This years Kelly Bluebook for towing has the Defender 90/110 listed as towing 8200 lbs. I had ruled it out on cost, but after configuring cheaper vehicles to tow over 8K pounds it is right in the same range.
I live in the Appalachian foothills so there is appeal in having a great off road vehicle. I’ve just never owned a land rover or even ridden in one. I’d love feedback if there is someone out there using one as their farm/towing vehicle.
The UK “Auto Trader” magazine has some You Tube videos that are v thorough in reviewing design and performance and it is probably worth having a look. My two thoughts are that the rear-mounted spare wheel is just too tempting to thieves and maintainence on such a high tech vehicle might be an issue.
I have immense respect for the old Defender as it just carried on, no matter what was done to it, and I’ve driven in places that eat normal vehicles. Land Rover look to have built on that tradition with the new vehicles.
Around here, in the UK, all the Land Rover range is habitually used for towing bumper pull trailers, with a couple of hunters or eventers on board.
I fancy going out for a test drive now because I do love the personality of the old Defender.
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Thank you! What you say mirrors everything I’ve read! They are supposed to be unstoppable.
I towed with a ‘99 LR Discovery (also rated that high) with a tow package for years. It has a lot of low end power, and never seemed to get stuck. With a brake controller it had adequate stopping power, although maybe borderline for more than an aluminum two horse. The main issue I had was that it liked to cruise along between 45-55 mph, and the dynamics didn’t feel stable going 70 on the interstate—and it also isn’t geared right to tow at those speeds. I liked it for local hauling on smaller roads, but wouldn’t buy that setup again since everything is accessed by an interstate where I am now.
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Potentially that’s resolved with the newer models, but I’m still not sure it has the wheelbase to get good dynamics with most trailers.
It sure was classy looking and convenient for parking in muddy fields though.
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I was working in Sierra Leone, west Africa, and the project had been lent/given an battered desert-modified long wheel base 110 to use in a tropical rain forest zone. There was simply a gap where second used to be in the gates in the gear stick so shifting gears was between 1 and 3 only. One never got up sufficient speed on those minimal roads to need 4th. If the rainfall was extreme, the engine would cut out but if everyone on board just bounced up and down a few times it would get going again. One time, coming back from market in the nearest town, we had on board six senior villagers, three project members, two extra Germans from another project, everyone’s purchases in bags, sacks and boxes and me as the driver. We repeatedly had to tell other hopeful souls in the crowds surrounding us in town that we just had no room available to give anyone else a ride. Off we chugged, heading home. Road handling seemed a bit more uncertain than it had on the journey in to town, the vehicle felt a bit unbalanced, but I put that down to much increased mud after further rain and being a rather overloaded Landy. We stopped close to the village were the Germans were working and, after gathering their bags and stepping down onto the road/track/vague path comparatively clear of vegetation, one stuck her head back in through the window that once had had glass in it and said “By the way, you have six people sitting on the roof”. Ah hah, that explained the unbalanced handling. Our previously unsuspected passengers climbed down with cheery grins and we chugged on towards home in a lighter vehicle with much improved road holding.
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That is a good point! We do a couple 9hr hauls during the year with a 3 horse aluminum with 2 horses.
Most of the time it’s short jaunts at 55, and around our place.
Thank you very much and that pic of your truck! That look is so classy.
