Thread: Towing 2.5+ Ton. Smaller wheels?

Make sure you do plenty of manual chafed and don't let the auto lug along before changing up/down. And go slow.

Originally Posted by manic

Its got worm gear electric actuated parking brake calipers. Stuck on. Fork lift will get it on the trailer. I will remove the actuator at home and wind them out manually to roll it off. All going well!

IFS IRS means im pretty much restricted to wheel or lower wishbone. I will try the trye criss cross and see how it holds but worried it wont grip a flat as a pankcake tyre that has been shredded to bits. Perhaps the tyres caused the accident.....

The wait continues.....

If tying down via the wishbones, (or over tyres with exposed wires) use rags etc to prevent the straps being cut on any sharp edges. Also look for where suspension movement may jam or even cut the straps.

Take your time with getting the weight distribution right. That will be the single biggest thing that will differentiate between a pleasant experience, and the trip from Hell!

Remember, for every strap pulling in one direction, you MUST have one pulling the opposite way!

After loading, travel no more than one kilometre before you stop and check all lashings. Do this a couple of times, particularly after stopping and starting, turning a few corners, etc. Once you are happy everything has settled down, pull up at least every hour or so, walk around and check things, have a leak and a look around, then continue on.

Remember how much higher than usual your concentration level will be. After a few hours, fatigue can become a very insidious problem. Plenty of short breaks are very helpful in this regard, even for us old truckies!

Made it home this afternoon. Later than expected but the disco went well. No dramas with the trailer or cargo. Smooth runnings.

Unloaded, dropped off the trailer and got home to find the key I got cut recently is useless. Spent 30 mins rattling the front door barrel. Always one extra hurdle just when you think your done!

Got into the back yard tho. Not too bad out here. There is a hammock and the outdoor speakers had been left on. So ive got some beer, chill tunes, and waiting it out till the missus gets home.

Have got some weigh bridge, fuel consumption and photo action .... some sort of trip report to come. Should probably reveal what I picked up too.

Later...

Zzzzzz

Originally Posted by manic

Made it home this afternoon. Later than expected but the disco went well. No dramas with the trailer or cargo. Smooth runnings.

Unloaded, dropped off the trailer and got home to find the key I got cut recently is useless. Spent 30 mins rattling the front door barrel. Always one extra hurdle just when you think your done!

Got into the back yard tho. Not too bad out here. There is a hammock and the outdoor speakers had been left on. So ive got some beer, chill tunes, and waiting it out till the missus gets home.

Have got some weigh bridge, fuel consumption and photo action .... some sort of trip report to come. Should probably reveal what I picked up too.

Later...

Zzzzzz

And you know the

Ill tell you now. Its a salvage job, statutory write off.

Normally I would never dream of purchasing a wreck of a car. Might be the stupidest thing I have done... or genius. Probably stupid.

My advice, never load up piclkles live auctions in your browser, just to see whats going on.

I'm in alot of trouble.

Im not saying this one is a bad buy .... its still there if anyone wants it

Originally Posted by manic

Ill tell you now. Its a salvage job, statutory write off.

Normally I would never dream of purchasing a wreck of a car. Might be the stupidest thing I have done... or genius. Probably stupid.

My advice, never load up piclkles live auctions in your browser, just to see whats going on.

I'm in alot of trouble.

Im not saying this one is a bad buy .... its still there if anyone wants it

Nice one Garry! You told me it was a tesla for an electric car conversion! You really had me going! Is that a suzy in the engine bay? I got a home for it if you want!
Cheers Jim

Haha, that ones still got the trusty TDI in it! Jim, you can tow it from Sydney with your disco - no probs! Oh hang on, you've got a V8...

Trip summary:

Fuel consumption on the way up towing 950kg and flooring it = 12.8L per 100

On the way down towing 3200kg and going slow and easy = 13.05L per 100

Cool weather so no AC, and barely any wind to battle. Perfect conditions really. Still suprised the consumption was so low, those tyres really helped!

Slowest hill climb 55kph!

Most hills 80kph

100kph on the smooth flat sections

Highway probably averaged around 85kph gps, 90 on the speedo.

Issues with the disco = zero.

Issues with the trailer = zero.

The cargo was indeed a Tesla. For me, a huge break from the norm.

A smashed up 2016 Tesla Model X 90D to be precise. It will never drive again, but the tech contained within is of interest to me. Lots of potential, a few project options, but not sure which way im going to take it yet.

Fork lift dropped it on the trailer and it wedged in between the side rails. At this point I realised how wide the car is, it is huge. A few mm wider and I would have been stuffed.

Getting it off the trailer was not going to be easy. No room to fit a jack under, so no way of unlocking the parking brake. Totally wedged in and the tyres were flat.

When I got to Melbourne there was only one option available to unload. Brute force!

I unhitched the disco from the trailer, stuck the trailer brake hard on and chocked the wheels. Snatch strap came out and the Disco transfer box went into low range diff lock.

A bit of a battle, but the Disco won!

Super impressed with the old TDI D1. 360k, and still trucking.

Originally Posted by manic

So I 'accidentally' purchased a 2.4ton something from an auction in Sydney. I have to get it back to Melbourne, and I have to do it on Monday.

I have already spent too much so I'm thinking it would be cheaper to tow it back myself instead of arranging transport. I can borrow a suitable dual axle car trailer with winch and electric brakes. But I would have to tow close to 3 ton with an auto D1 TDI on 235/85 tyres.

Madness?

Maybe smaller tyres would help a little. Anyone in Melbourne running a standard tyre size, want to try some 235/85s on alloys for a long weekend?

I have not towed anything this heavy before so I am looking for some tips, reassurance or sense knocked into me. Which ever you think more appropriate.

I wouldn't worry. There is a guy who regularly tows his Bertram 25 with his S1 Disco. I have no issues towing my Bertram 23 (3 tonne) with my Disco 2. Just take it steady and keep to around 80 - 90 kph