Is D4 TDV6 a good tow truck? [Archive] - Australian Land Rover Owners

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Milly

3rd February 2010, 06:22 PM

HI,
I am pondering the purchase of a new D4 TDV6 to use mostly as a tow truck for my 3.5T BoatMotorTrailer rig. The tech specs look good with fantastic power and that torque curve is brilliant. But is there anybody out there actually using this vehicle in towing anger who can give me some feedback before I lay down my hard earneds? The engine and price is pulling me away from the Landcruiser, and those bells and whistles...well us blokes are all boys at heart eh?
Would love some feedback please.

rmp

3rd February 2010, 06:34 PM

Welcome Milly.

Yes the D4 is an excellent tow vehicle. If you don't intend to go offroad the 3.0 would be fine and it has six gears, great auto box, lots of power and torque, 350kg TBM, trailer stability control and self-levelling suspension plus good handling. Really all you could ask for. I have not towed a 3.5t trailer with one but I have pulled an 1100kg camper trailer and the 3.0 then accelerated like it was a 2.7. The D4 also has the truly excellent tow assist option to help you get the trailer hitched.

I would say it's the best towcar on the market.

mowog

3rd February 2010, 06:38 PM

I brought my D4 to be a Tow car. I looked at what else is around and ended up picking a D4. I haven't towed yet as I dont have enough K's up yet.

There are a few reviews online about towing with the D4.

Jesse B

3rd February 2010, 07:21 PM

Haven't towed with mine yet, but having just returned from a 1000 km highway run up to Perth and back I can vouch for the grunt this thing produces - lots of big trucks (doubles mainly), and short passing straights, but sink the slipper in and it goes like a scalded cat! :D Would absolutely expect it would tow just about anything anywhere. Sooooooo much fun out there...
:burnrubber:

roamer

3rd February 2010, 07:31 PM

I towed about 3t off road van into the clarence, dropped 600mt in 1.5k,pulled back out hi range not a problem, on the hiway just cruises along eats up the hills, had a 2.7lt before which also had no trouble towing (was remapped ), but 3lt torque is brilliant. GO FOR IT :cool: you will not be dissappointed.
Cheers Ken

CaverD3

4th February 2010, 06:44 AM

And D4 has trailer stability assist, in case the load sarts to sway it will brake individual wheels, bit like DSC.

Banjo_pluker

4th February 2010, 08:52 AM

[biggrin]
HI,
I am pondering the purchase of a new D4 TDV6 to use mostly as a tow truck for my 3.5T BoatMotorTrailer rig. The tech specs look good with fantastic power and that torque curve is brilliant. But is there anybody out there actually using this vehicle in towing anger who can give me some feedback before I lay down my hard earneds? The engine and price is pulling me away from the Landcruiser, and those bells and whistles...well us blokes are all boys at heart eh?
Would love some feedback please.

I wouldn't use it as a tow truck:o

All those cars calling you out in the middle of the night getting you to tow their cars home because they have broken down :D

Sorry I counldn't help myself..:wasntme:

camel_landy

4th February 2010, 09:05 AM

OMG... That's like asking "Do bears crap in the woods"!

Yep, the D4 3.0 TDV6 is an amazing tow car. We have a 2.5t show unit which we drag around and it barely notices it!

M

Milly

4th February 2010, 11:21 AM

How was your fuel usage?

roamer

4th February 2010, 12:28 PM

How was your fuel usage?

Towed the van around aus with the 2.7lt at average 16lt\100k
haven't done many ks towing with 3lt, about 900km and 150km of them off road, computer said on that trip 15lt\100k, but it lies. however I think it would be slightly better than 2.7lt because it cruises uphill on hiway easier.
Cheers Ken

Tote

4th February 2010, 06:26 PM

I've towed a few car trailers with mine and it pulls them really well. It's a magic experience driving a car onto the trailer and then starting the engine and watching the disco automatically set the whole rig dead level.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/toteau/Series%201/IMG_2631.jpg
Didn't even notice the old series one was there :)

Regards,
Tote

wombathole

13th February 2010, 11:10 PM

Here is a good video that describes and demonstrates the Trailer Stability Assist feature. Sounds pretty awesome, haven't had a live experience yet to see it in real life.

