Defender towing

I tow heavy trailers for my business, I agree, I expect the defenders to be able and capable of towing 3.5 tons day in day out, regardless of outside conditions, that's why I buy them..thus far my 130 td5 and pumas have done so, yes they are underpowered, but the chassis and driveline are built for it, and are good for it, its not uncommon for my 130 puma to have GCM of 7-7500kg a couple of times a week, and I intend to operate it like that until it breaks...I don't think it will.. As for gearbox temps, my trucks in summer, grossing. 48ton will run at around 120degrees, you can feel the heat in the cab, but that's all part and parcel with pulling a decent load and working things hard... Nothing to worry about in your defender...enjoy your trip

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Originally Posted by RobnJane

Interesting topic for me at the moment. We tow a Tvan and like to keep to around 95kmh when in traffic and then drop back to say 90kmh once the traffic drops off a bit.This means we are mainly travelling in 5th gear somewhere between 2100rpm to 2500rpm, this seems ok to me but am interested in what others may do.
Area around handbrake and floor area certainly gets warm, but post trip check of oils indicates all is working as it should.
Rob.

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I also tow a newly acquired Tvan. Did a road trip a couple of months ago did 2855kms towing the Tvan I always use 6th gear unless the terrain requires otherwise. Averaged 12.08litres/100km.:D

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Originally Posted by Summiitt

I tow heavy trailers for my business, I agree, I expect the defenders to be able and capable of towing 3.5 tons day in day out, regardless of outside conditions, that's why I buy them..thus far my 130 td5 and pumas have done so, yes they are underpowered, but the chassis and driveline are built for it, and are good for it, its not uncommon for my 130 puma to have GCM of 7-7500kg a couple of times a week, and I intend to operate it like that until it breaks...I don't think it will.. As for gearbox temps, my trucks in summer, grossing. 48ton will run at around 120degrees, you can feel the heat in the cab, but that's all part and parcel with pulling a decent load and working things hard... Nothing to worry about in your defender...enjoy your trip

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Do you think your prime movers gearbox and the LR gearboxes are built to the same standards? Im not talking the same size and torque rating either…

BTW I have done my fair share of towing behind a LR

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Originally Posted by Leroy_Riding

again, not really helpful.

What part of the system is going to fail first? (my money is on the diff failing first tbh) And would it not be coverd under warranty?
Is it not essentially the same thing as driving a car at full advertised GVM as far as warranty is concerned?
I understand more load = more wear and more stress on the vehicle. that part is easy to understand. Should not a vehicle that is said to be able to carry 'X' load or tow 'X' load be able to do so without causing issues? if not, is that not false advertising? or something that should be covered by warranty if an issue is caused by it?

Leroy
(genuine questions btw)

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Remember, many people keep their Land Rovers well past their warranty period. If you intend to keep it for ten years or more then look after it now, if you don't, well no need to worry. I had to rebuild the gearbox of my Defender after 13 years and 312,000 km of towing heavy trailers. The bearings on 5th were starting to grumble, but as it was apart, the whole box was rebuilt.

Jeff

:rocket:

I'll say it one more time, strongly consider decreasing your g/box and t/case oil change intervals if you're towing heavy loads in high temps - particularly the t/case, which carries less oil in a Puma than for previous engine configurations.

Other than that, give it a flogging :p

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Originally Posted by Jeff

Remember, many people keep their Land Rovers well past their warranty period. If you intend to keep it for ten years or more then look after it now, if you don't, well no need to worry. I had to rebuild the gearbox of my Defender after 13 years and 312,000 km of towing heavy trailers. The bearings on 5th were starting to grumble, but as it was apart, the whole box was rebuilt.

Jeff

:rocket:

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312,000 total or just Towing? either way that is a pretty good run from a R380 given that some here haven't lasted 100-150k before the lay shaft bearings crap themselves. I have just started to strip down for rebuild a late model R380 with only 90K on it. The rear lay shaft bearing had a collapsed cage and the inner track has signs or brinelling/pitting.

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Originally Posted by Jeff

Remember, many people keep their Land Rovers well past their warranty period. If you intend to keep it for ten years or more then look after it now, if you don't, well no need to worry. I had to rebuild the gearbox of my Defender after 13 years and 312,000 km of towing heavy trailers. The bearings on 5th were starting to grumble, but as it was apart, the whole box was rebuilt.

Jeff

:rocket:

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see I wouldn't dream of getting 300K out of my gearbox 200K before a rebuild maybe, 300K in my opinion is time for a full engine rebuild. (albeit this is my first diesel)

thats just my opinion. and I don't have the experience many of you have, but if my gearbox makes it to 200K and my engine to 300K at least before needing rebuilds I will be a happy man :)

Leroy

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Originally Posted by Leroy_Riding

see I wouldn't dream of getting 300K out of my gearbox 200K before a rebuild maybe, 300K in my opinion is time for a full engine rebuild. (albeit this is my first diesel)

thats just my opinion. and I don't have the experience many of you have, but if my gearbox makes it to 200K and my engine to 300K at least before needing rebuilds I will be a happy man :)

Leroy

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wow, seems almost at conflick with your other replies. Probably best you stay out of the Isuzu section ;)

my disco two has 420k on it and the gearbox is as it left the factory. new clutch and flywheel but everything else is fine. I changed the oil every 20k and put only the castrol oils that LR recommend which is not cheap but I recon the key to it's long life. I towed in 5th gear all the time.

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Originally Posted by beefy

my disco two has 420k on it and the gearbox is as it left the factory. new clutch and flywheel but everything else is fine. I changed the oil every 20k and put only the castrol oils that LR recommend which is not cheap but I recon the key to it's long life. I towed in 5th gear all the time.

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Thats excellent for the R380! The Td5 being LRs better designed engine (bit early to tell with the Tdci?)

Do you know if the D2 has an oil cooler fitted as standard?