Disco 4 front axle weight issues

[AlanM]

Hi


I have a 2012 LandRover Discovery 4. It was 2nd hand to us and came with an ARB steel bull bar, WARN winch, side steps, and a second battery. We tow with it, so have become more weight conscious.


I've recently had it weighed on its own and discovered the front axle weight is 1520kg when the max is 1450kg so we are overweight on the front with just me, my wife and a full tank of fuel onboard.


I'm looking at how to reduce the front end weight - which is obviously removing the extra add ons or replacing these with lighter options. We really want to keep a bull bar on the front. The other add ons are up for discussion although we've used the winch a couple of times and the sidesteps are quite handy...


We really love the disco so our first thought is to fix the issue rather than sell it - depending on the cost. Just starting to gather info for options. Have others had this issue and if so how have you resolved it? Any tips on what lighter bullbar and sidestep options are available?


Thanks heaps in advance


Al.

[DiscoDB]

How much weight is on the rear axle?

Others have more accessories than you listed and still end up below 1450kg on the front axle.

[V8Ian]

I wouldn't be worried about 70kg, the weighbridge could easily be that far out.

[Discodicky]

I wouldn't be too concerned, the Road Transport inspectors seem more interested in checking GCM, GVM, c/van ATM and towball weight from what I read of people's experiences when they go through the checkpoints.

That was certainly the case with one of my boys when he went through one in Qld a year ago and his tow tug is a late Nissan Navara with all the fruit attached, incl rear steel nudge side bars and rear bumper. Pretty sure it may not have passed the GVM but they were only interested that day in c/van ATM and ball downweight.

[Mellow Yellow]

Hi


I have a 2012 LandRover Discovery 4. It was 2nd hand to us and came with an ARB steel bull bar, WARN winch, side steps, and a second battery. We tow with it, so have become more weight conscious.


I've recently had it weighed on its own and discovered the front axle weight is 1520kg when the max is 1450kg so we are overweight on the front with just me, my wife and a full tank of fuel onboard.


I'm looking at how to reduce the front end weight - which is obviously removing the extra add ons or replacing these with lighter options. We really want to keep a bull bar on the front. The other add ons are up for discussion although we've used the winch a couple of times and the sidesteps are quite handy...


We really love the disco so our first thought is to fix the issue rather than sell it - depending on the cost. Just starting to gather info for options. Have others had this issue and if so how have you resolved it? Any tips on what lighter bullbar and sidestep options are available?


Thanks heaps in advance


Al.


I bought a 2013 D4 last year with the intention of kitting it out similarly to my previous two Defenders. That is, bull bar, winch, driving lights, long range tank spare wheel carrier, etc.

Then I discovered the limited front axle capacity. So no winch and an ECB alloy bullbar. Maybe driving lights later.

As to the rear axle, when towing I've got to be careful about filling the long range tank but otherwise I can keep under the maximum weight limit of the rear axle.

So both axles in the clear.

However, in your case, you need to keep in mind your car insurance.

You might get through a roadside check by the police/RMS, if they don't check your axles individually, but in the case of a serious accident your insurance company might well be more thorough. Then you're down the gurgler when they refuse your claim.

[AlanM]

How much weight is on the rear axle?

Others have more accessories than you listed and still end up below 1450kg on the front axle.

1460kg on the rear axle - nothing in the back

[AlanM]

How much weight is on the rear axle?

Others have more accessories than you listed and still end up below 1450kg on the front axle.


I bought a 2013 D4 last year with the intention of kitting it out similarly to my previous two Defenders. That is, bull bar, winch, driving lights, long range tank spare wheel carrier, etc.

Then I discovered the limited front axle capacity. So no winch and an ECB alloy bullbar. Maybe driving lights later.

As to the rear axle, when towing I've got to be careful about filling the long range tank but otherwise I can keep under the maximum weight limit of the rear axle.

So both axles in the clear.

However, in your case, you need to keep in mind your car insurance.

You might get through a roadside check by the police/RMS, if they don't check your axles individually, but in the case of a serious accident your insurance company might well be more thorough. Then you're down the gurgler when they refuse your claim.

Thanks - good points

I've spoken to ARB about replacing the steel bullbar with an alloy one, plus removing the 2nd battery. Would get most of the weight back doing this. This insurance risk worries me leaving as is...

[AlanM]

I wouldn't be worried about 70kg, the weighbridge could easily be that far out.
Had a couple of weighs from different weigh bridges with similar results. I think the insurance risk worries me the most...

[V8Ian]

Had a couple of weighs from different weigh bridges with similar results. I think the insurance risk worries me the most...
The insurance company would have to prove that the minor overload was a contributing factor to any accident.

[V8Ian]

Had a couple of weighs from different weigh bridges with similar results. I think the insurance risk worries me the most...
Did you weight each axle individually, simultaneously or do a split weigh?
Split weighs are notoriously inaccurate and can only be used as a guide.

[Mellow Yellow]

The insurance company would have to prove that the minor overload was a contributing factor to any accident.

All the insurance company would have to show is that your front axle was overloaded meaning that your car was illegal. Good luck with challenging that!

[haydent]

Though you need to get the limits under by the car itself, you dont have to worry about the front axle gaining weight when towing as it should get lighter with the van attached.