New D4 and towing for the first time

[Bashir]

Hi there, I picked up a new D4 SE last week and this weekend I'll be heading to Melbourne from Sydney to pick up a small boat I've purchased. I'm a bit confused about all the info in regards to trailer lights and hitches. I'm very experienced with towing big and small rigs, but not with the D4 or anything similar.

I'll be using the standard hitch and need to buy a tongue and ball. Land rover have no stock of the original ones so I need to buy something aftermarket. What is the best way to go? I've seen adjustable ones by hayman reese at auto stores but I also see the rapid hitch mentioned. At this stage I don't really plan to buy a Mitch Hitch but who knows in the future I may see the need.

In regards to LED trailer lights will I need to buy some plug in like the linear electronics one in order for them to work? Ideally I would like something that will allow me to tow other trailers too.

Keep in mind I need to sort this all out this week, so ideally stuff available in Sydney would be great.

[Tombie]

Hitch - I have a Rapid hitch - fantastic.
But any 3500kg rated hitch with the right drop/lift will work.

To tow the boat, don't worry about the lights, they will work fine - only the reverse sensors and trailer light will not change behaviour. Other than that it will be fine.

That will give you time to sort it all in more detail when you return!

[Bashir]

Thanks for that. Do you use the standard rapid hitch or the longer 6 inch drop version?

[Tombie]

I have the Mitch Hitch and went the 6" version.
Gives more flexibility IMO.

[Redback]

Hi there, I picked up a new D4 SE last week and this weekend I'll be heading to Melbourne from Sydney to pick up a small boat I've purchased. I'm a bit confused about all the info in regards to trailer lights and hitches. I'm very experienced with towing big and small rigs, but not with the D4 or anything similar.

I'll be using the standard hitch and need to buy a tongue and ball. Land rover have no stock of the original ones so I need to buy something aftermarket. What is the best way to go? I've seen adjustable ones by hayman reese at auto stores but I also see the rapid hitch mentioned. At this stage I don't really plan to buy a Mitch Hitch but who knows in the future I may see the need.

In regards to LED trailer lights will I need to buy some plug in like the linear electronics one in order for them to work? Ideally I would like something that will allow me to tow other trailers too.

Keep in mind I need to sort this all out this week, so ideally stuff available in Sydney would be great.

To make the lights work properly on the trailer, turn your lights or parkers on, on the car, as Tombie says the only thing affected is the trailer signal on the dash and the parking sensors will go off, if you have the button to turn them off, then it's all good.

If you're not worried about parking sensors, they can be turned off via a diagnostic tool, we had ours turned off, I've survived 40yrs without them on previous vehicles, so really no need for them now, besides they're a pain in the arse anyway.

Baz.

[Epic pooh]

I love my beepy things ! Apart from that time they didn't pick up a fire hydrant ... And a tree ... And ... Oh !

Bashir, personally I'd ask the height of the hitch on the trailer from ground when flat and then use that to do some measurements to determine most appropriate starting tongue. A 3500kg HR one is what I use on my D3 (with original plough so a bit lower than your D4 factory hitch) and its perfect for most road going trailers.

[Celtoid]

Hitch - I have a Rapid hitch - fantastic.
But any 3500kg rated hitch with the right drop/lift will work.

To tow the boat, don't worry about the lights, they will work fine - only the reverse sensors and trailer light will not change behaviour. Other than that it will be fine.

That will give you time to sort it all in more detail when you return!

What about trailer stability control ...... isn't that also something you don't get if the car can't 'see' the trailer?

[Tombie]

What about trailer stability control ...... isn't that also something you don't get if the car can't 'see' the trailer?

Always active...

[Redback]

What about trailer stability control ...... isn't that also something you don't get if the car can't 'see' the trailer?

Video proof

[ame]http://youtu.be/5gyc4Dmgbew[/ame]

Baz.

[Bashir]

To make the lights work properly on the trailer, turn your lights or parkers on, on the car, as Tombie says the only thing affected is the trailer signal on the dash and the parking sensors will go off, if you have the button to turn them off, then it's all good.

If you're not worried about parking sensors, they can be turned off via a diagnostic tool, we had ours turned off, I've survived 40yrs without them on previous vehicles, so really no need for them now, besides they're a pain in the arse anyway.

Baz.

Thanks for that, I do have the button for parking sensors. My previous car was a 2006 Hilux Sr so most things in the D4 are a luxury to me haha