D3 air suspension towing with Load Leveler

[hobbo3429]

Hi all, I've not posted before, - Great forum, lots of combined knowledge on display!
I have progressed from the Nissan camp to the Green Oval and love my D3 to bits .....maybe that's not the best description as the Patrol was often in bits!!!
By the way, How have these vehicles been kept secret from the rest of the 4wd world for this long?
I'm still discovering the features of the D3 and have yet to use those fancy buttons and levers on the console or dirty the wheels.
I do have a caravan which will be the main use for the car. I am unsure about using the Level ride bars I had previously used when towing.
What is the concensus regarding the use of load levelling bars with air suspension? from previous posts it looks like they are not recommended. I am happy to remove them, as it's one less thing to do when coupling and uncoupling.
I was under the belief that the bars served the purpose of redistributing the weight toward the front of the tow vehicle, also helping to make the combination of car and van more rigid.

[TerryO]

Hi Hobbo,

We have a 2.5 ton van and plenty others on here have much larger vans and nearly everyone doesn't use a WDH because we feel there is no need and LR don't recommend that you do, a couple do use them but very few.

Try and see how it feels then decide for yourself. A word of advice if I can be so bold, unless your D3 has very low mileage then before you do to much towing get your auto serviced and the fluid changed. That is unless you have already done it.

Enjoy the D3 they are a great vehicle.

[Plane Fixer]

You will find that LR do not recommend the use of such devices as I believe it makes the computer for the suspension get poor inputs.
There will be others who will come and post who have a lot of experience towing heavy vans and the general consensus is that they are not required.

[winaje]

I was under the belief that the bars served the purpose of redistributing the weight toward the front of the tow vehicle, also helping to make the combination of car and van more rigid.
This is exactly what they do. However LR say that they are not to be used...
So usually that's the end of the story.

[hobbo3429]

Thanks All,
Great info, I will happly remove the hitch!!:D
Regards

[winaje]

This is where the cat gets amongst the pidgeons...

Please note that I said "LR say they are not to be used...", which is different to "they are not required". I'd personally suggest that you spend some time thinking about the pro's and con's of the WDH, and then take the van for a couple of runs with and without it fitted. See how the combination handles, particularly under brakes and on an undulating road.

In short, do your own test and make your own decision.

It's a very contentious subject, you should see some of the threads on Caravaners Forum (http://www.caravanersforum.com) regarding WDHs!

[Tombie]

This is where the cat gets amongst the pidgeons...

Please note that I said "LR say they are not to be used...", which is different to "they are not required". I'd personally suggest that you spend some time thinking about the pro's and con's of the WDH, and then take the van for a couple of runs with and without it fitted. See how the combination handles, particularly under brakes and on an undulating road.

In short, do your own test and make your own decision.

It's a very contentious subject, you should see some of the threads on Caravaners Forum • Index page (http://www.caravanersforum.com) regarding WDHs!

Dont forget the average demographic on those forums is 60+ yrs old, still services at 5,000km and thinks 95km/h is too fast :cool:

My Shark Cat weighs as much as many vans, is towed over horrendous roads, at the posted speed limit; and all without issue.

Adding a WDH when specifically advised by the manufacturer not to, renders insurance and legal issues...

[TerryO]

I'd be careful about quoting manuals as 100% fact especially on things like WDH's. Car importers often put out bulletins that override the manuals.

For example when the new generation Jeep Grand Cherokee came out the manual said that a WDH wasn't required. Two years and lots of stirring by some silly old fart on the Caravanners Forum and they put out a bulletin saying that WDH's are mandatory when towing anything over 2.25 ton from memory.

It would seam that the old bastard had threatened them so badly that if he had a accident or someone else he knew had one when towing without a WDH then he would sue them. He stuffed it for all new Grand Cherokee owners who bought one to tow a decent sized van without a WDH and then he bragged about it.

So things can and do change.

Thankfully he didn't buy a Disco.

[Meken]

What does it say in the users manual that came with the car? If it says no wdh then I would expect your insurance company is going to frown on a wdh in the event of an accident (I'm sure they would try very hard to attach the blame for any accident to the wdh as a cause)

[discotwinturbo]

I have personally tried it once with our 3.5 tonne, 345kg ball weight horse trailer over a 360km round trip.

The towing comfort was noticeably better, had no suspension faults.....it felt as good as when I tow it with my steel suspended Touareg. The disco feels this weight, and the back does wallow more over less than perfect roads.

But....it was only once and did not continue due to the stance LR have with doing so, which is probably because they chose not to do any testing.

Brett....

[101RRS]

The handbook says:

WARNING
To preserve vehicle handling and stability, only fit towing accessories that have been designed and approved by Land Rover.

DO NOT use lashing eyes or vehicle recovery towing eyes to tow a trailer. Use of the towing eyes for purposes other than their designed intention could result in damage or injury.

Caution: An equalising or other form of weight distributing hitch should NOT be used with your vehicle.




So from this you cannot fit none LR approved aftermarket tow equipment.


Technically a Mitch Hitch cannot be used as it partially relies on the rear recovery tow eyes.


On the aspect of WDH - LR are only saying it should not (not MUST NOT) be used - as an advisory only.


TerryOs advice would seem to be one the money.


Garry

[Meken]

From oxford dictionary
Should:
Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone’s actions:

Oxford dictionary uses should to define must and under shall & will states that the current English use of the two words are interchangeable.
So I doubt that the must vs should argument holds much weight.

[TerryO]

Anyway Hobbo, enjoy your D3 and I'm sure it will make a great tug for your caravan. ... ;)

[101RRS]

From oxford dictionary
Should:
Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone’s actions:

Oxford dictionary uses should to define must and under shall & will states that the current English use of the two words are interchangeable.
So I doubt that the must vs should argument holds much weight.

What does the Official Dictionary of Australia say, ie the Macquarie Dictionary. It is now the dictionary used in legal circles so in the case of a legal claim it is the definitions in the Macquarie Dictionary that apply not some old pommie book.

Garry

[Meken]

Refers to obligation in both words so probably same outcome

[Nomad9]

Hi Hobbo 3429,
Very sound advice from TerryO re the transmission, make sure you go the steel pan conversion as well. Oil I will leave up to you, many and varied suggestions here, for me unless you are going to do a complete flush I would stick with the LG 6, my opinion before any one bites my head off..............

[Nomad9]

OK
That must be 15 - 30 1st set, new balls please..............

[Hogarthde]

Hi hobo, we have D3 my08 tdv6, towing 18' track master , flinders range, birdsville, Bloomfield track,Cape York.............total weight 5900kg .....no w.d.h. No problems.

Do as advised regarding transmission......

Dave