New D4 and towing for the first time

[Bashir]

Hi there, I picked up a new D4 SE last week and this weekend I'll be heading to Melbourne from Sydney to pick up a small boat I've purchased. I'm a bit confused about all the info in regards to trailer lights and hitches. I'm very experienced with towing big and small rigs, but not with the D4 or anything similar.

I'll be using the standard hitch and need to buy a tongue and ball. Land rover have no stock of the original ones so I need to buy something aftermarket. What is the best way to go? I've seen adjustable ones by hayman reese at auto stores but I also see the rapid hitch mentioned. At this stage I don't really plan to buy a Mitch Hitch but who knows in the future I may see the need.

In regards to LED trailer lights will I need to buy some plug in like the linear electronics one in order for them to work? Ideally I would like something that will allow me to tow other trailers too.

Keep in mind I need to sort this all out this week, so ideally stuff available in Sydney would be great.

[Tombie]

Hitch - I have a Rapid hitch - fantastic.
But any 3500kg rated hitch with the right drop/lift will work.

To tow the boat, don't worry about the lights, they will work fine - only the reverse sensors and trailer light will not change behaviour. Other than that it will be fine.

That will give you time to sort it all in more detail when you return!

[Bashir]

Thanks for that. Do you use the standard rapid hitch or the longer 6 inch drop version?

[Tombie]

I have the Mitch Hitch and went the 6" version.
Gives more flexibility IMO.

[Redback]

Hi there, I picked up a new D4 SE last week and this weekend I'll be heading to Melbourne from Sydney to pick up a small boat I've purchased. I'm a bit confused about all the info in regards to trailer lights and hitches. I'm very experienced with towing big and small rigs, but not with the D4 or anything similar.

I'll be using the standard hitch and need to buy a tongue and ball. Land rover have no stock of the original ones so I need to buy something aftermarket. What is the best way to go? I've seen adjustable ones by hayman reese at auto stores but I also see the rapid hitch mentioned. At this stage I don't really plan to buy a Mitch Hitch but who knows in the future I may see the need.

In regards to LED trailer lights will I need to buy some plug in like the linear electronics one in order for them to work? Ideally I would like something that will allow me to tow other trailers too.

Keep in mind I need to sort this all out this week, so ideally stuff available in Sydney would be great.

To make the lights work properly on the trailer, turn your lights or parkers on, on the car, as Tombie says the only thing affected is the trailer signal on the dash and the parking sensors will go off, if you have the button to turn them off, then it's all good.

If you're not worried about parking sensors, they can be turned off via a diagnostic tool, we had ours turned off, I've survived 40yrs without them on previous vehicles, so really no need for them now, besides they're a pain in the arse anyway.

Baz.

[Epic pooh]

I love my beepy things ! Apart from that time they didn't pick up a fire hydrant ... And a tree ... And ... Oh !

Bashir, personally I'd ask the height of the hitch on the trailer from ground when flat and then use that to do some measurements to determine most appropriate starting tongue. A 3500kg HR one is what I use on my D3 (with original plough so a bit lower than your D4 factory hitch) and its perfect for most road going trailers.

[Celtoid]

Hitch - I have a Rapid hitch - fantastic.
But any 3500kg rated hitch with the right drop/lift will work.

To tow the boat, don't worry about the lights, they will work fine - only the reverse sensors and trailer light will not change behaviour. Other than that it will be fine.

That will give you time to sort it all in more detail when you return!


What about trailer stability control ...... isn't that also something you don't get if the car can't 'see' the trailer? :(

[Tombie]

What about trailer stability control ...... isn't that also something you don't get if the car can't 'see' the trailer? :(


Always active...

[Redback]

What about trailer stability control ...... isn't that also something you don't get if the car can't 'see' the trailer? :(

Video proof;)

http://youtu.be/5gyc4Dmgbew

Baz.

[Bashir]

To make the lights work properly on the trailer, turn your lights or parkers on, on the car, as Tombie says the only thing affected is the trailer signal on the dash and the parking sensors will go off, if you have the button to turn them off, then it's all good.

If you're not worried about parking sensors, they can be turned off via a diagnostic tool, we had ours turned off, I've survived 40yrs without them on previous vehicles, so really no need for them now, besides they're a pain in the arse anyway.

Baz.
Thanks for that, I do have the button for parking sensors. My previous car was a 2006 Hilux Sr so most things in the D4 are a luxury to me haha

[Graeme]

My guess is that the trailer for a small boat doesn't have brakes and you haven't mentioned a brake controller either. However if the trailer has brakes then a particular wire needs to be cut inside the rear of the D4 because LR supply tail-light power on 2 wires, one of which is the Oz standard brake signal wire. If not cut then the trailer brakes will be applied whenever the parkers are turned-on.

[Bashir]

Good to know thanks. This particular boat is only small so no trailer brakes to worry about. I would imagine that procedure would only be needed if towing something over 2t, when an overide braking system is required. Anything under 2t is likely to have basic mechanical or hydraulic brakes on the trailer.

[Celtoid]

Always active...


Oh OK, thanks mate, I thought that was only enabled when the car was aware that it had a trailer connected.....which I thought wasn't the case with LED trailer lights as their resistive load was too low.... thus reverse sensors still working and no dash indications.


Must have got my wires crossed ... pun intended :p

[Celtoid]

Video proof;)

http://youtu.be/5gyc4Dmgbew

Baz.


Video proof of what Baz .....? :)


That trailer has definitely got old style globes .... can't you see? ;)

[CSBrisie]

Ummm in the video "...does not require the trailer electrics to be connected.....";).

[Tombie]

Video proof of what Baz .....? :)


That trailer has definitely got old style globes .... can't you see? ;)


Listen around 0:46 :)

[Graeme]

I would imagine that procedure would only be needed if towing something over 2t, when an overide braking system is required. Anything under 2t is likely to have basic mechanical or hydraulic brakes on the trailer.Any trailer/van over 750 kg has to have brakes of some sort. With powered brakes so much more effective than over-ride brakes and electric brakes quite inexpensive, electric brakes are very popular. My 1990 900 kg small van was built with electric brakes.

[Tombie]

Boat trailers under 2t will almost always be overrun brakes.

[Bashir]

Bought a rapid hitch today from Town and Country towbars. Seems like a quality but of kit. Can anybody recommend a trailer lock that will work with the rapid hitch? Some of the sydney boat ramps are quite prone to trailer theft.

[Tombie]

Bought a rapid hitch today from Town and Country towbars. Seems like a quality but of kit. Can anybody recommend a trailer lock that will work with the rapid hitch? Some of the sydney boat ramps are quite prone to trailer theft.





Made for it:



http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=251707984951



He's a great seller... Just got my locks Thursday.

[Bashir]

Got them, I meant a coupling lock to stop the trailer getting stolen. I've always used the basic ones but I got a feeling they aren't going to fit. Might have to just go one of those padlocks designed for the coupling.

[Nicky]

Made for it:

http://http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=251707984951

He's a great seller... Just got my locks Thursday.
link doesn't work

[Tombie]

Made for it:



http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=251707984951


.


Try again with this one ^^^

[Celtoid]

Listen around 0:46 :)


Sorry Baz, Sorry Tombie ....


:(



:D