Americas US Towing Package: A Hiccup delaying delivery of the tow package (not the vehicle!).

[Krabby]

My Fieldmaster arrived yesterday, got the call this morning from Regal.

Has both the hitch & winch. Planning on taking delivery next week!

Has hitch - as in I ordered it but it's not on because of the software issue - or as in it's fixed and all set?

 

[anand]

Has hitch - as in I ordered it but it's not on because of the software issue - or as in it's fixed and all set?

Has to be ordered and not on because of software; the fix isn't out yet

 

[Gman53]

Has hitch - as in I ordered it but it's not on because of the software issue - or as in it's fixed and all set?

Ordered with hitch and winch. Hitch receiver removed for delivery

 

[YellowLab]

Unless I missed something, still no Trialmasters with tow package and winch showing up?

Mine is a Trialmaster - and has been at the port since 11/20 and arrived at the dealer this week

 

[bamanuke]

My Fieldmaster arrived yesterday, got the call this morning from Regal.

Has both the hitch & winch. Planning on taking delivery next week!

congrats! picking mine up at Regal Saturday morning. Hitch (blanked), no winch. Planning on having it at the 30A Sand Rover Rally in April.

 

[grosvenor27]

Has anyone in the US taken delivery with a tow hitch installed? Probably not. Anyone with any news on the "fix"? Official language from dealers and Ineos suggest that a 'fix' will be available in January. What does that mean - they will have solved the issue and will start shipping the hitch to dealers who will then have to remove the cover plate and re-install the hitch? Is this problem a genuine wiring issue or a US regulatory issue?

 

[Lord Ripon USA]

Has anyone in the US taken delivery with a tow hitch installed? Probably not. Anyone with any news on the "fix"? Official language from dealers and Ineos suggest that a 'fix' will be available in January. What does that mean - they will have solved the issue and will start shipping the hitch to dealers who will then have to remove the cover plate and re-install the hitch? Is this problem a genuine wiring issue or a US regulatory issue?

I am waiting with bated breath for the first reports of a U.S. version actually towing a heavy trailer. Something with 6-700 lbs tongue weight and lots of side and frontal area. Not a lawnmower cart. 6-7,000lbs.

When I see the UK and Aussie vans they seem much lower than our American equivalents.
My Winnebago trailer is 5500lbs, and 11’ tall, and 25’ long.

After all these yeas it’s a “Show me the the money…” moment.

 

[[ Adam ]]

I am waiting with bated breath for the first reports of a U.S. version actually towing a heavy trailer. Something with 6-700 lbs tongue weight and lots of side and frontal area. Not a lawnmower cart. 6-7,000lbs.

When I see the UK and Aussie vans they seem much lower than our American equivalents.
My Winnebago trailer is 5500lbs, and 11’ tall, and 25’ long.

After all these yeas it’s a “Show me the the money…” moment.

I hope that is a wonderful towing experience, but I'm afraid that may be a bit much for a Grenadier. Hope it works though - I'll probably be shopping more in the Basecamp size.

 

[Lord Ripon USA]

I hope that is a wonderful towing experience, but I'm afraid that may be a bit much for a Grenadier. Hope it works though - I'll probably be shopping more in the Basecamp size.

If you pitch the vehicle as being able to tow 7000 pounds safely, uphill and down dale for years, then produced them without elaborate, computer controlled engine, transmission, trailer braking and towing systems, then you have to be pretty confident of the vehicles capabilities. Why there is no trailer braking control for the NA market is beyond me.
I can’t imagine they never investigated how campers are towed in the US by SUV type vehicles.
I just want to see an equalizing hitch plugged in, and someone heading off down the expressway with a typical hard sided camper (van for Aussies).

 

[[ Adam ]]

I just want to see an equalizing hitch plugged in, and someone heading off down the expressway with a typical hard sided camper (van for Aussies).

Me too - I hope it exceeds my expectations. I also think the lack of a trailer brake is a miss that will be resolved in the 2.0

 

[Lord Ripon USA]

Me too - I hope it exceeds my expectations. I also think the lack of a trailer brake is a miss that will be resolved in the 2.0

You can do it with just about every mid-size suv in the US.
Sort of a minimum threshold for towing.

 

[Krabby]

Has anyone in the US taken delivery with a tow hitch installed? Probably not. Anyone with any news on the "fix"? Official language from dealers and Ineos suggest that a 'fix' will be available in January. What does that mean - they will have solved the issue and will start shipping the hitch to dealers who will then have to remove the cover plate and re-install the hitch? Is this problem a genuine wiring issue or a US regulatory issue?

Hello and welcome to the Forum. The search function is very efficient and if you poke around you will find a plethora of information.