YouTube- Land Rover's "Trailer Stability Assist" for Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery 4/ LR4

Andy

Milly

17th February 2010, 09:49 AM

camel_landy

18th February 2010, 06:50 AM

To give you an idea of how well that system is working, here's a few points to digest before watching that vid again:

The trailer has a very high centre of gravity.
The 110 is poorly loaded to give a heavy nose weight.
When trying to get the trailer to snake, there is smoke coming from the tyres. :eek:

M

rmp

18th February 2010, 07:03 AM

I've got the full-res versions of that and it is impressive once you look at the details as CL says. There's no way I'd chuck it around like that without TSC. Problem is it that it works so well it doesn't look that impressive to people who don't understand towing and sway. I would have liked to have seen the same again but without TSC (yes, it'd crash) and also with the Defender loaded to give a rearwards CoG.

While TSC is great I do consider that people will now be able to get away with dynamically unstable trailers and unsafe driving practices as TSC will just save them. That's not a good idea. I think the best solution would be whenever TSC kicks in all manner of warning lights and klaxons go off so it gets really annoying (Land Rover could employ a Jeep engineer, they're good at that) so you know something is wrong and dare not let it happen again.

Disco4SE

21st February 2010, 06:25 AM

Pedro_The_Swift

21st February 2010, 07:44 AM

I'm sure if the system activates it could send a message saying the load requires movement,, could probably tell which direction too!;)

its a narrow gutted trailer,, same track as the D4:o
and whats with the tiny wheels?:eek:

is this a Pommy thing??

on the upside,, you dont need extended mirrors:D

discojools

21st February 2010, 07:45 PM

Pedro,
The trailer in the video is an Ifor Williams. Ifor Williams are a large trailer manufacture based in Wales and make everything from car transporters, horsefloats to tippers etc. I had one when I was resident in the UK and competed in the British Cross Country Championship and AWDC off road racing championships. I used to load it with the racecar (last one was a Bowler Wildcat) and all the other stuff that goes with racing usually about 2000kg. It was an excellent tower if loaded correctly. It also had good ground clearance, usefull for getting into difficult race sites. The tyres are special trailer tyres and run at 60 to 80 psi, I never had a problem with them. The trailer cost me £1000 when I bought it second hand and I sold 10 years later for £1200 so not too bad.
There you go!

wombathole

21st February 2010, 07:57 PM

Any photos, videos or experiences to share about the Wildcat? Sounds like an amazing vehicle!

discojools

21st February 2010, 10:42 PM

Have some photos but will have to work out how to upload to Aulro. Any clues?

Pedro_The_Swift

22nd February 2010, 06:11 AM

go up to GALLERY/MY PHOTOS/MY PHOTOS/SELECT PHOTOS(sneakily hidden bottom left)

very easy,,,:cool:

discojools

22nd February 2010, 01:05 PM

Pedro and Wombathole,
Pics of Bowler uploaded into Members Gallery, hope you like them.

Discojools.

Milly

22nd February 2010, 05:42 PM

Hi Milly,
I have had F100's and Landcruisers (latest being a 2005 Turbo Diesel). I had a Disco 3 2.7 Turbo Diesel and now have a Disco 4 3.0 Turbo Diesel. It is the best tow vehicle I have ever had. After completing a 700Klm round trip towing my 2.2 ton boat, it averaged 13.1 Lt per 100Klm's and held 6th gear on every hill. I am very impressed with its low down torque. I have done around 7,500 Klm's now and it just keeps getting better.
Very Happy

:) Thanks for the detail. It sounds like the D4 TDV6 will handle our boat "MILLY" easily. I currently tow her with a 100 series auto V8 and I get 30Lt/100Klm and it dosen't matter what speed I do either. MILLY is a 7.1m Goldstar Excalibur on a custom off road trailer and all up is about 3.4T. I like the D4 very much compared with the toyota as you get more bang for your buck than the 200 series, what with leather and all those cool bells and whistles :twisted:.....just now I have to wait until I finish moving into my new job...and sell the house. I reckon in 6 months, I will have talked the ear of the bride enough for her to release the handbrake on the whole idea!
Cheers and best wishes!