I've been trying to find an answer on LR site as well as here in the forums, but I can't find anything about whether the new Defender can be flat towed by an RV. Can anyone confirm one way or the other?

Thank you!
Albert

 

This topic is covered under the subject of "vehicle recovery" in the manual.

The requirement is to place all four wheels on a flat bed truck or trailer and to lower the vehicle to access height before securing the vehicle.

To tow on four wheels, the transmission park mechanism must be released. If Neutral is selected, this will not help, as the transmission will place the gear in Park after 10 minutes. If you are towing, this will destroy the transmission.

There is no braking available while being towed on four wheels. The vehicle is heavy, so this will strain your RV.

The steering column must be unlocked before disconnecting the battery. The steering column will not unlock without the battery functioning.

THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE BACKED - even with FOUR WHEELS ON THE GROUND. To do so will destroy the transmission. The vehicle may only be pulled forward on all four wheels.

The vehicle may not be backed nor brought forward with only two wheels on the ground. To do so, will SEVERLY damage the transmission.

When towing on the ground, forward, with four wheels on the ground (never two), do NOT do so for more than 30 miles nor at more than 30 mph. To do so, will seriously damage the transmission.

Do NOT tow the vehicle if the rear locking differential was engaged at the point of vehicle failure.

INTERESTING QUESTION --- THANKS FOR ASKING

Seems the only practical method to move the vehicle not under its own power is on a truck or trailer with all four wheels stationary.

 

Found this on the D5 site. I could not locate it in the new Defender manual:


File Type: pdf

Transmission Park Release and Brake Release.pdf (2.61 MB, 342 views)

 

I just went out and went searching for it on my Defender P300. If you take off the cover, the transmission parking release lever is right next to the oil filler cap.

 

Super helpful and thank you for the fast response!

 

[QUOTE=TrioLRowner;766781] THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE BACKED - even with FOUR WHEELS ON THE GROUND. To do so, will SEVERLY damage the transmission.
[Quote]

if the vehicle cannot be rolled backwards, how does it come off the flatbed? This portion of the ‘instructions’ is ridiculous.

 

I was paraphrasing from memory, and was very struck by the breadth of the limitation expressed .... the exact quote from the manual is:

"NOTICE Only tow the vehicle in a forward direction with all four wheels on the ground. Towing in a reverse direction, or with only two wheels on the ground, will cause serious damage to the transmission. "

One supposes rolling the vehicle off the flat bed, while in neutral and with the park release mechanism activated, is not sufficient movement to cause serious damage.

The manual notes: The recommended method for recovery/ transporting the vehicle is by a trailer designed for the purpose.

 

So for the reader's digest version: BASICALLY NO

 

So now I know to never park the Defender illegally in NYC and have one of their tow trucks drag it to the impound yard with 2 wheels on the ground. Can probably add the cost of a new transmission to the ridiculous tow and impound fees.

 

Just dont park illegally near the Navy Yard, West Side Hwy, and other 5 boroughs tow yards and you'll be fine. The tow trucks have a very specific radius around their yards and hardly ever venture outwards. It's a racket, you just have to understand their directives.