How do you rate TD5 D2 as a towing machine?

[vbrab]

I have to take a 5000k round trip to Kimberleys towing an empty trailer up (1200kg) and likely it will weigh 3000kg loaded on return trip.
Car is AUTO and is in good mechanical, 200,000k only, and is remapped.
Should I have any concerns about its ability to tow the load on return trip, and does anybody know if it is likely to get into 4th (top) towing? or will it likely be happier to stay in 3rd?
I'd be happy to tonk along at 80kph if that isn't being too optomistic.
(I am figuring the D2 is easier to get repaired in an emergency in that remote region.)

[Tombie]

Does it have electric brakes?
If so should be fine.

[RobMichelle]

The TD5 is a great tow machine in my opinion, we tow our 22ft van with ours I hold it back in 3 rd up inclines etc and slot it into 4 th on down hills or tail wind .
Rob

[vbrab]

Does it have electric brakes?
If so should be fine.

Yes, trailer has electric brakes (on all 6 discs).

[vbrab]

The TD5 is a great tow machine in my opinion, we tow our 22ft van with ours I hold it back in 3 rd up inclines etc and slot it into 4 th on down hills or tail wind .
Rob

Will be happy to hold in 3rd for hills/inclines.
Was just wondering if it can actually tow in top gear.
Sounds like they can , at least on downhill and tailwinds, so should be OK, as long as I am happy to proceed at moderate speed the rest of the way.
Vehicle has had a very sheltered life, nil towing, never worked hard.

[trout1105]

It would pay to have the transmission serviced prior to your trip, Getting ANY sort of help with a landrover product North of Geraldton and especially in the Kimberly is very call tough indeed.

[gavinwibrow]

Will be happy to hold in 3rd for hills/inclines.
Was just wondering if it can actually tow in top gear.
Sounds like they can , at least on downhill and tailwinds, so should be OK, as long as I am happy to proceed at moderate speed the rest of the way.
Vehicle has had a very sheltered life, nil towing, never worked hard..


I always left mine in 3rd and sports mode when towing anything over 2 tonnes. Only time in D was downhill.

From what I've been told your transmission will thank you for it, and fuel economy should be about the same as if you tried to stay in 4th - remembering that 4th lockup doesn't happen until 80 kmph.

[vbrab]

.


I always left mine in 3rd and sports mode when towing anything over 2 tonnes. Only time in D was downhill.

From what I've been told your transmission will thank you for it, and fuel economy should be about the same as if you tried to stay in 4th - remembering that 4th lockup doesn't happen until 80 kmph.

I have noticed that since the remap, the D2 will not drop into 4th until I get well above 80kph and then push it to nearer 90+ (over 2500rpm at least), then it will go into 4th.
Car seems happy to loll along in 3rd, and I expect that towing it will likley be happy to hang about at 80kph.
All I want from it is for it to complete the trip without any big issues.

[vbrab]

It would pay to have the transmission serviced prior to your trip, Getting ANY sort of help with a landrover product North of Geraldton and especially in the Kimberly is very call tough indeed.

Did trans service 5000k ago, along all new hoses, viscous bearing, pwr steering and water pump, manifold gasget, all pulleys, idlers, belt ect and recon of transfer box to deal with oil leak, so I am hoping the main organs (mtr/box), do what they are intended to do without any issues. I am taking a crate of service spares, but I do not want to be working on anything really.
I'm taking the D2 because I am likely to be the one fixing any issues; as noted there is NOTHING past between Geraldton and Darwin that can help with Land Rover.
"Murphy" was a bigger optimist than I am.

[shack]

3 tonnes is a fair bit behind a d2, would definitely be coming back to 3rd if it were me, but not in sport mode as it is more likely to drop out of lockup if you do.

That's a bit unusual that it goes into lockup later now after a remap, there is really only a couple of reasons that would happen, and most tuners don't mess with it.

[V8Ian]

I'd seriously be considering an extra transmission cooler.

[mylesaway]

You may find it less stress if you invest in one of these gauges.

ENGINE WATCHDOG TM4, Engine Temperature Sensor and Low Coolant Alarm (http://enginewatchdog.com/tm4.html)

Engine & Transmission temperature 52mm gauge - visual/audible overheating alarm | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/312706347418?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOME SPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201210111314%26meid% 3D5068cbd68b34424c9c009e7b0ace2b70%26pid%3D101195% 26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dep%26sd%3D3127752697 47%26itm%3D312706347418%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3 D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv9PairwiseUnbiasedWeb&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851)

Both can be 'plug and play' and only take about 2 beers to fit. (2 beers=30C day= 1/2 hr). And could be sold after the trip if desired. (NB; they are addictive tho'!)

I have used both and can recommend. Engine temps read 2-3C lower than Nanocom but will equalize after about an hour doing longhaul.

You can set alarms on both so you will not have constantly monitor them.

If you want then you can drive to your engine and trans temps to find your happy place between 3rd and 4th.

If you are leaving soon then you have picked the best time of the year for this trip.

Safe travelling...

[PhilipA]

IMHO the two most important gauges are EGT and boost.

Keep the EGTs under 700c at all times, and this may necessitate changing down to 3 on hills.

I recently returned from Yarrawonga with my new old van which weighs about 1550-1600Kg.

I suddenly noticed high EGT and low boost. After investigation it turned out to be that the blow off valve shaft had unscrewed itself.
I hate to think what would have been the result if I had kept driving.

You will tend to change gears manually after awhile with a load, and feel for lockup of the transmission, I found best to change down early on hills at say 80Kmh then ease off to enable 3 to lock.
Lock will be slower if you have heavy acceleration so maybe that is why you are finding that as the ECU is programmed to lock at 80KMh in 4.

Anyway there are hardly any hills from Perth to the Kimberley anyway!
Regards PhilipA