Bentley Turbo R as a tow vehicle?

[JohnJL]

With the 3rd child here it is becoming hard to get the wife's LR4 for the weekend, which I use as my tow vehicle for the track car.

I put very few miles on my daily driver WRX otherwise, I take the train to work so maybe 9,000 kms/4,000 miles a year. I was thinking of getting my own car that can tow, but something unusual and I can enjoy on the way to the station and back. I have enough sports cars, and was thinking...how baller would it be to roll up the track using a Bentley Turbo R as a tow vehicle?

Its long and heavy enough. The motors are supposed to give 450+ ft/lbs. It would require a towing hitch and bracing bars and a brake controller. I dont know how much weigh the back end of the Bentley can manage, as in the tongue weight from the trailer itself. I tow an enclosed aluminum trailer with car that is about 4,000 lbs with tools and gear.

I expect maintenance costs are high, but I dont drive a lot. I couldnt find any stats quoted on any site for towing with a ~1997 Bentley Turbo R.

Plus I have never seen anyone else do it so there's that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentley_Turbo_R

[enzo1]

[ZAMIRZ]

This sounds like a horrible idea, but I'd love to see you do it

[Nickshu]

Is it a body-on-frame design? If so then better than if it's not.

[JohnJL]

Yeah, body on frame. Pretty stout too. Tongue weight is my primary concern. I do t want to get into modifying the suspension. Hitch and wiring OK but no appetite for modifying a Bentley suspension...

[Nickshu]

Did they have self leveling air bags in the rear suspension?

[sc_rufctr]

Over the years I've ridden in or driven many different RR's and Bentleys.
(I've had my Chauffeur licence for many years)

If you go in with your eyes open then why not?

The head gaskets can fail on the turbo cars but otherwise they are very reliable.
They are beautifully built and robust. All that old English (Scottish) leather! They even smell nice inside.
But please don't buy a "cheap" one that hasn't been looked after. You'll regret it if you do.

It breaks my heart to see so many of these truly hand built cars go neglected and unused.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

This has awesome potential.

How much is a used Bentley anyway? More importantly to keep one in drivable condition? I looked at a RR a few years ago - solid, running, about $8k but the cost of replacement parts scared me off. Like F-cars there's no aftermarket so you're buying dealer / factory for every nut, bolt and screw (especially that last one...)

Again. This has seriously awesome potential.

[Steve Carlton]

You're my hero.

[jorian]

Guy in my office had a Turbo R. He bought it new for $250K. Sold for 10K 29 years later. He never towed with it to my knowledge but it did go like hell and looked good doing it. He bought a new RR Phantom to replace it. Also a monster of a rig. 10 feet longer than my 997. I would love to see a Bentley tow vehicle.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Pure genius! No idea if it would work, but pure genius!

I have always admired that era of Bentley, and considered buying one a few times. Very handsome, timeless cars. You should have more than enough powertrain, I would also be concerned about tongue weight. Maybe you could add some airbags in the rear end for load leveling?

[slow&rusty]

Interesting...would you be towing a 911 on a double axle trailer? If so, that's a fair bit of weight and would also be putting a strain on your rear end and also the transmission. The engine might be good for it, but that would not be the weak link.

The Turbo R and Arnages are amazing cars and seriously beautiful and well built, from the era of amazing cars in general.

[Nickshu]

The suspension is coil springs w/ "Automatic ride control" which, from what I can find on the internet, is not self-leveling.

I would think that a rear airbag system could easily be adapted to level the rear w/ tongue weight in place. Pickup truck systems are cheap, especially if you go with a hand pump or plug in pump to change the air level. Adding and onboard pump with self-leveling could be done but more complicated. You might be able to source Range Rover parts for this.

[JohnJL]

The transmission are commercial items: GM 4L80e. Didnt the H1 have that?

Self levelling bags might be necessary. Sourcing from RR is indeed expensive...i had a compressor in the LR burn out when a hard line got icked and it was many thousands...

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by JohnJL

The transmission are commercial items: GM 4L80e. Didnt the H1 have that?

Self levelling bags might be necessary. Sourcing from RR is indeed expensive...i had a compressor in the LR burn out when a hard line got icked and it was many thousands...

Yup BTDT. Had a Range Rover County LWB with the air suspension. Very expensive to keep working and constantly broken. I see why many owners convert to coil springs.

[Chocaholic]

Seems you came to the wrong place to get talked out of it! Probably, there's no more expensive way to tow anything, but if that's not an issue, yes, do it and keep us posted. But, I'm guessing that $700 fuel filters and $250 air filters will get tiresome. Edit: those prices are WAG's only.

[HardDrive]

No one has answered the real question. Would you be a total MFing BOSS if you showed up towing your track car with a Bentley? Yes. Hell yes.

[hardflex]

Pretty sure that car has a hydraulic suspension, self leveling so trailer weight would not be an issue unless it was extremely heavy. GM Trans can be fixed if it fails. Don't know how robust the rear end is or if it's geared appropriately. Braking system is hydraulic as well, not at all like traditional setup. A trailer with a surge braking system would adapt well and not wear brake pads.


Yes, it could be done but wear and tear on expensive and hard to fix parts and systems might be the biggest negative.

Im in charge of keeping a few RR's and Bentley's road ready. It's a challenge I must say.

[dad911]

Is there a rated towing capacity? I wouldn't tow over rated capacity, or at all if the vehicle isn't rated for towing. Not that vehicle can't handle it, the potential for liability in case of accident, or fines & tickets just aren't worth it.


But if you do, go for the rooftop hitch option:

[ted]

You could be like TV Tommy Ivo towing with a luxury car.
The $$$ you spend on your car though may be enough to cover the monthly payment on a purpose built tow vehicle.
I'd get a pick up and work on your race car not your tow vehicle.