I've been reading up on towing about 2500kg, including trailer weight, and have found LR suggest starting in low range. You then have to move into high range as speed increases. Is this what the towing fraternity amongst us suggest? It looks like a complicated thing to do, especially in traffic. Low range drive, neutral, high range drive. I have a 5.0 sc.

No expert here, as I don’t tow, but looks like the only thing they are trying to avoid is the gearbox getting hot, if you can live with the start not being “smooth”…. I agree, does seem a bit of a faff. I’ve not heard anyone on here say they set off in low range.

I’m sure someone who tows heavy loads will be along to advise soon…

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I think it means if you're doing a lot of slow speed towing use low range.

I've towed a 3.5 ton trailer with my old TD6, and then with my 3.6 TDV8 and never used low range.

With the V8 diesel it's a fabulous tow car.

There will be others on here with much more experience of towing, and in particular of towing heavy loads, but I have tended to use low ratio only if I thought the car was having a bit of a struggle (e.g. hill start with 3.9 Classic towing double axle trailer wider than the car and full of wet logs) or if I wanted greater control in slow speed manoeuvres. It's probably better to use low ratio if towing on a poor surface off road, e.g. car struggling to find grip up a muddy hill.

As many places in Scotland are now 20mph limits in town I suppose I should think about what the manual says, but I've tended to stick with high ratio as the car seems to manage effortlessly enough. I've never felt the 5.0sc was struggling albeit fuel consumption does go up more than I think would be the case with diesel. But I'm not towing that often, so not the same strain on the gearbox as if it was doing it all the time. It can be slightly daunting to go from low to high ratio on the move, as one needs a bit of coasting in neutral, so not every road or traffic situation is ideal. Again those with more experience will find this easier than I do. Only Range Rovers since 1988

I have towed over 2 tonnes (triple axle stock trailer full of hay bales) without using low range and not noticed any non-smoothness.
I have used low range when towing a 2 tonne caravan up a long steep hill at low speed, but this is because in our Discovery 3 the gap between first and second gear was so big you couldn't change gear in high range without losing too much momentum, so low rang was used to give closer gear ratios.
I use low range for manoeuvring too, for finer control. I've never tried range changing on the move, in either car.

I've regularly if infrequently towed well over 2 tonnes with each of my FFs. Either some sort of plant (digger/chipper/tractor) on a plant trailer or a car on a car trailer. Indeed I've rarely towed less than 2 tonnes unless I'm on a return journey with just trailer and no load in which case its easy to forget you're towing at all.

And in all that time its never occurred to me to use low range. I've never found any lack of grunt. None of the cars have ever been anything but smooth. Its one of the joys of Fatty ownership, that they are just so capable. Maybe it does some sort of long term gearbox damage, but I keep my cars for 4 or 5 years to about 120k miles and only the first one had any transmission issues - which I was told was due to radiator/coolant failures not overworking the box. Indeed even that original 4.4BWM petrol was a significant step up in towing capability from the 5.4SC F150 I had before. The others have just got more and more capable - although I would say I notice the weight more on the L405 than the L322s - but that's about relative weight between car and trailer, not anything to do with power/engine/gearbox. Mike - MPx

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Thanks guys for all the replies, very useful indeed!

Think I'll stick with high unless the terrain suggests otherwise!

One final point, any adjustment in tyre pressure? I'm guessing not!

Actually I do up the pressures for higher load yes...they're on the door jam. Mike - MPx

2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged SVAutobigraphy Dynamic SVO Palette Grey (2021-...)
2012 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autoboigraphy Orkney Grey (2017-2021)
2007 4.2 V8 Supercharged Vogue SE Tonga Green (2012-2017)
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I've towed various trailers, some quite heavy, including up mountain roads and never felt the need for low range.....

42psi on rear tyres for towing, as opposed to standard 37psi. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Towing a 2.5 tonne caravan fully loaded up long steep hills in the peak district and my 4.4V8 never even changed gear, let alone ratio Effortless FFRR SDV8 Autobiography

i have forgotten how to engage low range RR 2005 4.4 petrol
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Thanks to you all for the replies. My first day towing my recently purchased trailer was a success, never done it before. One thing l will have to practice though is reversing a trailer, was rubbish!