Thread: Can a Disco 4 tow a van with 350kg ball weight... I think not fit for purpose..

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

Really specifically I didn't in no short part because my drivers license says HC and not C (auto) or C (int)

Also really certain I can read a manual and follow the guidelines as well as the maths, the ADR's the Roadrules the NHVL regulations and any other number of things that might be really useful for a Truck driving crane operating Plant/Truck mechanic Ex ADF driving instructor to know.

Just to put it in perspective...

You want to use a vehicle thats 3 generations ahead of and 20 years newer than the vehicle I would use to tow bigger things legally and even newer than the vehicle that I would (and have) use willingly to do the same thing. you have more HP, more Torque, better everything comfort wise and more electronics on board than the space shuttle.

you screwed up GCM and GVM in the opening post and even after most of the people here trying to help you out and point you in the right direction Dont want to accept the vehicle is the definition of a near perfect tow motor because you want to argue semantics based around the simplicity of youve screwed your maths from the get go in the same way as the "I can prove I have 11 fingers" trick works, just backwards.

you do you.

you know If I was a betting man... I'd almost bet that part of your total weight includes a generator.

Your reply doesn't really warrant a response from me....I will bite my tongue and just summarise that the main point of divergence is that people are interpreting Land Rover and Industry standard figures in different ways. I think my interpretation is correct, but understand others have different interpretations. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I have contacted Land Rover and asked them for their official position. Whatever they provide I will post so it will be to everyone's benefit.

I don’t think you need Land rovers response....as it’s all in your handbook, tare is not overly important and the included towball is just there to confuse the number.

Keep under the below and all is good.....

GVM 3240, you mentioned 320kg tow ball therefore 2920 is the number you’re chasing without the van connected ...with a 2600 tare than you have 300 payload.

Max. Tow ball 350 which you’re under

GCM.....couldn’t see a reference

ATM 2700, can be difficult to achieve with some manufacturers.

Originally Posted by Odysseyman

I’ve been reading this thread with interest. I think your issue is with your van, not your tow vehicle. Before retiring my wife worked in a well known caravan repair business and her comment was that it was rare to see any van with a 350kg ball weight, or anything near it. Most tow hitches have a maximum towball weight considerably less than that.
I would suggest that you pay close attention to the way the van is loaded, starting first with getting weighing your van empty and comparing that weight with the Gross Trailer Mass on your van compliance plate. That will tell you what weight you can add to the van in the way of water, food, clothing and other random stuff you want to take. Then when you load the van keep those things you load central and low. Never put anything at the rear of the van to rear of the van to reduce your towball weight as you could end up with a very unstable situation, as described in that YouTube video referred to earlier with that little model car and trailer.
The other thing you will need to watch is your rear axle load on the Disco as 350kg on the towball coverts to 350+kg on the back axle. I posted the calculation earlier in this thread. (Sorry my car is in for service today so I can’t measure the distance from the centre of the back wheels to the towball to do the calculation).
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is what it says it is, the absolute maximum weight the car can be, regardless of where you put the weight, and the Gross Combination Mass (GCM) likewise.
From what you have already said in a number of your responses you clearly understand this...
so best to go to a weighbridge, get the figures and keep it simple.
The Disco is an eminently capable tow vehicle but only up to the weight limits set by Land Rover. If your van exceeds those weights then I reckon you need to rethink your tow vehicle. Doesn’t mean the car is not “fit for service”.
cheers,
David

Thanks David, I agree that the van is the main issue and am in conversations with the manufacturer to adjust things to reduce TBM. The Disco is a wonderful tow vehicle, but my fit for service issue is that how can Land Rover with a clear conscious specify it can handle a TBM of 350kgs when that just leaves a legal payload of 70kgs at best. The fine print about reducing GCM is in the owners manual which most will not read until the car is purchased. They should make it clear up front that any tow ball mass over 150kgs will reduce GCM and hence eventual payload. I have not seen this wording in any of the specs downloaded from their web site, but happy to stand corrected...

Cheers

David

The disco is not in the same league as the lc100/200 for non disclosure regarding towing weights. The LR is by far a better prospect, and still a top performing tow vehicle. Just be sure to think about weights. There are NO vehicles on the market that have a load it up she'll be right outlook. After all the vehicles I've towed with over the years, my current one (same specs weights etc wise literally as a D4) is the best.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

just to assure you..

YouTube

YouTube

nahh, not a chance could it tow your van completely useless for towing. Give it to me, go buy a toyota.

They only show the easy bit. I wanted to see the Disco stop it. Now that would have been something.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I'm NOT an expert at this, and my Defender is way under the limits when towing our camper, and I don't own a D4, so tell me if this is wrong, but the way I read the D4 information was:
It includes a 75kg driver and fuel
It includes 150kg towball weight
That can be increased to 350kg, but the amount above 150 has to be taken off the vehicle
Is that correct?
I also think in one of the links above it said the D4 was better for towing than everything except a Troopy.

Hi Mick, to each of your points..
I don't believe Land Rover include fuel and a driver in the quoted D4 figures. I took my D4, which is pretty much off the show room floor, with a full tank to a weighbridge yesterday. It weighed 2,620 kilos and the difference between this and the weight in the owners manual accounts for the fuel. I have also asked Land Rover to verify this.
My interpretation is that it can support a 150kg TBM with no impact of the GVM of 3,240
If the TBM is above 150kgs, then the GVM is reduced by 1kg for each kg the TBM is above 150
I think the D4 is a brilliant Tow vehicle, but like every other 4X4 and Ute, you have to watch all the weights. The discerning Motoring press are waking up to this and exposing the real towing capacities of our vehicles. Obviously they are quoting the latest Disco which I don't have the owners guide for to read the small print for towing to determine if it has the same limitations as the D4..

Cheers

David

My L322 Tdv8 includes a full tank (100litres) of fuel in its calcs.

Originally Posted by tapda01

Thanks David, I agree that the van is the main issue and am in conversations with the manufacturer to adjust things to reduce TBM. The Disco is a wonderful tow vehicle, but my fit for service issue is that how can Land Rover with a clear conscious specify it can handle a TBM of 350kgs when that just leaves a legal payload of 70kgs at best. The fine print about reducing GCM is in the owners manual which most will not read until the car is purchased. They should make it clear up front that any tow ball mass over 150kgs will reduce GCM and hence eventual payload. I have not seen this wording in any of the specs downloaded from their web site, but happy to stand corrected...

Cheers

David

I reckon you have 300kg of payload....well based on my numbers.