Getting my new Disco 4 and need help

[LeaRoy]

Hi All,

New to the forum and have purchased our first Discovery. We could only afford the base model with 7 seat pack, rear diff lock, side steps, Bi-Xenon lights, window tint and rear air con. We have 4 children and need the 3rd row of seats.


Picking it up Wednesday and need some help. Can someone please advise where to get the best "normal" tow hitch to suit the D4 so we can pull our Jayco Eagle camper?

We would need to purchase online or in Mackay or Townsville.

Not sure if I should get the land rover genuine part or not.

Thanks

[rmp]

Hi and welcome!

Most people here run the excellent Mitchell Bros hitch over the LR part.

Welcome to Mitchell Bros - 4x4 & more - Sydney, New South Wales Australia (http://www.mitchellbros.com.au)

The Eagle is +750kg so don't forget a trailer brake system too.

[ADMIRAL]

Hi LeaRoy,

You should get the LR tow hitch from your dealer as part of the vehicle equipment. There should not be anything to stop you hitching your Jayco up. All the wiring is there and connected. If you don't get everything, ask the question. Some other detail in the FAQ's .

Note, it still looks pretty average, but is better than the version supplied with the D3 ( looked like a plough )

You did say 'normal' tow hitch. If you have an offroad coupling on your Jayco, the LR supplied tow hitch will not help you, and the Mitchell Bros hitch is the weapon of choice.

[Normthe1]

I too have a Jayco Eagle, an 09 model with LED lights. I'm not sure about the D4 but if its the same as the D3, then you will need to organise the LED shunt (just do a search on 'shunt') or get your dealer to redo the wiring harness which my dealer quoted at $750. I ended up going the shunt from this mob
www.linearelectronicdesign.com (http://www.linearelectronicdesign.com/)

and will be wiring in the EBC this week sometime.

Our Eagle came with the Treg hitch and from my limited testing (only got the D3 this week and so far too lazy to take the camper out of the garage and hook it up) I think that the treg hitch on the factory bar (in place of the tow ball) should do nicely.

I have to get off my arse and get this organised soon as we are off to Shark Bay in 3 weeks. Can I say arse on this forum???

Time will tell...


Norm

[lrdef110]

LeaRoy, Land Rover Spares located in Turner Street in Mackay is the Mitchell Bros distributor here. Contact is Greame on 49575854.

What colour did you get, will have to look out for you.

[lrdef110]

LeaRoy meant to say the new D4 hitch that comes with the vehicle is better than the D3 hitch which hung too low, but in my opinion it is still not as good as the Mitchell Bros hitch. The one advantage of the standard D4 hitch is that it is easily removeable.

[Disco4SE]

Hi LeaRoy, I have two different trailers and a large boat and have found that the D4 standard hitch is perfect.
Had the D3 before the D4 and found that the hitch on it was too low. I ended up getting a Mitchell Bros hitch.
For what its worth, have a play with the standard hitch before wasting money on another.
Cheers, Craig

[LeaRoy]

Disco4se,

Did you get the hitch with the car, because I may being told I have to pay $300.00 for it. Maybe it is only included in the SE models and up.

My Eagle is a 2006 model that does not have LED lights and has a normal ball receiver on it.

Thanks to all the others for advice.

[Disco4SE]

Hi LeaRoy, yes the hitch came with the vehicle. I know that it is the standard hitch

[LeaRoy]

Craig,

Maybe my terminology is not correct. According to the dealer and brochure, the "Towing tounge is an accessory"

Royce

[Disco4SE]

Hi Royce, the tongue being an accessory was never mentioned by my dealer. They just asked me if I wanted one.
Cheers, Craig

[LeaRoy]

LeaRoy, Land Rover Spares located in Turner Street in Mackay is the Mitchell Bros distributor here. Contact is Greame on 49575854.

What colour did you get, will have to look out for you.


Irdef110,

We had to get the only one they had available in stock - White. Which is fine by me.

Royce

[eddomak]

Craig,

Maybe my terminology is not correct. According to the dealer and brochure, the "Towing tounge is an accessory"

Royce

My dealer also charged me a similar price for the towing tongue, but I made them "throw in" the towball. :mad: It comes in a fancy carrybag, as it doesn't fit in any of the compartments. Mine lives in the footwell of the 3rd row of seats.

Depending on how you feel about these things, the aftermarket Hayman Reese 50mm towing tongue is a LOT cheaper, but just check the load rating.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Not knowing your reasoning there Eddo,, but maybe bolt the ball on and leave the tongue at home??

[eddomak]

Sorry, I meant that the tongue comes in a carrybag. So I have bolted the ball on the tongue, put the whole lot in the carrybag, and put the carrybag in the 3rd row footwell, ready to deploy when required.

