Discovery 4 - to buy or not to buy?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Briar

Barnie,
I guess your the same Barnie who was asking questions on the caravaners forum about the D4. I realise your on the central coast and I'm in Bathurst about 4 hours away, however, you'd be more than welcome to come and inspect my D4 and Van and I'll take it out for a tow to show you how it all goes. In addition you could see how everything is connected.

My van is a reasonable size at about 3300kg fully loaded so you could get an idea of how easy the D4 tows it. I realise that I'm I little bit away from you but I'm around for the next few days so you'd be more than welcome if you wish to visit.

Trevor

Attachment 115452

---

Yes indeed Trevor the same Barnie!

I might also add that it was posts like yours, and others, that influenced my decision with the Disco.

Yes we were impressed with the marque. This was mainly based on its abilities in the towing area. However i was also heavily influenced by the number of kind and selfless offers that came forward from owners on this site. The sort of company I enjoy being amidst.

Now Trevor our van will be loaded to about the same weight as yours and with about 300 kg on the ball I would estimate. We don't get the van for three weeks however I have asked for the measurements from the ground to the hitch as I'm currently trying to ascertain the rise I will require above the shank.

My thoughts, and correct me if I'm wrong, are that the higher the better with the air bag suspension.

Barnie, the air suspension maintains the exact ride height at all times so you just need the correct height!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BobD

Barnie, the air suspension maintains the exact ride height at all times so you just need the correct height!

---

What he said.

When I was getting my van manufactured I had the option of having the vans coupling either on the top of the A-frame or at the base. I got the measurements from the van engineer/designer. It turned out that for me that having the coupling at the base of the A-frame was near perfect with the standard height of the D4's standard hitch. The result was that the van is very near level but with a slight nose down attitude of a few centimetres which is ideal.

This saved me having to get hitch risers or lowers. With the D4 auto levelling the van is always at the correct height.

One thing though, I always adjust my tyre pressures according to the land rover guide. When towing with the van ( my ball weight is about 260-290kg) I also usually have some extra stuff in the D4 so I run 42 in the rear and 34-35 in the front. This I presume compensates for the loss of weight of the Front axle when van is attached. Although the D4 keeps the van level, you can't beat physics and there has to be some loss of weight from the front wheels when the van ball loading is on. However, I have mitigated that a little by having the Arb bar and the Traxide battery so that probably adds 50kg or so to the front.

Important to have a stable van first but the D4 will always work to assist towing. I generally find that about 90km/h is an ideal speed for me, but if not in a hurry and not affecting traffic I find that at about 80km/h I can get around the 15l/100km.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tombie

Ah ok - you've gone the larger version as they do a 7/8" shank as well.

With regard to Hitch height - many offroad vans find the stock D4 Hitch too low, and it also has a reputation as "the plough" for dragging on tracks.

The Mitch Hitch raises the receiver in line with the loop between the 2 plugs (it partially connected to that loop).

I then use a Rapid Hitch adjustable tow tongue to allow adjustment between boat, camper and normal trailer.

You can see it here:
On
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...2016/10/67.jpg

---

Tombie may I please ask you whether it was straight forward for you to attach your Mitchell Hitch. Some say yes, others say no, as the the rear sensors have to be realigned etc so that they don't go crazy when they see the Mitch hitch. Thanks in advance.

I have a veeery similar hitch to the Mitch & it was a doddle to fit. If I remember correctly, it only took an hour or so. As long as the tongue is not inserted, my parking sensors work fine.

[QUOTE=Milton477;2603262]I have a veeery similar hitch to the Mitch & it was a doddle to fit. If I remember correctly, it only took an hour or so. As long as the tongue is not inserted, my parking sensors work fine

Thanks Milton. May I ask what your hitch is and it appears you are satisfied with it? We need to get the top of the tongue up to 520-540mm on our van that's almost ready.

We're not married to the Mitchell Hitch. It just seemed to be an easy fix. Provided it got us up high enough?

Appreciate your input.

Barnie,

The Mitch Hitch will locate the tongue at exactly the height you need, as will the other hitch mentioned that is a very close copy.
Some of the historical details are covered in this thread:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-disco...tch-hitch.html
There are some aspects of the copy hitch that I think are inferior to the Mitch Hitch, so it is worth having a close look at both if undecided.

Fitting is not a difficult job at all, I have done two. However, some aspects of the job are slightly fiddly.

The main hitch attachment bolt is inserted through the recovery point with a bush.
The trailer plugs are quite close, which makes getting a socket and/or spanner on the bolt tricky.
You can loosen both trailer plugs to provide more room but the wiring looms have little slack.
I found it easier to temporarily remove one loom and plug completely for the 2nd one I fitted but it is quite achievable without doing that.

The bush for the main bolt is a tight fit to the recovery eye and the inside edge of the eye has some rough points as it is a casting.
These rough points are easy to smooth down with a dremmel or similar.

And finally the hitch activating the rear sensors is a bit hit & miss.
I have fitted the hitch to a 2014 and 2015 and had no issues but people on here have reported the sensors detecting the hitch on 2016 vehicles.
If this happens it is simple to fit a stick-on patch to one side of the sensor to stop the problem.

Regards,
Scott

Standard ride height:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment...1&d=1477706504

That's 530mm to the top of the pin. I have to say though, with a GAP II Tool, you could within reason, have any height you wanted.

Wizard/Milton. All great stuff and thanks for the input and photo. Patch on part of the sensor fantastic idea if required.