Towing an heavy caravan etc. Should you select Sport range?

[Baytown]

Hi everyone.
Im just waiting to pick my Zone RV 20.6 ft off road van up from its service at Coolum and then head to Tassie.
While sitting here, I noted an article in Unsealed about Transmision coolers, where it stated that many manufacturers advise towing in Sport mode.
I tried to find what Land Rovers take on this for my 3L SDV6 is, but couldn’t see anything mentioned re Sport mode at all.
What do the Gurus here advise? Sport modefor towing, or just Drive mode?
Thanks for any guidance re this fellas (and fellerettes if any here!)

Ken
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[101RRS]

You can tow in Drive - but towing in Sport changes the gearchange points which seems to better suit towing. On straights the car will still go into top gear but will hang onto lower gears a bit longer which helps with heavier loads.

Garry

[cjc_td5]

I normally don't worry too much about Sport vs Drive modes when towing. The only thing I do is occasionally shift down using the paddles when the motor appears to be labouring on a hill, trying to hold too high a gear. In Sport it will hold the gear indefinitely vs in Drive it will shift back up again when the load comes off (ie you get to the top of the hill).

[Celtoid]

Hi,

Just a question...

Does your van have LEDs and if yes, have you a resistance set up of some sort in your car or van (in series with the indicator circuit)? A standard bulb achieves this normally, LEDs won't. If you have LEDs in the van and don't have resistance in your indicator line the D4 does 'know' that there is a van/trailer connected. Lights often work normally but that's all. When a D4 knows it is connected to something it changes the gearbox adaptions to suit towing better, turns off your reverse sensors completely and I think (don't quote me) may affect other systems in the car (brake and stability related). Not 100% on the last point but definitely affects the box and reverse sensors. Oh, and gives a trailer indicator icon on your dash.

Towing or otherwise, I believe the 8 speed box will use all 8 gears in sports but I'm certain the older 6 speed (stick shifter) wouldn't go into top in sports mode …. thus screwing your fuel economy.

Cheers,

Kev.

[dirvine]

I have a 2016.5 D4 and tow a van. As it has the LED rear lights I did not need to mod any wiring on the LED caravan. I did however put the diode on the wiring of the brake controller. When I select reverse, the rear sensors do not work. However having said that when i do select reverse I set the rear camera for tow ball line up, so that might also switch off the sensors

[Celtoid]

I have a 2016.5 D4 and tow a van. As it has the LED rear lights I did not need to mod any wiring on the LED caravan. I did however put the diode on the wiring of the brake controller. When I select reverse, the rear sensors do not work. However having said that when i do select reverse I set the rear camera for tow ball line up, so that might also switch off the sensors

All D4s models have LED rear lights....even from the 2009 build cars. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't factor at all with regards to trailer compatibility.

I haven't heard of a diode doing the same job …. but that means nothing … LOL. It's just about having enough resistive load for the car to notice something is connected. It can be in the car, on the connector cable to the trailer or van or fitted to the van. A lot of guys have simply made resistor packs and connected them somewhere in series with the indicator circuit. Some people would rather not mod their car and put the resistive load elsewhere.

I bough a box from a Melbourne (?) based company that was designed specifically to do this. The advantage is that it comes with an on off switch (simple enough to fit in a home made unit too) for times that you are towing with standard globes on your trailer/van or are not towing at all.

Do you get a trailer indicator light on your dash when you indicate to turn?

[101RRS]

Hi,

I'm certain the older 6 speed (stick shifter) wouldn't go into top in sports mode …. thus screwing your fuel economy.

Cheers,

Kev.

Not sure where that comes from but is not so - in Sport mode the gearbox does go into 6th gear just takes a while because it hangs onto 5th a bit longer.

Garry

[Celtoid]

Not sure where that comes from but is not so - in Sport mode the gearbox does go into 6th gear just takes a while because it hangs onto 5th a bit longer.

Garry

OK, I'm not certain Gary....LOL. I am certain I read it on this forum though but that would have been in 2010 when the first D4s hit the street and the knowledge base was limited and very new.....it's funny when you read back through some of the original threads . I remember trying it at the time with D4 number one (AUG 2009 build) but concurred with the other's observations when the car never seemed to reach 6th on the few occasions I tried it.

Opps Sorry for the mis-information folks.

[BobD]

My 2009 build 2010 model has no trouble going into sixth gear when towing in sports mode. I always use it now and it has the added advantage that the gear box changes down as quickly as possible to add extra engine braking when you slow down using the brakes. That alone is worth using sports mode for!

[Tombie]

Short answer Ken,

Flick it in S, and use the Paddles to preempt a hill to make the vehicles life easier.

Makes it much nicer.