Our new van is here.

[robbotd5]

Gday all.
We have taken delivery of our new caravan a month early. A Retreat Daydream family van. It is absolutely beautiful and is what we have dreamed about for the 2 or so years spent researching van's. Picked it up last Thursday and towed it home behind my '04 TD5 classic manual. The combination felt realy good, the WDH pulling it up nice and level but I was not prepared for as to how much the acceleration has dropped off. The van is a big one, 22ft with a tare of 2180kgs and an ATM of 2580kgs which, on paper, is well within the D2a's towing limits of 250kg ball weight and 3500kgs. The only mods done to the engine are de EGR'd and the turbo wastegate wound up slightly. I live on a very steep hill that you can get virtually no run up on and the Disco pulled the van up to the top in second gear with absolutly nothing left. Mind you I later found out that I was hauling nearly 200l of water and the tyres were under inflated. I also managed to back the thing down the side of my house relatively easy so I have little to complain about. I am just a little overwhelmed at the moment. Looking foward to our first trip to put my mind at rest over a few issues as I do not want to become a mobile roadblock on the Pacific highway hills. Im thinking chip/intercooler/bigger exhaust.
Any advise (words of encouragement!) welcome
Regards
Robbo

[The ho har's]

Congratulations, you sound really chuffed:D

Hope everything goes well on your upcoming caravanning travels, and above all ENJOY IT:D

[Drover]

Robbotd5

Sounds like a nice van..photo's ?

I recently bought an intercooler from AlliSport in the UK, nearly 1/2 the cost of compatible unit in Australia.

Only took 5 days to be freighted over.

Talk to Pete from Bell Auto Services (BAS) for a chip or remap and take his advice on the pipe. Again this will work out cheaper that a comparable unit in Aus. Pete Bell is the guru of al things Land Rover.

I was able to combine the freight for the two items and both companies were very helpful in the coordination of this.

The mod have made a huge difference to the power and towing ability of my PUMA and I think that TD5's have even greater potential.

Enjoy the van

Cheers

[Narangga]

An ECU upgrade and bigger intercooler made me feel the difference towing a one tonne camper trailer so I'm sure it will help you.

An EGR blank seems to make it breathe easier too.

[harlie]

I have the BAS remap in our TD5, massive difference for towing, and as you have the manual Pete can get significantly more out of it than the autos. Up to 500nm with the right pipe and intercooler…

You have to remember that you have effectively halved your power (more importantly torque) to weight ratio; a truck would have 7 or 8 gears for that. If it was full of water than it would be closer to its ATM than tare….

Your TD5 will cope as is but there are options.

[robbotd5]

Gday all.
We have taken delivery of our new caravan a month early. A Retreat Daydream family van. It is absolutely beautiful and is what we have dreamed about for the 2 or so years spent researching van's. Picked it up last Thursday and towed it home behind my '04 TD5 classic manual. The combination felt realy good, the WDH pulling it up nice and level but I was not prepared for as to how much the acceleration has dropped off. The van is a big one, 22ft with a tare of 2180kgs and an ATM of 2580kgs which, on paper, is well within the D2a's towing limits of 250kg ball weight and 3500kgs. The only mods done to the engine are de EGR'd and the turbo wastegate wound up slightly. I live on a very steep hill that you can get virtually no run up on and the Disco pulled the van up to the top in second gear with absolutly nothing left. Mind you I later found out that I was hauling nearly 200l of water and the tyres were under inflated. I also managed to back the thing down the side of my house relatively easy so I have little to complain about. I am just a little overwhelmed at the moment. Looking foward to our first trip to put my mind at rest over a few issues as I do not want to become a mobile roadblock on the Pacific highway hills. Im thinking chip/intercooler/bigger exhaust.
Any advise (words of encouragement!) welcome
Regards
Robbo
UPDATE!
Disco has been transformed from a good performer to an exceptional performer! 3" mandrel bent exhaust, big intercooler, silicone hoses, ECU upgrade, boost compensator box, new MAF, Exhaust manifold stress relieved + new studs and a EGT pyrometer gauge. It is an animal, boosting at slightly above factory settings. Power is adictive:o:D;). Have not towed the van yet but have a trip to Port Macquarie in 2 weeks for 3 nights at the Sundowner:cool:. Now I cant wait because I know the Disco will rule the caravan now not the other way round.
Regards
Robbo

[TerryO]

Come on Robbo, how about some pics of the new van.

You know the rules... ;)

cheers,
Terry

[robbotd5]

Come on Robbo, how about some pics of the new van.

You know the rules... ;)

cheers,
Terry
Sorry mate!!
When I get a moment I'll put some on for sure. Probably after our first trip with it to Port Macquarie.
Regards
Robbo.