Towing a 3.2t van - which model D4?

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Originally Posted by Kdarvell

Bobd - would it be possible for to post some photos of your hitch setup? Is it that important (towball position) as I already have the McHitch. What would you recommend as a replacement?

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It is just a standard Mitch Hitch which you can find on the web. I can't post a photo at the moment.

I am not saying that you can't use a McHitch on a Disco. It is the same issue on any car and most people ignore it. It is just something to be aware of and you can bend the tongue of the hitch (on any car) because the bending moment on the flat plate tongue is pretty much doubled by the offset of the vertical force. I bent mine towing off road but no problem with the D4 or the Mitch Hitch.

I now use a Hitch Ezy on my off road caravan to replace the standard Treg Hitch. Plenty of others with the same van are using McHitch. A DO35 would also be a good choice.

Wow, that Hitch Ezy is a work of art!

Agree, very artful - but am I the only one that thinks it looks, er, rather phallic without the trailer attached? (I'll leave the colour alone...)

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Originally Posted by veebs

Agree, very artful - but am I the only one that thinks it looks, er, rather phallic without the trailer attached? (I'll leave the colour alone...)

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You have to put it's condom on to protect the greased pin from dirt!! Not so phallic then.

Ok, I am no doubt going to open the can of vipers here but what the heck.
1) Yes I tow a 3.2 T van, car has now done 80k, and at least 50k with the van on the back, the car is Dec 2013, new.
2) SDV6, and 8 speed, handles the task well enough, but, overall I think it is working at the extremes of the envelope. If you were just doing the odd holiday here and there, OK, but, if this is a long term lap around Aus proposition, then working at the top end of the envelope for extended periods of time is not the place to be. Don't get me wrong. I absolutly love my D4, yes it has the pay load, yes it has the power / torque, I am yet to be convinced and become comfortable about the auto durability (I changed trans fluid at 50k, it was very black and shift quality is not what it once was, and this is absolutly OK, it's a mechanical device under a lot of load and it is going to wear). Which returns to my initial comment, working at the extremes of the envelope.
3) I use standard hitch, the caravan has off road hitch, no problems, I can not see the $700 justification for the Mitch Hitch. Mind you, when I had the van made I specified the caravan hitch height so that it provided correct towing attitude. If the van does not sit properly then the Mitch Hitch might be a solution to the problem.
4) Suspension is fine so far, but again, I run 300kg on towball, and the vehicle is very lightly laden, GCM is less than 6T, still it's working at the top end......see the theme here.
5) Fuel has averaged out to 18 l/100km, this from a long term fuel use calculation, not the random number generator disguised as a trip computer, and in general 90kph, (96kph indicated on the speedo) on sealed roads, obviously much less on dirt. Wind make a huge difference, worst of 22 l/100km, best of 15 l/100km

I know all the comments, smaller vans, camper trailers, living with the consequences of decisions.............again, no problem. None of that changes the fact that towing things at this end of the spectrum is pushing the limits.

My 2 cents worth.

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Originally Posted by PeterJ

I am yet to be convinced and become comfortable about the auto durability (I changed trans fluid at 50k, it was very black and shift quality is not what it once was

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Sounds like burnt oil rather than clutch plate wear so providing the oil is changed regularly, TC slip is minimised to keep the heat down and being kind to clutches when possible then there should no wear concerns.

I'm not convinced 50K is the right figure at 3T.
I do 20K. with an extra cooler, at 1.9T. yes I know its a different box,,,
but but but --- lots of buts [bigsmile1]

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Originally Posted by PeterJ

Ok, I am no doubt going to open the can of vipers here but what the heck.
1) Yes I tow a 3.2 T van, car has now done 80k, and at least 50k with the van on the back, the car is Dec 2013, new.
2) SDV6, and 8 speed, handles the task well enough, but, overall I think it is working at the extremes of the envelope. If you were just doing the odd holiday here and there, OK, but, if this is a long term lap around Aus proposition, then working at the top end of the envelope for extended periods of time is not the place to be. Don't get me wrong. I absolutly love my D4, yes it has the pay load, yes it has the power / torque, I am yet to be convinced and become comfortable about the auto durability (I changed trans fluid at 50k, it was very black and shift quality is not what it once was, and this is absolutly OK, it's a mechanical device under a lot of load and it is going to wear). Which returns to my initial comment, working at the extremes of the envelope.
3) I use standard hitch, the caravan has off road hitch, no problems, I can not see the $700 justification for the Mitch Hitch. Mind you, when I had the van made I specified the caravan hitch height so that it provided correct towing attitude. If the van does not sit properly then the Mitch Hitch might be a solution to the problem.
4) Suspension is fine so far, but again, I run 300kg on towball, and the vehicle is very lightly laden, GCM is less than 6T, still it's working at the top end......see the theme here.
5) Fuel has averaged out to 18 l/100km, this from a long term fuel use calculation, not the random number generator disguised as a trip computer, and in general 90kph, (96kph indicated on the speedo) on sealed roads, obviously much less on dirt. Wind make a huge difference, worst of 22 l/100km, best of 15 l/100km

I know all the comments, smaller vans, camper trailers, living with the consequences of decisions.............again, no problem. None of that changes the fact that towing things at this end of the spectrum is pushing the limits.

My 2 cents worth.

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Thx PeterJ.....just what I am looking for.....real feedback with feeling.
we plan to be on the bitumen all the time and travelling in short hops for about 9 months in a year.
DEFINITELY NO OFF ROAD! Too old for that these days.
We need a comfortable vehicle that will pull 3.2t van on the blacktop with relative ease.

I feel a D4 would be Ok using this strategy, do you agree?

Even though you can pull 3.5t with a Disco, experts caution that this is not what you should do long term as pulling near max for long periods is not what our cars are designed for. I plan to pull a max of 2.5t for my big trips with my 2014 TDV6. Get a Ford 2500 etc.

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Originally Posted by Kdarvell

I feel a D4 would be Ok using this strategy, do you agree?

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Plenty of people do it and it will do it just as easily as a 200 series. However, as others have posted it is pushing everything in the car hard.

You would need to change the transmission fluid frequently I reckon. Mine easily gets over 100 degrees pulling 2200kg up hills on the bitumen in the summer.