Thanks Grant, that's an enormous looking rig! - I'm now convinced an e-diff is an unnecessary addition. Alrighty, it's now a matter of waiting for one these cars becomes available. I'm not really ready this very minute and I'm thinking that more car choices at cheaper pricing will become available the longer I wait. Also, thanks Chris for the info on TOPIx. I'll definitely do that.
I understood the D3/4 ediff is physically stronger than an open diff. That would be the main reason I would want one. I don't know if it's the same on a FFRR with TR.
Grant do you know the tow ball weight of that rig when loaded? I'm wrestling with the "issue" that for whatever reason the towball weight on the FFRR is 100kg less than the D4; wondered if you carried greater than 250kg on the ball and had had no issues? I'm aware of warranty, insurance potential issues if we exceed the 250 - but am hoping LR are being conservative; we are looking at buying an off road caravan - probably second hand Bushtracker 18 foot (family van) - read Heavy - 3-3500kg laden; and the only real concern I have is tow ball weight given the 250kg listed for the car. Not sure if anyone on here has any views? We have looked at a few other lighter makes of van - but keep coming back to a BT based on reputation for being bullet proof and incredible resale value.
Hey Chris, do you really WANT to be able to carry more than 250kg on the tow ball? That's a helluva lot of extra weight swinging way out the back. Surely any towed vehicle can be set up to adjust the tow ball weight accordingly? I tow a 2.5 ton boat (probably nearer 3 tons with fuel and water aboard) and I just got the thing adjusted (by moving the axles a bit) so the tow ball weight was about 140-odd kilo. That's still a pretty heavy and secure load on the tow tongue.Quote:
Originally Posted by CSBrisie
No, I don't Greg - less weight the better! I'm aiming for 250 max and ideally 200kg. Seems BT's are nose heavy with dual spares up front plus jerry cans on the A bar etc. sigh. A lot to think about it!
Uncanny, I'm looking at Bushtrackers, Kedrons or the Kimberley Cruiser. All I know about any of them is that they are heavy and ask a lot of the tow cars that are towing them. Then, when you load up the car with kids and the kitchen sink....(my wife believes that if there is a space it must be filled). I'm hoping that the weight on the ball won't exceed 150kg's and I'm hoping that the suspension on the Range Rover doesn't automatically default to the lowest ride height like my Landcruiser does at the moment when there is anymore than about 200kg combined weight on the back. A question I was going to ask was what weight (if any) the RR air suspension just chooses a low ride setting simply because it can't hold up it's tail end.
It will never choose a lower height due to weight but if the compressor fails to raise the vehicle quickly enough then the system will fault. IIRC V2 Terrain Response defaults to leaving the height as is whereas the original TR would lower to the bump-stops in this situation. I've never heard of such a failure due to excessive weight, only from failing compressors.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozjet
Dean, interestingly the owner of Kimberley (can't recall his name) owns a MY11 TDV8 RRV (4.4) and has towed his (Black Caviar) all over Oz; but even the latest full size (20 foot?) Kruiser is a lot lighter than a Kedron, Spinifex or BT. The latter hit 3.5 t and 350kg ball weight with ease once you hit 20 feet and fully loaded (thanks to things like 4 x water tanks at 80l each)!! Kimberly are justifiably proud of the fact there product is much lighter-but I don't think they do a family van design yet? They do a much smaller Kimberley Caravan with bunks - but it's very small and bunks really aimed at kids sub 8 years old. I keep coming back to BT based on so many positive comments on line and seeing them in remotest of locations - but gee they are heavy; I wish I could get some really good feedback on lighter, cheaper alternatives (Lotus, Roadstar, etc) but not as much seems to be written about them one way or the other - the only ones i have read virtually no issues what so ever are BT (almost over engineered and incredible resale value - eg 18 foot family vans from 2001 never less than $60k!!!) and Spinifex :(
Thanks Chris, That's good to know. Bruce Loxton is the guy you're talking about and I saw the video he posted that showed him doing a 3 point turn in the RR towing a Kimberley Kruiser. Incidently, I've just had occasion to spend a bit of time up with the Kimberley repair agents and have learned that some Kruisers leak like sieves. Anyway, I guess this discussion belongs in another forum altogether. What I have learned is that the Rangie is going to maintain it's set height despite the weight it's carrying at the rear. PS: They've made it so you can order the seating in the Kruiser so it's foldable into a bed - so now you can carrry the family. The issue with weight at the rear then is that it all transfers through the tyres - which is really for me - one of the biggest issues. I'm not sure I've seen anything written about RR tyre performance off road (on the long Aussie gravel road) when it's under substantial load and towing. Lots of stuff written from the point of view of a car journalist with an empty car driving in Morocco though!
Cheers Dean
Yes that is an excellent point mate - I'm nervous I'm going to be one of the first attempting roads like the Plenty, with a full RR and a heavy van, all on Cooper LTZ 20's and it's not making me comfortable. Suddenly the LC 200 series looks somewhat more sensible ...or Disco 4 on GOE 18's with LTZ tyres ..... Big sigh :(