost to me (prev owner paid transfer fee) and I'll have the option of extending it in 2 years if I stay with this truck. I got a pretty insane deal on it, so I'm a happy guy right now.
-TJ
-TJ
