Thread: Disco 4 - 2.7l Caravan stability

Originally Posted by ozscott

I wonder if the Toyota's were less 'sensitive' cause they were live axle at the rear....

As for problems with sway it is almost certainly lack of ball weight. If it were me with an IRS I would consider WDH and anti sway together.

Cheers

WDH is not recommended for the air suspension D3/D4. However you can use it on most boat trailers with the addition of a crossbar on the trailer drawbar.

This is a question for Disco owners towing a heavy van. I have spoken to a few people regarding the air suspension in the D3. Given that the self levelling suspension manages the ride height, there has apparently been a few problems in the past over rougher terrain/road bumps etc, where the suspension gets a little confused as to what it's height should be, and hence the whole setup gets a little unstable with not enough of the front of the car on the road. Apparently some D3 drivers with air suspension experienced this and some not. Has anyone had any problems towing with the D4 like this.
Thanks

If you can wait until July I will have some more answers in regard to how well the D4 copes with a van over long distance and average roads.

I will be doing.

Sunshine Coast to Canarvan Gorge

Canarvan Gorge to Longreach

Longreach to Undara

Undara to Sunshine Coast

So there will be a fair mix of good and bad roads in there.

When I can get connectivity I will blog my adventures here...

Ramblings by Ian

Ignore my current political ramblings on the blog.

Originally Posted by davman

This is a question for Disco owners towing a heavy van. I have spoken to a few people regarding the air suspension in the D3. Given that the self levelling suspension manages the ride height, there has apparently been a few problems in the past over rougher terrain/road bumps etc, where the suspension gets a little confused as to what it's height should be, and hence the whole setup gets a little unstable with not enough of the front of the car on the road. Apparently some D3 drivers with air suspension experienced this and some not. Has anyone had any problems towing with the D4 like this.
Thanks

I've towed a 1.4 tonne pop-top from Perth to the Kimberley's (via Mt Augustus) and back. Mostly dirt roads. A 1.2 tonne off-road trailer from Perth to Alice via the Gunbarrel (and back), and an off-road 2.7 tonne (nearly 3 T loaded) caravan Perth - Melbourne - Perth, via mostly bitumen and some dirt travel. This was all in a 2.7 ltr D3 with air, and I've never experienced specifically what you describe. Stability was impeccable. But you need to have the tow-ball at the correct height for the towed vehicle. Too low and you will probably get the symptoms you're referring to.

What did occur on 2 occasions during the first two excursions was the car lowering to access height when braking to under 40kph. Switch off and restart cured the problem. Problem was never resolved, and never happened again.

Cheers,

Gordon

Good old 'restart' like a computer!

Dorko

Thanks guys for your overall help. So I am reading on a lot of forums about the whole NO WDH WITH SELF LEVELLING SUSPENSION debate. What are all of your real life experiences towing a heavy van. Is not having a WDH a problem?

There's not really any debate. LR advise against fitting them to a D3/D4/RRS with EAS. They may reject any warranty claim on affected components if you do.

If the vehicles and tow hitch are set up right, there have been/are no issues.

Cheers,

Gordon

Hi I recently purchased a caravan magazine as it had a comparison between a D4, Prado and I think a Pajero all towing the same size van.

They raved about the Disco and basically canned the others. I could proberly fax or email a copy if you want.

If its all towing streight and level and the Disco suspension has compensated for the weight of the van Some form of anti sway might be needed, not sure if you can attatch them to a Land Rover bar though?

I had a simular prob with an 18ft van and cured it by fitting better tyres, good light truck tyres with the right tyre pressure fixed it. The origional tyres had too much flex in the side walls. Find a good tyre place and see what the max safe pressure for the tyres you have is and try that. Or talk too them and see if they can reccomend something better?

Check the pressure in the Disco's tyres too

You can also have a play around with your loading, less weight at the rear might help. I know of cases were by filling the water tank up also helps. adds weight but sometimes puts it where its needed. If you have two spares hanging on the rear of the van take them off and try that.

Have a look at the upper storage areas and keep as much of the heavy stuff down as low as you can.


Good luck I know how horrible it feels when the van starts swaying and have had to use the trailer brakes a few times to get me out of trouble

Andrew