Weight Distribtution Bars on Disco 3

Hi guys,

I started this discussion some time ago and my advice from Land Rover was definitely no WDH. This went against all I had been taught over the years but I decided to try towing the 3 tonne caravan with no WDH. Like the previous writer it towed beautifully and handled exceptionally well. The car and van was level when connected and engine running. We did freeway as well as country roads and hills etc. So my final word on this is take the advice of Land Rover and don't use the WDH. However, I think it would be a different story if you have the S model as I understand they have springs where as the SE and HSE have the air suspension. No matter what, these vehicles are the best towing vehicles I've ever driven. I feel very safe in them.

Peter

Gday Peterpam, in regard to the discussion RE the WDH on a D3, i do know of 2 people that towed heavey offroad caravans with D3's and used the WDH, it resulted in the locking pin snappings while driving and the caravans parted company with the cars, it was found the upward force generated from the WDH was the cause for this pin to snap. one car was a coil sprung and the other is air system, the coil one i do know they had the Hayman Reece bar fitted and use the WDH comfortably, the air system car i can not answer as we have not seen them for some time at any gatherings

Rather than repeat everything -- BigJon and GG Haggis are spot on.

As I think GG said the D3 is different. It is not just a case of physics, in which case Ron would be quite correct and a WDH would be fine.

It's all about working with rather than against the computer.

Many rules for cars like the D3 have to be rewritten. This is just one of them. Another is running significantly larger tyres which is dangerous on any vehicle with ESC.

BTW the D4 will have anti-sway control which is a variant of ESC designed to stop trailer sway, working on the front wheels only. Not unique to LR.

Aside from hanging too low the standard towbar also prevents the spare wheel being removed, thereby forcing you to first remove the tongue when changing a wheel. Not great, and another reason everyone is rather keen on the MB hitch.

The crosslink is a superb feature and gives the air D3 a lot, and I mean a lot more travel than the coil D3. It is not linked front/rear like the LC200's KDSS.

When I spoke to head of LR technical he said that the D3 had not been tested with the WDH for compatability with the DSC and other electonics. The D3 detects you have a trailer and changes a lot of the parameters and these settings are for towing without a WDH. There also concerns for long term stress causing failure of the hitch and frame.

Have been away from the laptop for a while and just caught-up with this thread.
We tow a 21' Golf Outback behind our D3 and use the Mitchell Bros tow hitch and do not use WDH. Our van usually come in around 2650kg plus, depending on where we are going and for how long.
At no stage have we had any problems with the D3 or the van with towing. No movement, no swaying even when the biggest B-Doubles pass us. Usually travel at around 95 to 100kmh on good roads.
Last trip, just finished two weeks ago was for two months away, around 5000km.

Using a WDH on the D3 or RRS will snap the the locking ping OR crack the hitch casting. You will loose the trailer sooner or later if using the factory tow bar & WDH - there are dozens of cases now... If you really want to use WDH then fit one of Reese's tow bars.

So much heat and so little light! I have patiently waded through all the information and misinformation above and couldn't stand it any more.

There is absolutely no point in WDH for a D3 (with active air) or a RRS, in fact it will probably distort the information sent by the sensors to the management system and make the handling worse.

Despite anything you read about towing heavy weights or with big 4WDs it does not apply to the above. They are different! The vehicle knows when you have a trailer and compensates for it. Keep below 3.5T and 150kg and you will be ok. If you don't, you risk both your vehicle and voiding your warranty.

I have driven the same rig with both a TD5 Defender and a RRS and they really are different! The RRS (and presumably the D3) really does try to stop you getting into trouble.

What applies to a Defender, D2, Landcruiser or a Paj does not apply to a RRS or D3, just remember they are different.

(all this rather reminds me of a guy, years ago, who wanted to put free wheeling hubs on his new Range Rover because everyone said they improved fuel economy)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Diego Luego

What applies to a Defender, D2, Landcruiser or a Paj does not apply to a RRS or D3, just remember they are different.

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We have the D2 and when we had the SLS we didnt use the WDH and she towed beautifully, it never felt unsafe at any stage but now we have the coils fitted we use the WDH, the ride towing feals about the same as before.

After all these years many people can't understand that LR really changed the 4WD as an offroad vehicle and as a tow vehicle. You cannot compare an air suspended D3 or RRS with anything that has gone previously or any other 4WD on the market.

Mate,,
you sound like a happy camper:D