Saab 9-6x photo

18 YEAR SPONSORSHIP COMES TO AN END Over the last 18 years, Land Rover and Worldwide Brands Inc., sponsors of Camel Trophy have worked together to build an unrivaled international event. This reputation has mutually benefited both parties providing the ultimate showcase for Land Rover vehicles and Camel Trophy Adventure Products. As lifestyles change, Camel Trophy has successfully evolved into a multi-disciplined event. This shift in direction is targeted primarily at broadening the appeal to an even wider audience. Land Rover and WBI as a direct result of this shift in strategy have decided to dissolve the co-sponsorship agreement of the world's foremost international adventure challenge, Camel Trophy.

Driving will still play a part in the event, but the emphasis has move away from a 4x4 focus, and as such, no longer maximizes Land Rover's sponsorship objectives. The partnership, has ended on a high after last years' ground-breaking event in Chile and Argentina, which offered an ideal showcase to demonstrate the world-beating off-road capabilities of the Freelander, Land Rover's newest lifestyle 4x4.

"There are few sponsorship relationships that have withstood the test of time as successfully as Camel Trophy and Land Rover. This has been as excellent association for us and over the years Land Rover has given the event an outstanding level of support. However, as the event now includes so many other sporting activities, the emphasis can no longer remain solely on 4x4," commented Nick Horne, WBI Special Events Director.

Speaking about the decision, Rover Group Marketing Director Martin Runnacles said: "We have enjoyed a unique relationship with the Camel Trophy event over almost two decades and it has played a major role in sustaining the image of Land Rover as the manufacturer of the best 4x4's in the world. However, with the changing character of the event it will no longer provide us with an active demonstration of Land Rover's brand essence - limitless capability. We wish Camel Trophy every success with their new format. As for Land Rover, future activities will concentrate on our customer base with the emphasis very much on rugged off-road adventure."

As Land Rover focuses on new sponsorships the Camel Trophy event will continue to push the parameters of adventure for the year

2000.

Ends

Issued by: Jardine Wesson International PR Consultants Date:

25 February 1999

Graham

Pooh Bear,

Thanks, that's sad.

So I guess it ended in 2004?

That's the only SUV I've ever appreciated and respected.

SaabGuy

Camel Trophy have worked together to build an

parties providing the ultimate showcase for Land Rover

Trophy has successfully evolved into a multi-disciplined

to an even wider audience. Land Rover and WBI as a direct

agreement of the world's foremost international adventure

from a 4x4 focus, and as such, no longer maximizes Land

last years' ground-breaking event in Chile and Argentina,

capabilities of the Freelander, Land Rover's newest

as successfully as Camel Trophy and Land Rover. This

given the event an outstanding level of support. However,

no longer remain solely on 4x4," commented Nick

said: "We have enjoyed a unique relationship with

in sustaining the image of Land Rover as the

character of the event it will no longer provide us with an

wish Camel Trophy every success with their new

base with the emphasis very much on rugged off-road

to push the parameters of adventure for the year

You are either pulling my leg or don't know a damn thing about trailering. The max trailering load for my Explorer is 6000lbs. This is the equivelent payload of a small pickup truck (Ford Ranger), which is exactly what it is with the addition of a rear roof and seat. There is no way that I would haul 4500 lbs of boat trailer and another /4 ton of people and luggage around behind any car, SAAB or otherwise.

I doubt it. If I owned a farm, anywhere, I'd have an honest to god pickup truck, at least a 3/4 ton or larger. A Landrover (or any other SUV) would be useless when it comes time to haul some serious farm stuff around.

I currently own a Jeep Wrangler for going offroad. But even with a 4.0 liter I6 it will does not have the capacity to tow my boat, nor would I want to, considering how short the wheelbase is. It is quite capable at offroading (the *S*port in SUV) at about 1/2 the price of a Landrover . I like Landrovers too, but they are just too highly priced here and the models imported are limited to the luxo-equiped ones. My Jeep is spartan in comparison. After a muddy off-roading session I can just hose things out inside and out.

Some SUVs (and all SAVs) are boutique. SUVs such as Ford Explorers, Jeep Cherokees and Chevy Trailblazers are not. Whether or not they go off road does not negate the "utility" functionality and usefulness as vehicles.

You really ought to stick to commenting about things that you have some sort of personal experience with.

-Fred W

So then don't follow them so closely.

How about this ?

Garham

It appears to be a matter of scale. If a 2.0 litre Vauxhall Cavalier is anything like the 2.4 litre Chevrolet Cavalier sold in the US, you would theoretically need 4 cars in tandem to legally tow the 19 foot boat mentioned by the previous poster (assuming the boat weighs around 4,000 lbs.). You see, the Cavalier, all Saabs, and all other passenger cars sold in the US, AFAK, are certified to use the most basic, light duty "Class 1" trailer hitch, which is limited to around 1000 lbs. towing capacity. That assumes the model is equipped and certified to perform any towing at all.

