Towing Range Rover 2005

[UK_Steve]

Hello,


Anyone currently or recently towed a 2005 Range Rover (RR)? We have recently purchased a 2005 Model RR Vogue, towed it for the first time this last weekend having fitted the Base Plate for the A Frame.

After just three hours on the road we arrived at our destination and the RR battery was flat.

The key was in the ignition and only in the Auxiliary Position; I turned off all I could, Stereo, Sat Nav etc before setting off.

Clearly various items are still powered up and draining the battery.

Is there something else I should be doing that I do not know about?

I note when the key is inserted in the ignition but not turned to the Auxiliary Position the steering lock does un-lock and you can turn the steering wheel, is it safe to tow like this, i.e. the sterling won’t re-lock?

Or is there something I am missing altogether? The car ownership manual in the UK does not have a section on recreational towing, just a short bit on towing the car for emergency recovery, i.e. 5AMP fuse in position 37 etc. As Land Rover clearly do not expect them to be towed four down in Europe as they are in US.

We have an older 2000 model RR; the battery only goes flat after 10+ hours of being towed

Any help greatly appreciated.

Kind regards
Steve

[Gary RVRoamer]

You can add a battery charge line from the coach to keep the battery up. You can do it yourself with some wire, a fuse and a diode, or get this nicely packaged kit from LSL

TOAD-CHARGE Dinghy Vehicle Battery Charger/Maintainer

I hope your Rover is towable without damaging itself, though. Not all automatic transmissions lubricate themselves adequately when towed 4-down and that can lead to premature (and expensive) failure. Or is it a manual transmission?

[Dadeaux]

I you are towing with the transfer case in neutral you should not need power for anything and if just inserting the key unlocks the steering then you have your answer.

[UK_Steve]

Hi Gary,

The charge is a nice way forward; however there is the possibility of electronics damage according to my dealer of power peaking during the charging process. Need to review that further if the key option below does not work out.

Yes the Range Rover is good for towing, you put a five amp fuse in slot 37 of the fuse box, turn the ignition on and the transfer case automatically switches to natural, turn off the ignition and put the auto box in Park, and then you can tow.

PS: 2006 model and newer CANNOT be towed four down; you cannot switch the transfer case to natural.

Hi Del,

Yes the transfer case is in neutral, the only power requirement is for the Brake Buddy, and there is a 12 Volt power socket on the dash that is always hot, so no need for the key there. Think I may experiment with the idea just the key in to release the steering lock and not turned. The battery is massive so will keep the brake buddy live for tens of hours if nothing else is pulling it down.

Many thanks to the both of you for your input and suggestions.

Regards
Steve