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

Originally Posted by tapda01

Hi Rod, yes, I have sent them an email seeking clarification. They came back to me promptly asking for my VIN details. I await their further reply.

In the interim, I took my pretty much standard D4 with no accessories apart from brake controller and anderson plugs with a tank full of diesel to a weigh bridge.
It weighed 2,620kgs.
80 litres of Diesel weighs 67kgs meaning the tare is 2,553kgs. This is close enough to the stated tare of 2,568kgs for the SDV6 Diesel to I think dispel the theory put forward by many that weight includes 75kg for the driver.....

Cheers

David

If the actual weight of the vehicle is 2620kg then you have the difference between that and the GVW (not the tare) available as payload.
Do NOT deduct the 75kg driver or the fuel or the 150kg towball from the 2620 - they are already included.
If the maximum GVW is 3240kg then the available payload is 3240-2620=620kg.
If the towball increases above 150 then deduct that from the 620 e.g. if the towball was 350 then deduct 200 (350-150) from the payload, which is then 420.
Deduct the weight of your wife, kids, luggage etc and you should still be sweet.
Anyway, that's what I can figure.

Originally Posted by tapda01

I purchased a single axle off road van with ATM of 2,700 kgs and a ball weight of 270kgs. I calculate when sensibly loaded with full water tanks that the ball weight will increase to about 320 kgs.



Thanks

David

So, what your saying is, that you're increasing your ball weight by 50 kg. Using the old 10% notion, this means, your sensibly loading another half a tonne of weight on to the van!

Just because your ATM is 2700 kg doesn't mean your actual ball weight is 270 kg or, have you weighed it?

By the way, if your ATM is 2700 kg, then that's your limit. If it's your Tare Weight then that's OK. For instance, the single axle Kedron CP5 has a Tare of 2250 kg and an ATM of 2750kg.

What size water tanks does it have? Travel with them 1/4 - 1/2 and fill up only when necessary.

Should we take a vote?

If the vehicle is at GVM can you tow a trailer with a towball weight of 150kg or less as long as you don’t exceed GCM? And of course rear axel weight.

I say yes.

Originally Posted by SeanC

Should we take a vote?

If the vehicle is at GVM can you tow a trailer with a towball weight of 150kg or less as long as you don’t exceed GCM? And of course rear axel weight.

I say yes.

Need clarification....

was the vehicle weighed with the trailer hooked up? If so yes

Or was trailer was hooked up after hitting vehicle hits GVM?? If so no

re: GCM, you haven’t mentioned the ATM of the the trailer.....you could have a very heavy trailer with a low TBW....but one would assume with only a 150kg TBW you would be well under GCM, as we all know TBW has to be 10%

Re: rear axle, not enough info....all depends on weight distribution within the vehicle, again I’d assume you would be under with only 150kg TBW.

Originally Posted by SeanC

Should we take a vote?

If the vehicle is at GVM can you tow a trailer with a towball weight of 150kg or less as long as you don’t exceed GCM? And of course rear axel weight.

I say yes.

oh dear... NO!!

David

Originally Posted by Odysseyman

oh dear... NO!!

David

Originally Posted by weeds

Need clarification....

was the vehicle weighed with the trailer hooked up? If so yes

Or was trailer was hooked up after hitting vehicle hits GVM?? If so no

re: GCM, you haven’t mentioned the ATM of the the trailer.....you could have a very heavy trailer with a low TBW....but one would assume with only a 150kg TBW you would be well under GCM, as we all know TBW has to be 10%

Re: rear axle, not enough info....all depends on weight distribution within the vehicle, again I’d assume you would be under with only 150kg TBW.

Oh dear, what have I done? My brain is starting to hurt. I’m so, so happy my camper trailer weighs only about 700kg.

This has all been discussed in other places. After reading it all, I think it's pretty clear. LR does it differently to other manufacturers. What the manufacturer says is law.
GVW includes 150kg of towball weight.

Ball weight adds to payload - Unless you have a Land Rover Discovery - Caravaners Forum - Since 2000