2.2 litre Cavaliers are not certified for any towing duty. (Information based on a 2001 Cavalier sales brochure I happen to have handy. The Chevrolet Cavalier is now a discontinued model.)

The next range for towing is "Class 2" which supports up to 5,000 lbs. I am not aware of any passenger car currently sold in the US (or the past 20 years) that is capable of legally accommodating a Class 2 or Class 3 (10,000 lbs.) trailer hitch. A truck (pickup or SUV) is required for such applications.

Walt Kienzle

1991 9000T

Ahhh... well I wasn't aware of the possible implications of this 19 foot boat. That kind of thing isn't much seen in the UK.

Sure - if the task requires a heavy duty vehicle then by all means that's that.

Graham

[...]

But how often do you need to tow the boat? If it's only twice a year (to and from the water), it may be possible to find another solution, e.g. renting a truck.

That sounds entirely sensible.

Graham

Actually, the hitch on my 2000 Saab 9-5 V6t is a Class II, rated at 3500lbs, which is also the official towing capacity of the car per the US manual. I have towed a car trailer with a Triumph Spitfire on it which weighed that much or even a little more perfectly comfortably. In fact, I have also towed the same car and trailer with a friend's 2000 GMC Jimmy, a "rough, tough SUV". There was simply no comparison, the Saab was infinitely more comfortable towing than the Jimmy. Hugely better braking, and far more stable. In Europe, using the official Saab hitch (which is rather more rugged than my CII Drawtite), I believe the official towing capacity of a Saab 9-5 wagon is

5000lbs.

Kevin Rhodes Westbrook, Maine, USA

There was recently a TV program about car owners. A SUV or 'Chelsey Tractor' owner admitted that the real reason he liked this vehicle was because of its presence on the road, the other traffic respected it and gave way...

Kevin,

Thanks for the information.

Isn't the tow rating for the new 9-3 SS only 2000lbs? I believe that's what I read, if so, that's too bad.

SaabGuy

3500lbs (1588kg) with trailer brakes, 1000lbs without. The numbers are the same for everything from 1999 to present, according to the Saab catalog.

You know what' really odd is that while poking around online to figure out what the legal tow rating of the current crop of SAABs is, it is not even stated anywhere at SAAB USA. OTOH I stubled across a SAAB UK site that claimed something like 1500 kilos for a SAAB 9-5. There is no way in the world that I would tow 3300 lbs behind any car, especially one with front wheel drive. They have to be freekin crazy over there.

-Fred W

No, this is only a 19 foot boat that is used mostly in freshwater. We use it to fish and ski (wakeboard). It is fairly common here for people with such a boat to keep it on the trailer and tow it to the water for each use.

You see, waterfront property is exhorbitantly priced these days. Even a boat slip in a marina is out of my price range. A little 2 bedroom on the water on Lake Winnipesauke (the biggest lake in my home state) goes at right around a cool $Million.

And so, I tow...

-Fred W

Shane,

Okay, umm, so any normal Saab 9-3 SS can only tow 1000lbs?

Where the heck do you get "trailer brakes"???

Are these larger Saab Calipers, Rotors, Pads all way-around that can be used on the same stock Hubs???

Never heard of this, then again, never towed anything

SaabGuy

No. A little Triumph Spitfire only weighs something less than 1900 lbs (wet), so unless your trailer is over a ton you are well short of towing a good sized boat.

That's your opinion. I would disagree.

For one thing, a properly loaded trailer will have a tongue weight of between 10 and 15 percent of the load. That SAAB 9-5 would be doing a wheelie with my boat trailer loaded on it.

Then you have to back it down a sometimes slippery boat ramp (sometimes they aren't even paved). With front wheel drive and ~400 lbs on the hitch, I doubt I'd even be able to retrieve the boat and trailer back up the ramp at the end of the day.

In many of the places that I launch, before the trailer gets submerged enough to move the boat on and off of it I usually have to back the Explorer up so that the bottom of the rear bumper is submerged. At that point the exhaust is underwater and bubbling away happily. Half the trunk of the SAAB would be underwater.

As I mentioned in another post, I found the same thing. It's ridiculous if you ask me.

But either way, there is no way in hell you would be able to use a FWD SAAB automobile to trailer (launch and hopefully retrieve) even a modest sized power-boat like mine. You guys really do not have a clue.

-Fred W

on the same stock Hubs???

No, "trailer brakes" means brakes that are on the trailer axle(s).

Either way, I would not tow more than 1000 lbs behind any SAAB. Trailer brakes or not.

-Fred W

??

1000 lbs, or 450 kg, is nothing for any saab. I once had a trailer with a 96 on it behind the 95. I admit, that was a bit scary.