That said, here is the short version. No trucks have been handed over to customers with the trailer hitch. The problem is software-based as far as we know and the issue at hand is basically because the rest of the world uses amber turn signals but we traditionally don’t. There is a conflict with the information communication between the truck and trailer by way of the trailer harness. There is no regulatory issue to the best of my knowledge.

I hope this addresses your concerns. Again, I encourage you to peruse the site. There’s plenty of information to occupy your time. There’s some bad jokes, cranky old men, and dog photos sprinkled in too.

 

[Mr.Espresso]

Hello and welcome to the Forum. The search function is very efficient and if you poke around you will find a plethora of information.

That said, here is the short version. No trucks have been handed over to customers with the trailer hitch. The problem is software-based as far as we know and the issue at hand is basically because the rest of the world uses amber turn signals but we traditionally don’t. There is a conflict with the information communication between the truck and trailer by way of the trailer harness. There is no regulatory issue to the best of my knowledge.

I hope this addresses your concerns. Again, I encourage you to peruse the site. There’s plenty of information to occupy your time. There’s some bad jokes, cranky old men, and dog photos sprinkled in too.

Lots of cranky old men!

 

[AZGrenadier]

I don’t think my communications with Red Noland have been anything to write home about. Hopefully the truck is getting there soon. They did say it was released from port on Monday so hopefully it shows up next week.

 

[Catpaw4x4]

The take rate, on manual transmission vehicles, is phenomenally low. Ineos R+D would lose money, guaranteed. Unfortunately, the ship has sailed for manual transmissions, as has the ship for horses being primary transportation.

When the "G" arrives, I'm selling my 2022 Duke Blue with Sliver Gray leather interior Tiguan with 35K miles (many interstate miles) and keeping my 1996 5 speed MANUAL Discovery with 280K miles with my mechanic 3.5 hrs away! LR only imported 80 Manuals in 1997 and zero there after. I wouldn't trade the Beasty Marshmellow for anything!!

 

[Mr.Espresso]

When the "G" arrives, I'm selling my 2022 Duke Blue with Sliver Gray leather interior Tiguan with 35K miles (many interstate miles) and keeping my 1996 5 speed MANUAL Discovery with 280K miles with my mechanic 3.5 hrs away! LR only imported 80 Manuals in 1997 and zero there after. I wouldn't trade the Beasty Marshmellow for anything!!

I’m confident, your time with a modern ZF automatic, will put a smile on your face.

 

[Catpaw4x4]

As much as I like rowing my own gears, the IA market share is fractions of a percent compared to Ford or Jeep, and I'm sure that from a business sense the auto was a no brainer. According to an older article from THE DRIVE, about 15% of Bronco orders are for the manual (with the 2 door accounting for much of it). Ford, however, put the option on hold and has considered dropping the stick to simplify the build process. Source: TTAC

I combed through a bunch of articles but the data I could find stopped around 2020; essentially though, only about 3 percent of NA vehicles are sold with manual transmissions and less than 20% globally. I would imagine that number would be significantly lower once sports cars and econoboxes were removed from the data. The reality is, manual transmissions gradually faded away because autos eventually caught up with respect to fuel economy and at this point can offer more gears and faster shifting while streamlining the build process for OEMs. Even Toyota went auto-only in the new 70 series with the new 4cyl spec (can still get a manual on the V8 though).

Would I like a manual trans Grenadier? Yes. Would I buy one over the ZF 8-speed if offered? Probably not.

Americans also wanted to eat, drink, curl hair, smoke, talk on the mobile, watch TV, read a book, etc all while driving - manuals just weren't practical

 

[Catpaw4x4]

I’m confident, your time with a modern ZF automatic, will put a smile on your face.

Oh totally it will!! But I've only ever gotten speeding tickets while driving an automatic .

 

[Krabby]

Oh totally it will!! But I've only ever gotten speeding tickets while driving an automatic .

You’re not trying hard enough then.

 

[Catpaw4x4]

Okay probably belongs on some other thread but don't know which one ...
A person irony to this journey of obtaining my "G" is BMW acquired the Rover series in 1994 - my rational was they did this so as to get insight on the V8 engine. BMW flipped the Rover group to Ford in 2000 as in 1999 BMW issued its first SUV. In 2021 I was looking for a new SUV and had narrowed my selection down to an X5 (spent a tremendous amount of time renting from National and essentially able to drive just about any vehicle you name that year !! I was the only consistent entity at the Counter besides the agents. Interstates were empty and law enforcement very rare and put those vehicles thru their paces!) BUT the Defender yearn wouldn't leave. Was reminded about the Grenadier. When reading about the BMW engine and gear selector and then add on the look -all pieces of my new car search came together and reservation placed on 15 Oct 2021.
It's been a long journey and much patience but well worth it - so looking forward to the "Day of Collection". The "G" and the Discovery will be good cousins in the driveway!
Cheers All!