Thread: Puma--what can it really tow

Originally Posted by dm_td5

The best gear on the open road is 5th not 6th when towing and a sensible speed of 80kph. On a good flat section you'll find you will go to 6th and if you push it you can certainly do over 100kph towing. Off road the gearing and anti-stall make it fantastic.

I agree that 5th gear is best for towing, Im regulary towing 3t plus, but blow 80 kph, no problems sitting on 100 on flat going still under 3000rpm and humming along nicely. If a hill was steep enough to reduce speed below 70/80 kph then it probably not safe to go faster regardless of how much power you have, you still have to be able to stop and negogiate corners and in this regard the defender is the best of any vehicle I have driven.

Yup as Scollops said to the cape and back no dramas. I didn''t get a chance to go over a weigh bridge but I m guessing around at least 1.5T. I was easily able to cruise at 120kph, dropping back to 5th and 100kph for hills.

I'd be a little concerned if you feel it's labouring at 750kg's ??? Might be worth while getting it on a dyno?

Cheers,

Defender seems to tow this boat alright fuel economy goes to 21L/100 K but our F250 does the same thing at 27L/100K. We can do the speed limit at 100kmh on the flats and slows a little on hills, sometimes have to go back to 4th but 5th is fine most of the time. Stability is the main issue as with a cross wind it does make it a little unstable, this is where the F250 shines as it wieghs 3.5 ton itself. The boat weighs 3.5ton dry is 2.8 m wide and overall 9m long, certainly gets a few looks being towed buy a DefenderLeeman 09 088.jpg

Originally Posted by KarlB

I had forgotten about that video Dullbird, it really is an amazing performance. I would really like to know what the hitch set-up is on the back of the D90.

It's a 5 tonne dixon bate jaw.

It uses 4x bolts through the rear cross member.

M

thats one hell of a tinny
and to you have to have long vehicle sign on it

Originally Posted by WD 130

Defender seems to tow this boat alright fuel economy goes to 21L/100 K but our F250 does the same thing at 27L/100K. We can do the speed limit at 100kmh on the flats and slows a little on hills, sometimes have to go back to 4th but 5th is fine most of the time. Stability is the main issue as with a cross wind it does make it a little unstable, this is where the F250 shines as it wieghs 3.5 ton itself. The boat weighs 3.5ton dry is 2.8 m wide and overall 9m long, certainly gets a few looks being towed buy a DefenderLeeman 09 088.jpg

Bloody nice set up Mate.

G'day camel_landy

Others have intimated that the rear cross member (on 2007+ Defenders and as used in the video) is not strong enough for towing/recovery without tying back to the chassis rails. Is the use of a substantial backing plate enough sufficient to strengthen the rear cross member?

Cheers
KarlB
Canberra

Further to my earlier comment/question, I have just had a look under the rear of my 2010 D90 and you can't even access the back (ie front facing) of the rear cross member without removing the bashplate for the plastic fuel tank and that looks like it would be problematic and may require the fuel tank to be removed first (via the floor)! Can recall exactly what the rear cross member of a D110 looks like from the outside (ie the rear) but what the D90 has is a series of holes with 'nuts' welded or fixed in some other way (4 small above two large).