LR4 Towing Horse Trailer
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
LR4 Towing Horse Trailer
Wanting to buy LR4. Worried that pulling a double horse trailer, might be too much weight? Does anyone have experience with this truck and horse trailer? Also deciding if the V8 or V6, would make a difference? Any help would be appreciated.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 801
Likes: 84
From: Seattle, WA
My wife and I tow with her 2012 LR4, just not a horse trailer.
what you need to figure out is the GVWR of the horse trailer plus horses and tack etc. The Lr4 is rated up to 7700lbs if you have a trailer brake installed.
when towing it's not the engine that is the limiting factor, it's more the wheelbase of the tow vehicle. There's no question that for long haul distances a more traditional full size pickup tow vehicle would be more comfortable. For shorter distances, the LR4 would do just fine as long as the weight is within spec. Lots of folks tow horse trailers with landies in the U.K.
what you need to figure out is the GVWR of the horse trailer plus horses and tack etc. The Lr4 is rated up to 7700lbs if you have a trailer brake installed.
when towing it's not the engine that is the limiting factor, it's more the wheelbase of the tow vehicle. There's no question that for long haul distances a more traditional full size pickup tow vehicle would be more comfortable. For shorter distances, the LR4 would do just fine as long as the weight is within spec. Lots of folks tow horse trailers with landies in the U.K.
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
My wife and I tow with her 2012 LR4, just not a horse trailer.
what you need to figure out is the GVWR of the horse trailer plus horses and tack etc. The Lr4 is rated up to 7700lbs if you have a trailer brake installed.
when towing it's not the engine that is the limiting factor, it's more the wheelbase of the tow vehicle. There's no question that for long haul distances a more traditional full size pickup tow vehicle would be more comfortable. For shorter distances, the LR4 would do just fine as long as the weight is within spec. Lots of folks tow horse trailers with landies in the U.K.
what you need to figure out is the GVWR of the horse trailer plus horses and tack etc. The Lr4 is rated up to 7700lbs if you have a trailer brake installed.
when towing it's not the engine that is the limiting factor, it's more the wheelbase of the tow vehicle. There's no question that for long haul distances a more traditional full size pickup tow vehicle would be more comfortable. For shorter distances, the LR4 would do just fine as long as the weight is within spec. Lots of folks tow horse trailers with landies in the U.K.
Overlanding
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
From: Seattle WA
I have a 2011 LR4 HSE Lux and was just told I need a transmission cooler for my truck by the dealer in Bellevue. I looked and it seems like every other MY LR4 has a transmission cooler for it from LR, but mine!!! Anybody know more about this? I have yet to buy the ac dual horse trailer. I have a brake controller and 2 types of drawbar set ups because no one can tell me for sure whether or not I need a weight distribution hitch. Most say not to use one because of the self leveling of the suspension system. Thoughts?
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 801
Likes: 84
From: Seattle, WA
Heh there! you’re in our neck of the woods (Woodinville)
Unfortuantely l, the service department at LR Bellevue is completely incapable of addressing your towing questions and requirements. They tried to upsell my wife to the tune of $3700, which incidentally also would not have solved our towing issue. There’s just a big lack of dealer knowledge on towing with the LR4 this side of the Atlantic. In the end, I was able to get specific answers on what the behavior of our 2012 LR4 should be while towing from Sean, (sales dept, LR “Seattle)
A couple of learnings in our towinbrg journey with the LR4
1. Don’t use a weight distribution hitch! It’ll burn out the air compressor over time and you may experience a “porpoising” effect. (We did)
2. LR stated that the earlier issues with led trailer lighting were fixed for ‘12 model year. They weren’t. When you plug in the 7 pin, if you have led trailer lights, be prepRed for trailer mode to not be activated. You’ll know it’s active when you indicate and see the trailer icon on the dash. If trailer mode is not active, the transmission shift points don’t get changed for more efficient towing and the rear suspension doesn’t firm up. We solved the led trailer problem by plugging in a 12 dollar harbor freight incandescent towing light kit into the 4 pin when we are towing. Again, Bellevue tried to charge us 3700 dollars for reflashes, new ecu’s etc it was shocking.
Unfortuantely l, the service department at LR Bellevue is completely incapable of addressing your towing questions and requirements. They tried to upsell my wife to the tune of $3700, which incidentally also would not have solved our towing issue. There’s just a big lack of dealer knowledge on towing with the LR4 this side of the Atlantic. In the end, I was able to get specific answers on what the behavior of our 2012 LR4 should be while towing from Sean, (sales dept, LR “Seattle)
A couple of learnings in our towinbrg journey with the LR4
1. Don’t use a weight distribution hitch! It’ll burn out the air compressor over time and you may experience a “porpoising” effect. (We did)
2. LR stated that the earlier issues with led trailer lighting were fixed for ‘12 model year. They weren’t. When you plug in the 7 pin, if you have led trailer lights, be prepRed for trailer mode to not be activated. You’ll know it’s active when you indicate and see the trailer icon on the dash. If trailer mode is not active, the transmission shift points don’t get changed for more efficient towing and the rear suspension doesn’t firm up. We solved the led trailer problem by plugging in a 12 dollar harbor freight incandescent towing light kit into the 4 pin when we are towing. Again, Bellevue tried to charge us 3700 dollars for reflashes, new ecu’s etc it was shocking.
