Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-16-2021, 11:55 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 9
Newbie with tow questions

We have purchased the tv, a Land Rover defender and are about to pull the trigger on the trailer, rockwood mini lite 2509s.

What is next? I think I have done the proper calculations on gvw, trailer weight etc. Now I need some education on sway bars equalizers hitches etc.


I have never towed before so any info you provide is greatly appreciated
Smiledr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 12:57 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Chris Pastuzyn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,401
Welcome from New Jersey, Congratulations, Do you know if the defender has a tow package,? And trailer brake controller?
Chris Pastuzyn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 01:36 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 9
It has a tow package. It does NOT have a trailer brake controller
Smiledr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 01:40 PM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 22
Weight

From the looks of what I can glean from the internet, you look good on towing capacity. A LR Defender averages 7900lbs of towing capacity, depending on its configuration. A 2509s gross weight is about 6900 lbs.


You may run into payload issues. The average Defender has 1750 lbs of payload. You can find your specific number on the yellow sticker on the driver's side door frame. Payload is everything added to your vehicle.



Let's add it up. Tongue weight: 710. Weight Distribution Hitch: 75. Two adult passengers: 320. You're at 1105 lbs with about 600 lbs to spare. Sounds like alot, but you will run out of those 600 lbs depending on your situation. Extra luggage? Extra people?



I had a F150 with 1545 lbs of payload. I tow a 2509s also. I was at or probably just above payload capacity. Did it affect my handling? Yes, and I had a much longer wheelbase than you do.


Here's a link that I've recommended in the past to understanding towing and weight.


https://www.keepyourdaydream.com/payload/


I'm not sure if the Defender has an auxiliary transmission cooler. That's a must to avoid ruining your transmission.
Mdmoore76 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 02:25 PM   #5
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,601
I provided you some information in your other post:
https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo....php?p=2481191

You need to find the payload capacity sticker weight of the Defender. On US vehicles, it's on the driver's door yellow sticker.
Newbies focus on towing capacity when they should be focusing on PAYLOAD capacity. Nearly all tow vehicles will run out of payload capacity WAY before getting close to the max tow capacity. It's also recommend, if you can, to choose the trailer first, then buy the tow vehicle clearly capable oftowing it.
IMHO, the loaded tongue weight of that trailer will exceed the 771lb max hitch weight of the Defender.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 04:24 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
The Big Toe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 308
Engine, transmission, 2 door, 4 door....... C'mon
The Big Toe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 05:14 PM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 9
I have a 2020 6 cylinder 3.0L engine

Per manual:

Max tow 8200

Max tongue weight 771

Payload 1984

Sorry guys. I have had Motorized RV’s for years. This towing is new to me.

I need a trailer brake controller. What else? Anti sway ?
Smiledr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 05:31 PM   #8
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,601
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiledr View Post
I have a 2020 6 cylinder 3.0L engine

Per manual:

Max tow 8200

Max tongue weight 771

Payload 1984

Sorry guys. I have had Motorized RV’s for years. This towing is new to me.

I need a trailer brake controller. What else? Anti sway ?
The manual only posts max numbers possible.
Actual payload specific to your particular Defender, should be listed on a driver's door sticker.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 05:40 PM   #9
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 9
Sorry no yellow sticker. Maybe because it’s a British car.? Those numbers are the same on the Land Rover website for my build/configuration
Smiledr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 05:54 PM   #10
Site Team
 
bikendan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,601
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiledr View Post
Sorry no yellow sticker. Maybe because it’s a British car.? Those numbers are the same on the Land Rover website for my build/configuration
May not be yellow.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
bikendan is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2021, 06:10 PM   #11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 9
Understood. There are no stickers anywhere that I can find. I have looked everywhere
Smiledr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2021, 01:11 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
U.S.ArmyVeteran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,209
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiledr View Post
Understood. There are no stickers anywhere that I can find. I have looked everywhere
Did you buy it new?

That is really odd. The sticker is mandated by US Federal regulation.

Maybe its stuck in the Glove Box?

