Preparing to set up and tow a van

**whynot** · 13th March 2013, 08:20 PM

Looking for help, tips or suggestions in preparing for towing a Van. Currently towing a Trackabout soft floor camper trailer & about to upgrade to a 17 ft duel axle van - approx 1700kg.

Have a 2003 Defender with Davis Chip, Engine temp monitor, low water alarm, King springs and Airbags, Anderson plug, and 7 pin flat plug.

Looking for suggestions/ advice on:
Tow Mirrors - what works,
Tow packages / load leveling devices will it be necessary
Battery charging / fridge running- I have duel batteries & charge battery in Camper allright - will this be sufficient.
Electric Brakes - considering Hayman Reece - fitted via Redcliffe Sparkie Should I consider larger intercooler / benefit / cost,
and any other considerations suggestions

I look forward to the suggestions and feedback

cheers & Thanks
Andrew

**robbotd5** · 13th March 2013, 08:56 PM

Andrew.
Firstly, great decision, we have a 23ft ensuit bunk van and we LOVE it.
To answer a few of your questions.
Towing mirrors. I tried the coast to coast door mounted mirror and it was not practical on my Disco, where the mirror mount fits into the window seal was putting far too much pressure on the window. So I opted for a relatively cheap set of mirror mounted mirrors and I really like them.
Tow package, well you could just try fitting Polly air bags to the rear springs first and see how it tows, if it feels good, it's all good. You will know. If the combo needs a little tightening up then you could try a HR. 550 lbs leveling kit.
Charging, your current setup should be ok via an Anderson plug.
Electric brakes, scrap the Haman Reece, get a Tekonsha P3. Off EBay. Awesome bit of kit.
Inter cooler, well I can't really comment as my I/C was done at the same time as all the other mods but yes, it will make a difference, especially to your EGT's. Speaking of EGT's, get yourself an EGT gauge. You will learn to drive by it.
A Turbo boost gauge is also a good investment. As too is a good exhaust system, I have a 3" Taipan on my Disco and it is very good. A UHF radio with your call sign and channel on the back of the van is also handy.
Hope this helps
Regards
Robbo

**djam1** · 13th March 2013, 09:08 PM

Do you tow in 5th gear??

**goingbush** · 13th March 2013, 09:53 PM

I just spent 12 months setting up my Td5 110 to tow a van around Australia for the next 12 months, brief summary of stuff done on my blog www.goingbush.com and more indepth details if you search on AULRO

As Robbo suggested I also have rear polyairs but forgot to mention them in the blog, Im also using the Teknosha P3 brake controller, works very well.

I use Long Arm 130 mirrors , or Masai Mirrors, They look just like standard mirrors, in fact no one has ever noticed them.

Change to a large round 7 pin plug, the contacts are too small and overheat in flat plugs.

**robbotd5** · 13th March 2013, 10:07 PM

djam1
Yes, I tow in 5th. But I am very, very careful.
Regards
Robbo

**goingbush** · 13th March 2013, 10:21 PM

I think people are paranoid about towing in 5th.

Passed a 90 towing a 109 on the Hume a few days ago - I think he is one of them. (Btw I had our Van behind us & motoring along fine in 5th)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRt-R37j7Ug]LandRover Towing effort on Hume - YouTube[/ame]

I always tow in 5th when conditions permit.

I just changed all the oils last week before we left home and the gearbox oil still looked new after 15,000 klm. The extra R380 cooler is a huge bonus.

**robbotd5** · 13th March 2013, 10:46 PM

Goingbush.
Just had a quick geez at your blog. Great stuff!!.
Regards
Robbo.

**djam1** · 14th March 2013, 08:07 AM

Don I guess the next 12 Months will show
I will be watching your experience with interest
The only reason I ask is I have pulled the box apart and saw the size of 5th gear

Originally Posted by goingbush

I think people are paranoid about towing in 5th.

Passed a 90 towing a 109 on the Hume a few days ago - I think he is one of them. (Btw I had our Van behind us & motoring along fine in 5th)

LandRover Towing effort on Hume - YouTube

I always tow in 5th when conditions permit.

I just changed all the oils last week before we left home and the gearbox oil still looked new after 15,000 klm. The extra R380 cooler is a huge bonus.

**whynot** · 14th March 2013, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the insight - some interesting options and considerations. Keen to find out more about the Mirrors from Going Bush "I use Long Arm 130 mirrors , or Masai Mirrors, They look just like standard mirrors, in fact no one has ever noticed them."
Will also take on board about the larger round plug.
I already have Poly airbags and will consider an intercooler upgrade - possibly even transmission cooler.
Many thanks to all who responded

cheers
Andrew

**FFR** · 15th March 2013, 10:01 PM

Hi,

In the R380 gearbox, driving in 4th means that there is a direct link between the input and output shaft, so the intermediate gears are simply being rotated, rather than making any effort (like in the other gears, from 1st to 5th).

So 4th is my favorite gear, especially if something heavy has to be towed. This is why I use a 1.22 relation transfer (from a disco), like in the puma. My defender, from 1st to 5th, is like a puma from 2nd to 6th.

Note that I'm missing a good short 1st gear, so I expect a premature clutch wear. But clutches are far cheaper than gearboxes, and I can change them by myself. If I'm seriously uphill and loaded, then I have to drive in LO range until the terrain levels and I can stop to switch to HI range. I have never needed to do it in the street or open roads, just when negotiating steep parking ramps. I understand that it might be perceived as a bit of a hassle, but coasting in 5th at low rpm is a big pleasure.

The original (1.44) transfer will "force" you to tow in 5th, which is also doable, but then a transmission cooler is a must, specially if you have something blocking the gearbox airflow, like some steering/underbody protection.

As a gearbox paranoid, I do not brake with the engine, unless going loaded and/or downhill. Brake pads and discs are cheap compared with a gearbox.

To my understanding, the gearbox and steering box are the weakest elements in a normal driving. I'm also thinking about adding a tougher damper to the front steering bar, to minimize hammering into the steering box.

Regarding the mirrors, I have long Wolf arms. I suppose that they are as long as the 130, as they have to clear the spare wheel mounted in the side of the defender XD (Wolf). If you want, I can measure them.

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