[gghaggis]

LeaRoy,

If you can't get a tongue for a reasonable deal from LR, just get one of the Hayman Reece ones. I had an Outback Penguin (bit heavier than the Eagle) and used an HR tongue with a 125mm 'drop' - worked fine for me, and cost around the $120 mark in Melbourne.

Cheers,

Gordon

[LeaRoy]

Gordan,

Thanks for that. I will check out HR and see what I can do. Probably a bit late for negotiations with LR as I collect it tomorrow.

Royce

[sniegy]

LeaRoy,
There are 2 parts to the Towing components on the D4.
The Tow Hitch (standard part supplied with vehicle)
The Tow Tongue (an accessory to be purchased or persuaded as part of the deal perhaps;))

I have towed a few campers with mine, just recently & found the D4 unit sensational (read a whole lot better than the D3 plough)
As siad i would try the factory unit first & then matbe look at other options.

Congrats & Good luck.

[LeaRoy]

Hi all.

Picked up my D4 and love it. David from Tony Ireland Land Rover in townsville was great. He even managed to shock me and threw in the tow tongue and ball. I highly recommend the townsville dealership as David has a lot of experience with both 4WDing and Land Rovers.

Although I didn't get the 3L model, I still think this one has plenty of power for us. The 400km drive home from the dealers was effortless. Now I just need to wait for a bull bar to come out and get the electrics done so I can get the Jayco out and get away with the family.

Thanks to those who put me in contact with Greame in Mackay, I think I will be getting him to set up the electric brake controller and charger for the jayco.

Now I just have to get through the manual!!!

[BPTP7270]

Hi all.

Picked up my D4 and love it. David from Tony Ireland Land Rover in townsville was great. He even managed to shock me and threw in the tow tongue and ball. I highly recommend the townsville dealership as David has a lot of experience with both 4WDing and Land Rovers.

Although I didn't get the 3L model, I still think this one has plenty of power for us. The 400km drive home from the dealers was effortless. Now I just need to wait for a bull bar to come out and get the electrics done so I can get the Jayco out and get away with the family.

Thanks to those who put me in contact with Greame in Mackay, I think I will be getting him to set up the electric brake controller and charger for the jayco.

Now I just have to get through the manual!!!
Hi LeaRoy, congrats on the new car. I have just (1 week) bought the identical vehicle. Glad you had a good dealer with some knowhow. I am waiting for a tow hitch and cargo mat (on order) and I also bought a bonnet protector and mud flaps. I cant believe they are an accessory on a vehicle of this calibre. I still cant get over what a smooth thing this is to drive. Enjoy!:)

[Disco4SE]

I agree. You spend over $90K and you have to purchase mud flaps???
What were LR thinking

[Celtoid]

I agree. You spend over $90K and you have to purchase mud flaps???
What were LR thinking

I was lucky, my D4 was an demo job with about 4K on it. It came with all sorts of extras including tow hitch, tongue and ball.

It also had mudflaps fitted. I tore one on my first off-road trip. When my car was in for a service, I tried to embarrass LR into replacing it under warranty :)

No luck thou......LOL!!!!

[BPTP7270]

I fitted my F+R mud flaps last night and it took about 2 hours. While the parts were made in England, the instructions came from another planet where they only communicate in really bad sign language. But it looks better with them on.

[ADMIRAL]

I fitted my F+R mud flaps last night and it took about 2 hours. While the parts were made in England, the instructions came from another planet where they only communicate in really bad sign language. But it looks better with them on.

They do the same with just about everything. Someone must have given the guy responsible for any fitting instructions a directive to not use any words. They try to do everything with tulip arrows and drawings. Given the english speaking countries collectively must be the largest part of their market, it must be another case of political correctness gone mad.

Wait until you see the instructions for the sidesteps.

[LeaRoy]

Hi All,

THought I would add a couple of pics.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members/learoy-albums-my+ride-picture1305-my-disco-4.jpg

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members/learoy-albums-my+ride-picture1304-my-disco-4.jpg

[ADMIRAL]

Almost a twin for mine. ( about 3 months ago )

[LeaRoy]

Friends of ours have christened it "The Pope Mobile"!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/773.jpg

[Disco4SE]

Friends of ours have christened it "The Pope Mobile"!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/773.jpg
Very funny Learoy, although I couldn't see you sitting in the back waving at everyone. Depends how proud you are of your new Disco I suppose.

[Watpub]

Doesn't look like the Pontiff has a whole lot of leg room in the back of his vehicle - unless it's deliberately setup so he can give the cardinal in front him a kick in the moosh! :p

The Pope probably would have been better off with a Disco 4 - he'd still have the theatre seat (stadium seating?) in the back!