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Have just received the latest issue of the CC magazine.

The vehicle road tested this month is the new Range Rover; as in 2011 model year, not that the company have brought out a newly designed model.

Interestingly, Land rover categorically state that this vehicle should not be used for towing trailers(caravans) which utilise LED rear lights. As the article says, more and more caravans are being fitted with these light units as standard from the factory. It also mentions that if a 'tow pack' is fitted, that the spare wheel becomes a non full-size version, suitable for occasional use.

Now, are LR trying to veer their prestige flagship model away from the vulgar occupation of 'towing'; leaving it to the other stablemates to carry out such everyday tasks, or is there really an issue with modern vehicle electrics that they cannot cope with extra sets of LED tail lights? (I think that the 2011 RR has LED tail-lights itself?)

The fact that if you request a 'towing pack' to be fitted which then impacts on the spare wheel that can be carried, I suspect the former! I would say 'shame on you LR', but then again, how many RR's do you see pulling caravans nowadays?

Defender 

Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 28/2/2011

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Problem is easily solved with an adaptor.

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OMG that's expensive.......

Not that I know much about this but surely a manfacture like Land Rover who know the sort of use these vehicles will be put to should be able to solve this problem at the design / manufacturing stage. Or are they just cost cutting?

Seems crazy to me.  I stopped buying new Land Rovers a while back. (Used to use Defenders).  Towbar extra, roof lining extra, no CD, not even a radio.  You do get an aerial wire though.  Everything is extra.

The very substantial money I used to spend on Land Rovers now goes to Jeep.  Everything is included.

Jim

Quote: Originally posted by rich2818 on 01/3/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 28/2/2011

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Problem is easily solved with an adaptor.

---

OMG that's expensive.......

Not that I know much about this but surely a manfacture like Land Rover who know the sort of use these vehicles will be put to should be able to solve this problem at the design / manufacturing stage. Or are they just cost cutting?

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I guess they work on the assumption that if you can afford a £50k+ car, you either won't be interested in a caravan OR you can afford the £200 for the adaptor. They're not going to care about the eventual second-hand market.

Caravan Club.

Guys, thanks for the information. Must admit that I've never heard of a Canbus system!

I just thought it odd that a vehicle from a manufacturer such as LR, with a towing pedigree, would have issues with the rear light clusters of newer caravans?

I'm not sure if the towbars on current RR's require the fitting of space-saver wheels or if full-size wheels can be used but, again, for a vehicle from LR to have to resort to space-savers if a towing kit is factory-fitted seemed a little strange.

I agree with you Tentz, not many people will be towing with a 2011 RR Sport; certainly not in 2011 anyway.............. maybe in 2014 onwards!