Thread: D3 air suspension towing with Load Leveler

Hi Hobbo,

We have a 2.5 ton van and plenty others on here have much larger vans and nearly everyone doesn't use a WDH because we feel there is no need and LR don't recommend that you do, a couple do use them but very few.

Try and see how it feels then decide for yourself. A word of advice if I can be so bold, unless your D3 has very low mileage then before you do to much towing get your auto serviced and the fluid changed. That is unless you have already done it.

Enjoy the D3 they are a great vehicle.

You will find that LR do not recommend the use of such devices as I believe it makes the computer for the suspension get poor inputs.
There will be others who will come and post who have a lot of experience towing heavy vans and the general consensus is that they are not required.

Originally Posted by hobbo3429

I was under the belief that the bars served the purpose of redistributing the weight toward the front of the tow vehicle, also helping to make the combination of car and van more rigid.

This is exactly what they do. However LR say that they are not to be used...
So usually that's the end of the story.

Thanks All,
Great info, I will happly remove the hitch!!
Regards

This is where the cat gets amongst the pidgeons...

Please note that I said "LR say they are not to be used...", which is different to "they are not required". I'd personally suggest that you spend some time thinking about the pro's and con's of the WDH, and then take the van for a couple of runs with and without it fitted. See how the combination handles, particularly under brakes and on an undulating road.

In short, do your own test and make your own decision.

It's a very contentious subject, you should see some of the threads on Caravaners Forum regarding WDHs!

Originally Posted by winaje

This is where the cat gets amongst the pidgeons...

Please note that I said "LR say they are not to be used...", which is different to "they are not required". I'd personally suggest that you spend some time thinking about the pro's and con's of the WDH, and then take the van for a couple of runs with and without it fitted. See how the combination handles, particularly under brakes and on an undulating road.

In short, do your own test and make your own decision.

It's a very contentious subject, you should see some of the threads on Caravaners Forum • Index page regarding WDHs!

Dont forget the average demographic on those forums is 60+ yrs old, still services at 5,000km and thinks 95km/h is too fast

My Shark Cat weighs as much as many vans, is towed over horrendous roads, at the posted speed limit; and all without issue.

Adding a WDH when specifically advised by the manufacturer not to, renders insurance and legal issues...

I'd be careful about quoting manuals as 100% fact especially on things like WDH's. Car importers often put out bulletins that override the manuals.

For example when the new generation Jeep Grand Cherokee came out the manual said that a WDH wasn't required. Two years and lots of stirring by some silly old fart on the Caravanners Forum and they put out a bulletin saying that WDH's are mandatory when towing anything over 2.25 ton from memory.

It would seam that the old bastard had threatened them so badly that if he had a accident or someone else he knew had one when towing without a WDH then he would sue them. He stuffed it for all new Grand Cherokee owners who bought one to tow a decent sized van without a WDH and then he bragged about it.

So things can and do change.

Thankfully he didn't buy a Disco.

What does it say in the users manual that came with the car? If it says no wdh then I would expect your insurance company is going to frown on a wdh in the event of an accident (I'm sure they would try very hard to attach the blame for any accident to the wdh as a cause)