Good Luck.
U.S.ArmyVeteran is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2021, 01:46 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Ohio
Posts: 181
WDH - depending on what type you may or may not need sway bar. We use the Equalizer 4 way WDH which has built in sway control.
Transmission cooler if not part of your tow package
Brake controller
Calculate the weight of your “stuff” everything you will be taking with you when you are traveling i.e. people, dog/s and or cat/s, camping stuff like pots, pans, dishes, utensils, blankets, food, extra water, generator... this goes for things you will put in the back of the TV and the camper. That calculation will tell you if you will be over capacity or not. Depending on how you load all of the aforementioned items you may have to adjust the WDH after fully loaded since most hitches are set up with and empty TV and TT.
__________________
2009 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL standard cab 8 Ft bed V8 w/Tow package
2021 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 17JG
Equal-I-zer 4-way WDH
Dsimes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2021, 01:55 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 774
What’s the weights on your new Camper/Coach?
MikeRP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2021, 02:00 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Ohio
Posts: 181
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiledr View Post
Sorry no yellow sticker. Maybe because it’s a British car.? Those numbers are the same on the Land Rover website for my build/configuration
It may not be yellow for yours however there still should be a sticker with the information on it. Usually on the same sticker with the tire information. Maybe Land Rover put it in the glovebox or under the hood?
__________________
2009 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL standard cab 8 Ft bed V8 w/Tow package
2021 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 17JG
Equal-I-zer 4-way WDH
Dsimes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2021, 02:22 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
nomad297's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,053
I found this online for Land Rover:

Click image for larger version

Name:	824098B7-3835-41FE-84C4-9B4ABAD59F55.jpg
Views:	108
Size:	199.2 KB
ID:	246138

Bruce
__________________
2016 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Edition
2015 Chevy 3500HD LTZ 6.0 Crew Cab 4x4 Long Bed 4.10:1 SRW
nomad297 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2021, 03:57 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,458
Door FRAME!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiledr View Post
Sorry no yellow sticker. Maybe because it’s a British car.? Those numbers are the same on the Land Rover website for my build/configuration
It should be on the door FRAME. For US vehicles it's on the driver's (left) door FRAME. If you got a right-hand drive unit, it might be on that side. It should also have tire sizes and pressures although that's not relevant to this discussion.
__________________
Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
Larry-NC is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2021, 07:54 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,371
Trailer

As others have said, you will exceed tongue weight prior to adding battery and propane. I do not think it will be comfortable to tow as the Defender is a short wheelbase, high profile truck pulling an almost 30' total length TT. Even w/ a good WDH, I think it will be a case of "Tail Wagging the Dog". I used to pull a 4K -21' trailer w/ an V8-International Scout 30 years ago. We usually only went 120 miles away, but I was exhausted on arrival. Remember the factory tow numbers are generated pulling a flat bed and we are pulling "Billboards".
You might consider a Hybrid TT or a shorter length TT.
Look at the positive of a shorter trailer, more available sites.
Tundra 2014 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2021, 10:19 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,514
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tundra 2014 View Post
As others have said, you will exceed tongue weight prior to adding battery and propane. I do not think it will be comfortable to tow as the Defender is a short wheelbase, high profile truck pulling an almost 30' total length TT. Even w/ a good WDH, I think it will be a case of "Tail Wagging the Dog". I used to pull a 4K -21' trailer w/ an V8-International Scout 30 years ago. We usually only went 120 miles away, but I was exhausted on arrival. Remember the factory tow numbers are generated pulling a flat bed and we are pulling "Billboards".

You might consider a Hybrid TT or a shorter length TT.

Look at the positive of a shorter trailer, more available sites.


Companies that use sae j2807 are NOT allowed to flat trailers nor are they towing on a flat surface not sure why pic isn’t blurry Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0307.JPG
Views:	80
Size:	71.8 KB
ID:	246164
__________________
2022 Chevy 3500 Diesel SWD
2022 Columbus 329 DVC
moose074 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2021, 11:02 AM   #20
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 9
Well I am stymied. I have searched everywhere all four door posts, rear cargo area and under hood. There is no sticker! And yes I purchased the car new.

I am concerned about tongue weight. 770 does not seem like a lot. What is j2807? Thanks for all the help
Smiledr is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
newbie, questions

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:00 PM.