Thread: Hill takeoffs are a problem

They are fairly tall geared, so it's no surprise you need low range when pulling a tinny up a boat ramp.

That's why I bought an auto 300Tdi D1. Experience with towing with a manual showed me it was not a desirable combo.

I have just bought a 97 tdi auto and it pulls my camper trailer ok up small inclines but with steeper gradients I need to start off in low range. I would think pulling a tinny shouldn't be too much of a problem. Is it auto or manual?

Sounds to me that its struggling, 300tdi have buckets of torque, that doesnt sound right. I once towed a car trailer (dual axle) with a citreon up the Tassie Sourthern Outlet (which is a long steep hill) and could still maintain 50-60kph.

Get the lift pump chacked any way, its not the first time a new lift pump has been put in and its been faulty. Plenty of info on here about these.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by Al71

Hi

I have a 95 Disco 300tdi and it really struggles when taking off on a hill. If im towing the tinny i need to use low range to pull up even the smallest incline boat ramp.

I had the lift pump replaced when i bought it so i know it isnt that.

Any idea's or is that just how they are?

I agree that the vehicle should be able to pull the tinny up a boat ramp....but my question is why would you not use low range?
Its easier on your clutch and on the engine....also the car moves slower which makes it easier to back down the ramp with an empty trailer (which you usually cant see untill you jackknife)

Steve.

Check the tappets and also check if the acc. cable has excessive slack in it.

Its a manual.

I do use low range on ramps as I have too, but its a pain when your on a normal hilly road and stop at the lights and have to pull low range to take off, Ive had people nearly run up my ass a couple of times when taking off in low and changing to high.

Lift Pump is all good got that checked.

So you know on long hills on the Bruce highway ive got to go back down to second gear, it just wont hold its revs unless your doing 3000 to 3500 anything under that and it is just an unstoppable backwards slip down the rev range.

Will check the tappets and the acc cable though, never thought of that.

Originally Posted by Al71

Its a manual.

I do use low range on ramps as I have too, but its a pain when your on a normal hilly road and stop at the lights and have to pull low range to take off, Ive had people nearly run up my ass a couple of times when taking off in low and changing to high.

Lift Pump is all good got that checked.

So you know on long hills on the Bruce highway ive got to go back down to second gear, it just wont hold its revs unless your doing 3000 to 3500 anything under that and it is just an unstoppable backwards slip down the rev range.

Will check the tappets and the acc cable though, never thought of that.

look over all your post-turbo intercooler piping/hoses for holes.
if there is one, the torque curve gets moved up the rev range as it has to work extra hard to make boost. i learned this one the hard way