463 300 vs 460 280
What would be the difference in performance between the two vehicles (Petrol)? The 463 i know can sit at 65-70 with comfort and pull 3.5ton with relative ease. I pulled 2ton 200 miles at 55mph with little effect on fuel. How does the 280 stack up against this. I am looking for a towing vehicle/works jeep with a 3.5ton towing capacity and i am not buying a Defender. My concerns are that if i were towing on a motorway i would want to be travelling at a safe speed (not 40mph). The Vehicle i am considering would be an LPG converted 280.
Ian
Hello Ian,
A simplistic argument would be the Diesel because of the higher torque at lower r.p.m. Then, there is the fuel economy, a newer model of vehicle, but for me above all, from a vehicle that will be doing hard work, over long distances; the thermal stress on the engine is lower.
The 460/280 is just as capable for the task, but thirsty, O.K. you will convert to LPG, which has a minute loss in power, noticeable to the "attuned" but not other wise. LPG conversation cost are recouped if one is planning to do over 10,000 miles per annum. I suppose, from an investment point of view, the Diesel is likely to hold its value better than the Petrol's.
Although, it seems almost a balanced case, I would push the pebble towards the Diesel and tip the balance for the Diesel.
Cheers,
If the law is of any concern, you can't tow 3.5t with either, unless you have any exemptions.
You'll need a LWB later then 1996 for that. No idea why but thats how they are plated.
I think towing weight have been reduced for latest (2010) models.
From, www.g4rce.net/engl/index.html
460 SWB 2600Kg LWB 2800Kg
Early 463 SWB 2620 Kg LWB 2950
Later 463's G300TD, G500,
SWB 2925 Kg LWB 3500kg
These are the max towing weights, you still have to be within your max GTW, it is possible that a vehicle at full GVW + full towing capacity, will = more then the plated GTW.
Sure, the laws regarding towing do seem a mess, especially when you take into account tachographs, and then the exemptions some businesses have. I'm no expert, just found out what I needed to know when I towed a lot.
on this topic, by the way, even 110 defenders up to td5 don't have the full 3.5t ratings, only about 3t. A tree surgeon friend of mine in his 110 was pulled over for towing too large a (full) trailer, which was plated at 3.5t. He had no idea that the 110 didn't have the full 3.5t allowance: ever since he only tows the big trailers with his 130 because that is officially the only LR Defender that is big enough for the job. As has been said before, 3.5t towing ability is not actually that common. On the G-front, the lwb 350 diesel has a full 3.5t rating.
The reason why the Gs didn't have the 3.5 t rating before '96 is because they only moved over to a full disc brake set up after that time. You'll actually find some larger rediculously over-powered SUVs (i.e. the Cayenne Turbo) have a LOWER tow rating than others of the same manufacturer with smaller engines. This is because the homologation has some form of BHP/weight ratio + weight of vehicle compared to the trailer ratio formula that it works to; in the extreme case, the most powerful two mercedes e-class estates can't tow anything at all!
Towing is something that the police is really beginning to sharpen up on over here. maybe they just need the extra revenue: but whatever, if you're not legal, the fine can be very expensive.
hope that helps/ph
If you tow a trailer plated at 3.5t with no load with a vehicle plated at 2.7t is this illegal then?
Police are really cracking down in Scotland on illegal towing, especially in line with business use.
I have had both types, the 280 swb, for towing the lwb was better, the fuel on the 280 was less economical when towing the 463 more refined when towing due to it's permanent 4wd
Yes it is illegal.
it's not what your carrying it's tha plated weight, otherwise that would mean I could drive a 10t gvw lorry but it only weighing 7.5 t unladen
Well then, It seems a G is out of the running as my new trailer is rated at 3.5 ton. Might have to buy a Rexton!! Unless anyone wants to buy a 7x16 foot flat bed with beaver tail and hydraulic tilt and manual winch!! I can just go back to my 2ton trailer and get a G.
Not 100% sure, but I think its possible to have a trailer down plated.
Yes this is possible. It has already been down plated to 3.2 ton. this involved a scriber. Putting a line through the 5 and replacing it with a 2.
mark, you're right. it is possible to downplate the trailers. i think it is just a matter of going down to a dvla hgv test centre and they'll legalise it for you with a new plate.
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The law?
This should probably be another thread. What is the Law regarding towing? Does anyone here actually know? I have spoken to traffic cops who are unsure!
Being a post 1997 license holder i have passed my B+E. My instructor told be i could run a train weight up to 7.5 ton. A G fully loaded with a 3.5ton trailer would be near 7 ton. I would not be doing this regularly or over long distance.
The whole % weight of towing vehicle vs trailer is i believe only a guide line set down by caravan club or something of the like and is not Law. It is the plating of the towing vehicle and plating of the trailer.
I also know that if doing it regularly for financial reward you should have a taco graph installed.
What is the towing capacity of a 460 and a 463? I always believed it to be 3.5ton for both (same as defender/Disco/Rangrover) There are actually surprisingly few vehicles with towing capacities over 2.7ton.