TD5 Towing Capabilities

**Kenjo** · 31st March 2007, 04:22 PM

Hi All.
I’m planning on purchasing another vehicle to tow a 1,800kg van. I’m thinking about TD5 around the 2003 mark. My ’95 V8 Disco 1 is still reliable but just too thirsty over any distance. I haven’t driven the TD5 so I would appreciate opinions on it’s touring capabilities with a van in tow.

Does 2.5 turbo have the grunt to get over average hills at highway speeds or do you get a long queue of traffic behind?
Does fuel consumption increase very much when towing nearly 2 tons of van behind?

Cheers…….Kenjo

**winaje** · 31st March 2007, 04:49 PM

Mate, the TD5 can tow anything... I have towed an 11 metre long 3500 kg van with no mods apart from a brake controller and distribution hitch.

Make sure you get an auto, as it makes everything so much smoother. Get the auto serviced regularly. Make sure that you lock the auto down into 3rd for most of the hill work.

I found that the fuel consumption does increase, but nowhere near as much as the V8. I averaged 17l/1ookm while towing the big van from Cooma to Melbourne in one day, and a lot of that was driving into a headwind...

All in all the TD5 is great for towing, and even better if you have it chipped...!

**tracker** · 31st March 2007, 04:50 PM

just my experence with 00td5.I tow (mainly) a caravan @1700kg or a 650 sig boat around 2750kg (loaded) .After about 6mts I had MR fit a chip and the bloody thing improved outter sight.
Holds speed better uphills and lets me pass a bit safer.
I travel at hyway posted speeds(+) (don't start!)never use cruise and use upto 15lts /100. I'm quite happy with it.
cheers Tracker

**Kenjo** · 31st March 2007, 05:14 PM

Thanks Guys,

Those quick replies have given me confidence. For a while I just couldn’t come to grips with a 2.5l power plant being up to the job and even 17 litres / 100k is as good as the V8 without a load.

Cheers……Kenjo

**George130** · 31st March 2007, 06:09 PM

If it helps I have towed an L300 camper on a 1 ton car trailer from Sydney to Canberra. Didn't even notice the pop top release. Saw it when we stopped at a servo.The TD5 has heaps of towing power.

McDisco · 31st March 2007, 06:16 PM

I would consider getting it chipped...makes all the difference on the hills.

Angus

MarknDeb · 31st March 2007, 08:13 PM

Gday Kenjo we tow a Kedron van with our 03 Disco TD5 and the van weighs in at nearly 2t loaded and 200 kg ball, we did the biggest trip last Jun/July to Cairns and averaged 16.4 LTs/100ks (trip report is here http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/cara...Tripreport.htm ) Our Disco is the S with the airbags in the bum and dont use a weight distrabution system, the air bags do a nice job of it. If you get the base Disco (no air bags) get the original towbar replaced for a Hayman Reece so as you can use the distrabution system (there is something about the original towbar isnt designed to take the stesses from the distrabution system.

MarknDeb · 31st March 2007, 08:15 PM

Oh and the car sat very comfortably on just over 100ks, it didnt like sitting at 90 ????????? it was very sluggish there but sweet at 105/110

**Jerry 68** · 31st March 2007, 08:23 PM

I have just returned from a 800km trip towing a fully loaded camper trailer my Td5 returned 12.5lt/100km that was at 110km/hr into a stiff headwind.
Tows my 5mt boat with ease and economy

**LandyAndy** · 31st March 2007, 08:43 PM

I do firewood during winter with a mate (FAT BAZ).He has an 80ser 4.2 diesel tojo I have the TD5 Disco,with 2 tonne of wood each,I can pull hills in 5th that leave him down to third in a cloud of his own smoke.His ONLY critasism of the 80Series is its real gutless.
YES I DO REMIND HIM ON EVERY HILL I ONLY HAVE 2.5lts AND 1 LESS CYLINDER

The TD5 pulls as good with a load as empty,my biggest bugbear is the turbo lag to get going,an auto will perform better.
Andrew

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