Advice for would be Owner

Hi, I'm new to this forum, and do not yet own a Land Rover, I have been looking at what to go for, any advice would be greatly appreciated...

I have about £5,000 to spend, and want a model that will tow about 2500kg (including trailer) nicely up hills without any trouble, only off road will be in fields as a rule.

I really like the series land rovers and looked at a s111 2.25 petrol, but was concerned it might be underpowered? Would I be better with a newer more powerful model? I am not concerned about speed, but don't want to come to a stop on a hill! I am not too concerned about mpg as I won't be travelling too far. Finally although I would need something that goes and works to start with I am open to an ongoing restoration as I intend to keep the machine for ever.

I have tried to give as much info as I can think will be helpful - hopefully your experienced advice will roll in!

Many thanks.

Hello and welcome to the nut house.
You should get a very tidy 300TDi discovery for that money with change for some modifications or maybe a slightly rougher TD5. Either will do what you want. You could get a 300Tdi defender too though its more likely to have been used a bit harder and will have fewer creature comforts.

dont think any of the series is legally allowed to pull much more than 2000Kg - and you could probably walk faster

get a early 300 engined 110

Many thanks for the reply, and good advice I know, my head is saying yep thats what I should do - but my heart is saying no don't do that you want an old series 111 - (I keep an old alfa going, that believe me is no fun at all, but any time I get near a car showroom I just have to turn and walk back to the spider!).

Is an S111 just not up to the job (trailer will be loaded with two nags, that take all the rest of our money every month, but again are priceless).

You probably see where I am coming from weak head strong heart, but can't be irresponsible i.e dangerous!

Thnks Sean, just seen your response, that rules that out then, I was told they were rated to 3500kg.

How about a Range Rover classic then early one's are colectable and available with V8's not sure aboiut the towing capacity but it's a sure thing it will pull better than an Alfe Spider LOL

jobeed said:

Thnks Sean, just seen your response, that rules that out then, I was told they were rated to 3500kg.

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i might be wrong, but 2000KG does ring a bell in my head - am sure you'll get someone say on here that they pull 10,000KG up Shap at 70 in a S2a all day - standard series brakes only just manage to stop it's own weight let along a heavy trailer

you wont go far wrong with a 200/300 engined depender (or a disco if yer a softy)

dunt forget there's now rules about towing, tests etc etc

Thanks Chip V8 and Sean, will look at the Classic Range Rover and 300 Defender.

I could to 10 tonnes down shap with the Spider!

I could to 10 tonnes down shap with the Spider![/quote]
Would fancy your chances of stopping it though :rolly:

there is a huge difference between what a LR can tow and is legally allowed to tow. You can tow stupid amounts with low range, but you will struggle to stop it unless the trailers brakes are very good.

Google Land Rover Towing limits im sure there will be huge amounts of information that will tell you all the difference weight limits.

My how I would laugh (or not) on the way to the mortuary - probably get the number one spot on you tube though!

Thanks boydy1989, am on that now, but as you say, its not the pulling it's the stopping - Any decent upgrades for the S111 - didn't take me long to get back to that did it? - presumably if money was no object (which of course it is) I could transplant much of a 300 defender into an S111? Dont even bother to answer that - I'm dreaming again.

Any decent upgrades for the S111 - didn't take me long to get back to that did it? - presumably if money was no object (which of course it is) I could transplant much of a 300 defender into an S111? Dont even bother to answer that - I'm dreaming again.[/quote]

Apparently very easy conversion with loadsa kits availble for the job, just think of a landrover as a really big mechano set and you'll know what I'm on about

you can upgrade 'em yes, but if you start with an early 90 or 110...

Then you get coil springs and disc brakes to start with, or at least discs up front.

Then they are also still simple enough to work on quite easily an all, no fancy disco or RR stuff.

Come have a look round mine if you want

I can have a 2000kg trailer on my RRC,a 4000kg 4 wheel trailer

jobeed said:

Many thanks for the reply, and good advice I know, my head is saying yep thats what I should do - but my heart is saying no don't do that you want an old series 111 - (I keep an old alfa going, that believe me is no fun at all, but any time I get near a car showroom I just have to turn and walk back to the spider!).

Is an S111 just not up to the job (trailer will be loaded with two nags, that take all the rest of our money every month, but again are priceless).

You probably see where I am coming from weak head strong heart, but can't be irresponsible i.e dangerous!

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'Ave 'eard that Spiders are alright if you get a good one (& apparently they exist). Mate of mine got one that seemed alright a few years back, but then again he only kept it as long as he had to before selling it on (got it in germany while he was stationed there and imported it when he got shipped back to the UK.

Thanks to everyone for there advice, I'm going to research early 90's 110's and RRC's and see what I think, will let you know. Once again, thanks for your help.

chipv8 said:

How about a Range Rover classic then early one's are colectable and available with V8's not sure aboiut the towing capacity but it's a sure thing it will pull better than an Alfe Spider LOL

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Stick with a fender if your not too concerned with comfort. Get a 110 more suited for any long distange towing. A RR could be a money pit just like your Alfa.

once pulled 10 artics all chained together up shap on ice and never once found the brakes lacking.just dipped the clutch and it stopped. all this in a 1947 series one centre steer

Well - if anyone is interested after all this time! moved to France and acquired a RR classic 2dr 1974 more by accident than design! funny how long it sometimes takes to get from the decision to do something to actually doing it!