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Thread: How well does your V8 Disco tow?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Burpengary Qld
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    Unhappy How well does your V8 Disco tow?

    I am beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with my 3.9 auto LPG D1 as I am a bit disappointed in how it tows. I have been towing a tandem axle 18ft poptop with an ATM of 1950kg and it would be virtually at its ATM. Inside the Disco are 3 adults and about 50kg of gear in the cargo area (plus of course the extra weight of the LPG & tank). I find that going up hills is a bit of a pain cause it slows down so much.

    To give you an idea, going up Cunningham's Gap in SE Qld, on full throttle it settled to 40kph @ around 2100rpm (2nd gear). For those of you who live in NSW and know the road, coming back from Bathurst to Katoomba, on the steepest section I was down to 20kph in 1st, again @ around 2000rpm. The vehicle has done about 150K and the engine runs smoothly and doesn't blow any smoke. Fuel comsumption seems to be about the same as others have mentioned on this forum.

    From what I have read in the many posts here, the V8 is usually regarded as having plenty of power (torque) but it doesn't seem that way in my experience. Yes I know it is a heavy vehicle, but I didn't expect it to struggle like that.

    Trouble is I haven't anything to compare it with so I am hoping other members can post their own experience towing similar vans.

    Anyone's help & comments would be appreciated.

    Roger

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
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    Back down the hill.
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    Different gas conversions give vastly varying results.
    If you don't like trucks, stop buying stuff.
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/signaturepics/sigpic20865_1.gif

  3. #3
    Rayngie Guest
    Got a mate who has a V8 3.9 Discovery and tows a 2.5t wakeboard boat.....veery slowly and painfully...he hates it.

    Ray,

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
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    Colac foot of the otways
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    Mine is slow on hills. Steep sections going from Colac To Apollo bay i go back to 2nd. 1st gear at 2000 revs seems a bit slow, I would of thought that it should be able to rev a little higher.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
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    Padstow NSW
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    how well do they tow?? no where near as good as a chipped TD5

    the last thing i towed up the gap was a ford customline and 2 351 motors, i stopped and changed to low range half way up, that was a stock 3.5 S1 disco.
    on the flat it was ok, would happily hold 100kph.

    cheers phil

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2006
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    Redesdale, Victoria
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    I had a 95 Disco that was standard except for a set of extractors and a 2.5" exhaust. Used to tow a 16ft fibreglass half cabin with it and it went like stink! Hardly knew it was on the back except when slowing. Could easily hold some cars from a standing start.... a few surprised folks used to look across and see me... still there matey!

    Only excitement i ever had with it was when some moron in a little buzz box cut infront of me in the city.... filling my nice stopping gap with a small lump of metal. It was very nearly a foot shorter.... but my ABS kicked in and pulled us up well.

    Cheers

    Chris

  7. #7
    It'sNotWorthComplaining! Guest
    I recently towed a tri axle trailer and a tractor with water filled tyres, close to the 3.5 tonne limit, was managing 90 kph on the highway, did the hills ok with a run up.
    3.9 V8 on Gas. --- (Scorcher Dizzy though).
    It impressed the bro inlaw so he bought a disco too

  8. #8
    PeteandKyla Guest
    Hi Everyone.

    I bought a D2 V8 5 speed to tow my dingo and trailer and was always extremely dissapointed with the performance and particularly the fuel economy. It ran on straight petrol and I expected it to have loads of torque for towing but it was a wet blanket!!!!

    My biggest problem with the injected V8s is that it seems that in an attempt to make the cars smoother, Land Rover have removed ALL of the throttle sensitivity. I have never driven a multipoint injected engine which was so soft and unresposive. (landrover mechanics who drove it thought it went very well!!??)

    I have ended up selling the disco (still miss the quiet ride and electronic eveything) and bought a 300Tdi Defender 130. It uses less fuel, can run vegetable oil or WVO and after injection pump tweaks (which I can do myself!) the turbo diesels have ALOT more torque for towing. I can now put the dingo on the tray and tow an excavator on the trailer. Defender struggles abit uphills fully loaded but will do 120-130 on the flat and unbelievably will still overtake with 3.5tons load! (mind you that might be more the terribly slow drivers on the highway out here)

    GET A DIESEL!!!!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2006
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    Redesdale, Victoria
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    Want to add... i now have a 95 Def and much prefer it for towing... although i now no longer have a boat

    Will concur, when towing go the diesel.

    chris

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Box Hill, Victoria
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    I've towed cars with my 3.9.

    Ok on highway, on hills it is bad.
    Petrol is much better, gas is absolutely hopeless.

    I avoid towing now....

    Cheers
    Dave

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