[A/S] Re: Towing vehicle - wheelbase issue

["overlander_64" <overlander64@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings Reed!

While I don't have first-hand towing experience with the Land Rover, 
I have followed several discussions on other lists regarding 
utilization of the Land Rover as a tow vehicle for Airstreams.  In 
these discussions, several issues have been raised regarding towing 
any Airstream with the Land Rover -- but two are most important to 
satisfactory towing experiences.

The first issue has been with obtaining an adequate Class III or IV 
receiver style hitch.  Unless things have changed, Land Rover 
doesn't approve of weight distributing hitches and has placed a 
maximum hitch weight restriction on the factory approved hitch that 
nearly precludes the towing of any Airstream coach once it is loaded 
for a vacation.  I have read one horror story of a partial failure 
of the factory approved hitch when the Land Rover was utilized to 
tow an Airstream.

The second issue has been obtaining adequate sway control with the 
factory approved hitch.  From the photos that I have seen of the 
hitch, it would be quite difficult to adapt even the simplest of 
friction sway controls to the factory approved hitch.

While the drivetrain may be tow-ready, there apparently are issues 
with the chassis.  I ran into similar conditions when I wanted to 
tow with a Toyota several years ago -- the drivetrain was capable 
but it was impossible to find a means of installing an adequate 
Class III/IV hitch.

Good luck with your research!

Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI/VAC/Free Wheelers/Computer Club #6359
1964 Overlander International/1999 GMC K2500 Suburban (7400 
VORTEC/4.10 Differentials)
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre/1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (8.2 
Liter V8/2.70 Final Drive)