D3 Disappointment - Unable to Tow Van

[Will]

Went looking at the D3 TDV6 and very impressed as a possible replacement for the TDi - UNTIL I started discussing towing.

I have an offroad caravan, which has a towball height of 560cm from ground to top of the ball. I was informed that I am unable to tow a van with this height drawbar and ball as it it well above the Australian Specification allowed for the D3.

So the airbag suspension models are out of the equation. Back to the S model. Still the same answer - no can do! I have looked at possibly replacing tyres to gain extra height, possible King spring replacement to gain an extra 50mm, but all seems in vain.

Does anyone know about this 'Australian Standard' in regard to towing and tow ball height?

Must admit that the D3 towing hitch sit very low on the vehicle and I don't like it at all. Any ideas?

[Mark86]

It just so happened i have just read the latest 4wd monthly mag and they had a article on towing camper traliers they went to a proper offroad tralier towing course and one of the points listed was that the new 2.6t Discovery 3
has an offroad towing capacity of 1t it had a list of other cars with what the you could tow i got to admit thats not much.


Mark

[FenianEel]

Don't know the specs, but talk to Discomaniac. He has a D3 and a nice large van he lugs around with it.

[drivesafe]

Not sure about this as it relates to the RR but does a D3 lock into road height when a trailer is plugged into the trailer socket.

Can anyone advise whether this is the same with a D3.

Cheers

[Utemad]

one of the points listed was that the new 2.6t Discovery 3
has an offroad towing capacity of 1t it had a list of other cars with what the you could tow i got to admit thats not much.

Same as a Disco1


Maximum permissible towed weights V8i & Tdi On-road Off-road
Unbraked trailers 750 kg .................................................. ........ 500 kg
Trailers with overrun brakes 3500 kg ........................................ 1000 kg
4 wheel trailers with coupled brakes * 4000 kg ......................... 1000 kg

[Will]

The problem as discussed by Rover salespeople is not the towing weight of the van, but the height of the towball. It is, as they state "your towball height is far above that permissable by 'the Australian Standard". The D3 will not accept a towing hitch that will tow at this height.

I can not hitch-up the van and use it on any roads at all if using the D3.

A standard height caravan hitch is okay, I believe as it comes in at around 420cm to the top of the tow ball.

[Phantom]

Welcome to my nightmare. While I do not have a offroad caravan, my coupling is slightly higher than a standard. There is an Australian Standard (4177) dealing with towball height (note not hitchreceiver). Most 4wd have the hitch receiver set high under the bumber bar and the hitch drops the ball down to the standard height; this allows you to tow offroad vans with their higher coupling by using an appropriate hitch. For whatever reason, Landrover chose another design that has the hitch receiver set low. The manual then says you can only lift the ball 10cm - still too low.The hitch receiver also blocks the spare wheel so you have to take the receiver off to get to the spare wheel. Incredible!!.

All is not lost. On the Australian part of the UK Land Rover forum,there is discussion about Haymann Reese having tested a new design. Link is http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/australia-new-zealand-vf13.html.

I have written to landrover - no reply. I also took the issue up with Standards Australia - no reply. I suggest you contact HR and add your voice to the work they are doing.

Regards

[Scouse]

The hitch receiver also blocks the spare wheel so you have to take the receiver off to get to the spare wheel. Incredible!!.

That wasn't a problem for the original type fitted to the D3. It was the UK version & it fitted nicely, not like the rough, prototype apppearing version that is fitted now.
For some reason, all the early types had to be replaced for the current square gooseneck type.

I have seen a few cars that have overcome the drawbar height issue by replacing the "genuine" gooseneck for a taller one (or a lower one just turned upside down).

[Will]

Thanks Phantom, have just finished looking through the UK forum and now feel somewhat happier then I have for the last few days. Will email Martin at HR to find out more about towing the van with the weight distribution hitch.

Thanks to the others who have replied. May soon be ordering a D3.