Thread: Towing small caravan with a Disco TDI ???

I have towed a 18 foot pop-top caravan from Cairns to Hobart and up to Darwin and down to Alice as well. My unmodified '95 Tdi Disco has handled it well and in comfort. I have carried two full sized canoes on the roof as well!

On the flat it drives very well, at times you have to watch the speed as it creeps over the limit. At times headwinds can effect top speed so if effected I was happy to cruise ay 90 rather than 95-100kph.

Hills is where the lack of power is mainly felt. With a bit of forward planning most of the regular ups and downs on our roads can be dealt with. Its the big ones (ranges, mountainous areas that slow progress. I just accept that I will need to negotiate these more slowly, still never slower than the semis so I can get out of other drivers way. These areas generally have slow lanes or overtaking lanes full of trucks and vans anyway!

The good old Tdi will tow a van (mine tops out at 1.8T loaded) safely and in comfort.

I've only towed this one with both my 300Tdi Disco and the P38A:



Then I found caravanning is not for me - so I sold it.

The Disco had no problems towing it - although it did slow a bit on long steep hills. Make sure the cooling system is in top notch condition.

Thanks SJD70 and Ron B. for your feed-back.
Regards D.& J.

Auto or manual Neil D

The auto apparently struggles a bit and the manual is the best choice.

Either way , I drove a 1998 tdi manual the other night that had an upgraded intercooler fitted and it was a whole different car to a normal tdi.

Pete

Originally Posted by land864

The auto apparently struggles a bit and the manual is the best choice.

I disagree. I've towed with a manual and have occasionally needed to start in low range to get going up a hill. An auto will pull away in high range.

Just change the auto down manually to keep the revs up on hills.
Mine has towed a yacht, although I wouldn't recommend it.
Make sure your auto has fresh oil and the oil cooler is working well.

You are indeed correct Ron.
Off turbo the tdi manual struggles with hill starts towing a load which the auto torque converter makes up for.

Problem is out on the highway I have heard that the auto hunts.

I towed over 2000kg of air con units and gear often , up the Western Highway to Ballarat years ago and out on the highway the Manual was great as I could hold the change back as required or upshift early as required.

When I recently drove a 300tdi Auto it really did feel gutless and a Melb based expert said the same. The auto kills it ( except maybe on a hill start as outlined above ) Given that hopefully most of the miles will be highway miles I would have thought the manual was the go ?

Again , the upgraded intercooloer on the tdi manual made a world of difference off boost.

Just my observations. I am going througth the same queries as the OP.

Looking for a good 300 tdi whose main task will be as a tow tug and very occasionally a 4WD trip. Auto or manual????

Auto craps all over a manual, the revs are kept up so the turbo is spinning. I've towed my parents van which is about 1200kg along the hume and up to Bright and i was cruising at 110kph, the hills will slow it down but otherwise wasnt a problem. Camper trailer will has less affect as it wont suffer from drag as much as a van.