3. I am very, very skeptical about the dealerships advice on a transmission cooler. Which service advisor are you working with?
If you want to bring your rig over to our house one of the days and hook up to our trailer, you’re more than welcome.(Apologies for typos, replying from my phone 
)
)Last edited by Robert Booth; Jan 1, 2018 at 09:27 PM.
4wd Low
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
From: Chicago, IL
I'm not sure how a 2 horse trailer compares to hauling a car, but just last weekend I pulled a 3100 car in a 24 enclosed trailer and my '11 LR4 handled the 1hr 30min drive very well. To be safe I just left the trans in sport mode.
Pro Wrench
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 229
From: Fall City, WA
Here is my experience with hauling a 2 horse trailer in a bronco II. One of the horses sat down in the trailer and because of the bronco II's wheel base, the front of the truck came off the ground and we did a head on into another vehicle. Since then...I have been extremely cautious about hauling something that can move (horses) and will the wheel base be long enough to compensate.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 801
Likes: 84
From: Seattle, WA
oh my gosh, not sure where to start with this.
Your Bronco II had a 94" wheelbase on a curb weight of 3,385lbs. In contrast, the LR4 has a wheelbase of 113.6" on a curb weight of 5655lbs. The Bronco II is a completely different Class of beast. Your point about trailer loading and the horse moving around is valid, but in your case you were most likely exceeding the towing capacity of the Bronco by a wide margin.( I wasnt able to find the manufacturers recommended towing limit on this model, other than Fords requirement to use a braked trailer over 1500 pounds). Using this url https://www.doubledtrailers.com/horse-trailer-towing/
as a rough rule of thumb for horse trailers, a base trailer plus 2 1000 pounds horses probably clocks around 5000 lbs, comfortably within the LR4's towing capacity but bordering insanity with the short and narrow Bronco.
Your Bronco II had a 94" wheelbase on a curb weight of 3,385lbs. In contrast, the LR4 has a wheelbase of 113.6" on a curb weight of 5655lbs. The Bronco II is a completely different Class of beast. Your point about trailer loading and the horse moving around is valid, but in your case you were most likely exceeding the towing capacity of the Bronco by a wide margin.( I wasnt able to find the manufacturers recommended towing limit on this model, other than Fords requirement to use a braked trailer over 1500 pounds). Using this url https://www.doubledtrailers.com/horse-trailer-towing/
as a rough rule of thumb for horse trailers, a base trailer plus 2 1000 pounds horses probably clocks around 5000 lbs, comfortably within the LR4's towing capacity but bordering insanity with the short and narrow Bronco.
Pro Wrench
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 229
From: Fall City, WA
oh my gosh, not sure where to start with this.
Your Bronco II had a 94" wheelbase on a curb weight of 3,385lbs. In contrast, the LR4 has a wheelbase of 113.6" on a curb weight of 5655lbs. The Bronco II is a completely different Class of beast. Your point about trailer loading and the horse moving around is valid, but in your case you were most likely exceeding the towing capacity of the Bronco by a wide margin.( I wasnt able to find the manufacturers recommended towing limit on this model, other than Fords requirement to use a braked trailer over 1500 pounds). Using this url https://www.doubledtrailers.com/horse-trailer-towing/
as a rough rule of thumb for horse trailers, a base trailer plus 2 1000 pounds horses probably clocks around 5000 lbs, comfortably within the LR4's towing capacity but bordering insanity with the short and narrow Bronco.
Your Bronco II had a 94" wheelbase on a curb weight of 3,385lbs. In contrast, the LR4 has a wheelbase of 113.6" on a curb weight of 5655lbs. The Bronco II is a completely different Class of beast. Your point about trailer loading and the horse moving around is valid, but in your case you were most likely exceeding the towing capacity of the Bronco by a wide margin.( I wasnt able to find the manufacturers recommended towing limit on this model, other than Fords requirement to use a braked trailer over 1500 pounds). Using this url https://www.doubledtrailers.com/horse-trailer-towing/
as a rough rule of thumb for horse trailers, a base trailer plus 2 1000 pounds horses probably clocks around 5000 lbs, comfortably within the LR4's towing capacity but bordering insanity with the short and narrow Bronco.
I am not disagreeing with anything that you posted. The engine in the bronco II was within towing capacity due to factory and aftermarket upgrades I guess what I was trying to highlight with a load that can move is that wheel base needs to be taken into account which you pointed out.I was a kid at the time and because the lack of thought on wheel base caused a significant accident. All humans survived, the horses did not.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 801
Likes: 84
From: Seattle, WA
Right. But you still excessively exceeded the max tow capacity for the Bronco 2, regardless of whether the engine could pull more in a different vehicle, or a weight distribution hitch were added. For example, a 93 NAS 110 had a max tow rating with a brakes trailer of 5000lbs, compared to the 97 NASD90 and its’ lower max tow of 3500lbs. More or less same engine, different max tow Vehicle ratings because of the 90’s shorter wheelbase.
The OP’s question was whether they could pull a 2 horse trailer with an LR4. Answer is yes, as long as they’re safely under the max tow rating of the LR4, utilizing a braked horse trailer.
The OP’s question was whether they could pull a 2 horse trailer with an LR4. Answer is yes, as long as they’re safely under the max tow rating of the LR4, utilizing a braked horse trailer.