Thread: Td1 towing.

Do a search on Tdi fuel pump tweaking. Lots of answers there.

They are never a power house but:

a. Valve clearances,
b. Remove centre muffler,
c. Tweak pump, but make sure you fit an EGT guage so you dont over do it,
d. LPG Vapour injection

But there are other questions to answer first,

How long have you had it?
How long since the timing belt has been done?
What size tyres are you running?
How much weight are you carrying?

There's some tips and tricks, there are a few more but you wont get the go out of a 300TDI than you will out of say a 4.2ltrTD Patrol or Land Cruiser of similar.

The thing is that if you bought a Pootrol or Bruiser in the first place then you wouldnt need the trailer

As much as I think the Tdi's are gutless at the best of times..............some people tow caravans with them that weigh a lot more then your box trailer so I'm thinking something must not be right with your Disco.

A guy near me used to tow a Kedron dual axle offroad van with his Tdi Disco1. Now that would be slow I noticed he has offloaded the Disco and now tows the van with a 100 series Cruiser.

Originally Posted by DISCO COL

Hi all. Last week I had to go to Adelaide to pick up my new off road trailer from Modern Trailers. Modern Trailers - in Adelaide, South Australia manufacture and retail trailers I drove straight through from Melbourne to Adelaide. My 1997 Disco (auto) never missed a beat. Put on the trailer which is 7x4 checker plate, high sides etc.. and weighs about 450 kg. On the way out of Adelaide the Disco struggled up the hills and to say it was gutless is an understatement. It could not pull the skin off a custard. I was flat footed and down to 40kph with it in 2nd. It was equally as bad in the hills near Ballarat. Now does anyone know what mods I can do to get some extra oomph out of my Disco or do I simply sell it and move on to something Japanese and more powerfull. I would hate to repeat the trip with the trailer loaded with all of my camping gear as I don't think it would do it. I have sunk a considerable amount of dough into this Disco which is mechanically excellent and don't want to part with it but if driving it is going to be so underwhelming while towing I have little choice but to move on.

Has anyone got any sensible ideas.

Col
Hoppers Crossing. Vic

Col,

I have a friend with a TDi, and he said the same thing
He tows a small camper trailer with his.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by mcrover

They are never a power house but:

a. Valve clearances,
b. Remove centre muffler,
c. Tweak pump, but make sure you fit an EGT guage so you dont over do it,
d. LPG Vapour injection

But there are other questions to answer first,

How long have you had it?
How long since the timing belt has been done?
What size tyres are you running?
How much weight are you carrying?

There's some tips and tricks, there are a few more but you wont get the go out of a 300TDI than you will out of say a 4.2ltrTD Patrol or Land Cruiser of similar.

The thing is that if you bought a Pootrol or Bruiser in the first place then you wouldnt need the trailer

Thanks for the reply.

I have had it for 10 months. Timing belt and everything renewed not long after I purchased it so it is in top order. Tyres are standard michelins that came on the SE7. The trailer was empty but will weigh in around 700 kgs when all loaded up. Other than the diesel engine noise which is quite loud inside the car, I am happy with it and when not towing it goes like a charm.

I have nearly convinced myself now that I will put up with it until the end of the year and get a patrol or a Landcruiser with a 6cyl diesel.

Regards
Col

Originally Posted by Utemad

As much as I think the Tdi's are gutless at the best of times..............some people tow caravans with them that weigh a lot more then your box trailer so I'm thinking something must not be right with your Disco.

A guy near me used to tow a Kedron dual axle offroad van with his Tdi Disco1. Now that would be slow I noticed he has offloaded the Disco and now tows the van with a 100 series Cruiser.

Thanks for the reply.

Mechanically the Disco is fine but just too underpowered to tow in the hills. On the flats I didn't even know the trailer was there. I just hate being a mobile roadblock to all behind me as I curse all those that crawl along towing vans that don't have the consideration to pull over to the left to let people pass. If you know what I mean.

Col

Originally Posted by DISCO COL

The trailer was empty but will weigh in around 700 kgs when all loaded up.

Does it have brakes?

My camper is 550kg unloaded and probably 700kg loaded with the minimal stuff I put in it and a full water tank. Before I put electric brakes on it towing the trailer on dirt was downright scary when braking when towing with it with my Disco1.

Originally Posted by DISCO COL

Thanks for the reply.

Mechanically the Disco is fine but just too underpowered to tow in the hills. On the flats I didn't even know the trailer was there. I just hate being a mobile roadblock to all behind me as I curse all those that crawl along towing vans that don't have the consideration to pull over to the left to let people pass. If you know what I mean.

Col

I know what you mean but people towing vans that weigh two tonne more than your trailer probably aren't that much slower. Is there another Tdi Disco in your area that you can try towing the trailer with. Just to compare. Fellow forum member perhaps.

My camper slows my Disco down when on LPG in the hills but doesn't bother it much when on petrol.