Thread: Disco 4 V Landcruiser Prado

If I had to go back to a tug that needed a WDH I would sell the van and give up caravaning.

Originally Posted by Grumndriva

By the way I didn't cite any Overlander article. You have confused me for someone else. As far as I know I also don't have any LC owning mates: just people I have met on the road.



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Yep Grum - that was me who cited that and responded to Gordon.

The fella above with the 2.7 odd tonn van - that there is excellent real world feedback. There must be lightening of the front end (cant see anyone who has shown the levelling versus levering theory to be wrong) with that load, BUT irrespective his anecdotal evidence is that it tows really well. Taken at face value that would make me seriously think Disco over Cruiser. Please keep the feedback coming people with big loads!

If people with 2.7 to 3.5 tonns notice no loss of braking or steering (ie steering lightening and not biting to change directions in a hurry in say wet weather) then overall the system must work well enough. I suppose its a case of a bit of string - if the D3/4 still turns better at speed in the wet and brakes better than a 200 series when both are towing the same heavy load - say 3,000kg, then irrespective of whether or not the D3/4 would be better again with load transferred back to the front (which it cannot have because of the SLS) then the D3/4 is STILL a better vehicle for towing than a 200 series with a properly fitted and adjusted WDH.

Cheers

Cheers

Originally Posted by mowog

Sounds like your mind is made up..

Enjoy the LC 200.

Toyota warranty requirements leave towing owners damned if they do and damned if they don''t - Information Articles Go See Australia Directory

"A Toyota Customer Relations team member said today that the Toyota Owners manual was not necessarily ambiguous as it had a world-wide application. He said that LandCruisers were not built as a tow vehicle and once purchased it was up to the owner how the vehicle was used and what was fitted and added to the vehicle in terms of accessories. "

Thanks mowog, but if my mind was already made up I would not have spent this much time on this thread. My heart wants the D4, but I just can't see how it can do the job. The range is a show stopper it seems.

The quote is a standard first legal response where product liability is being questioned, and it probably is not much different from what LR would say if their product was being questioned. I wouldn't put too much store in it. In my former life I saw many such responses.

But thanks for the input both here and by PM. If I thought I knew all the answers I wouldn't be asking.

Originally Posted by Grumndriva

Thanks mowog, but if my mind was already made up I would not have spent this much time on this thread. My heart wants the D4, but I just can't see how it can do the job. The range is a show stopper it seems.

The quote is a standard first legal response where product liability is being questioned, and it probably is not much different from what LR would say if their product was being questioned. I wouldn't put too much store in it. In my former life I saw many such responses.

But thanks for the input both here and by PM. If I thought I knew all the answers I wouldn't be asking.

I dont like Toyotas much either Mowog but we cant though take those quotes and go all green oval about them. The fact is that no manufacturer builds their 4X4s AS tow vehicles, but they certainly do build them with towing in mind and test them towing (certainly Patrol, Cruiser and Disco at least).

Cheers

Originally Posted by ozscott

.........There must be lightening of the front end (cant see anyone who has shown the levelling versus levering theory to be wrong) with that load, BUT irrespective his anecdotal evidence is that it tows really well.
If people with 2.7 to 3.5 tonns notice no loss of braking or steering (ie steering lightening and not biting to change directions in a hurry in say wet weather) then overall the system must work well enough. ...........

Cheers

Cheers

Gday...

Just like the advice to set up the WDH I did the same when I hooked the van up to the D3.... ie - measure distance from road to bottom of front and rear mudguard arch BEFORE hitching up the van and then measure the same distance AFTER hitching the van. Set van up as level with jockey wheel.

With WDH, you then adjust how many links you apply to level the vehicle ie returning weight to front wheels from the rear.

With D3, I hook on from Access height, raising to Standard putting the ball into the ball coupling. I then set the suspension to Standard height to drive off. When the D3 is at standard height the D3 returns to level (pre-van) distances.

The tow hitch needs to be correctly fitted for height of level van and level vehicle - WDH or no WDH.

A great system - which keeps 'adjusting' itself depending on the terrain you tow over.

Cheers
John

Originally Posted by Grumndriva

Thanks mowog, but if my mind was already made up I would not have spent this much time on this thread. My heart wants the D4, but I just can't see how it can do the job. The range is a show stopper it seems.

Will the dealers not let you take the vehicle on a test drive and tow your van? Surely if you are spending the best part of 80-90k then they should let you test what you want it to do.

Originally Posted by Grumndriva

Suggest you re-read what I wrote.

Which part Grum,

"Compared with the D4, the LC200 is more powerful (both power and torque), is at least as comfortable, has better range...."

"Very interesting. There are some similarities with my own experience"

These are your words aren't they.....what am I missing? Did I miss a few posts...?

Loved the bit in the video when the LR driver gives the truck a bit of a squirt (for the camera I recon), slides, over-corrects, brakes and then boots it again....

All those Sir Isaacs....LOL!!!