Thread: Tdi's and towbar downward pressure rating

If that is the case i have driven my 300 Tdi 90 ilegally all the 35,000 k's around Australia while towing the trailer
Oh well

Hi
Some of the D1 tow bars (I think ones that came from ARB ) are plated at only 120kgs. Vehicle itself was rated at 150kg.

TD5 was lifted to 250kg
HOWEVER – there is fine print if you don’t have Self Leveling Air Suspension (SLS):- it’s something along the lines of as weight in the back of the car goes up, tow bar weight goes down. (empty car = 250kg tow bar weight). Has to do with the longer overhang behind the rear axle and that SLS pressurizes to carry the extra weight.

In saying that – I towed a large boat (2700kg) with over 250kg ball weight for eight years with my old D1 and never had a problem, they are very solid under the rear - ironically more substantial than the D2.

Land rovers were and are designed for towing . They have the 3500kg towing which more than almost any other car in its field
So would surpirse the hell out of me if they had a low tow ball weight.
don't know Aus laws . but in the Uk the defender and disco and range is the only car allowed to tow up to 4,000 kg

Mate you are correct.
The total mass of towed trailer is 4000kg for pre ABS equipped Disco1s and Defenders (3500 with ABS).
However under Australian National regulations the manufacturer must also provide a ‘Vertical Ball Weight’. It states that both the vehicle and tow bar manufacturers must specify the ball weight and the vehicle is limited to which ever is the lowest.
Now I have never owned a defender nor have I checked the specs on one - but a 1995 Discovery series 1 does have this problem. (150kg down weight.)

Most people don’t know about it - others like myself chose to ignore it because the vehicle towed so well. Not sure if the Insurance Company would in the case of a good prang.

Originally Posted by harlie

Mate you are correct.
The total mass of towed trailer is 4000kg for pre ABS equipped Disco1s and Defenders (3500 with ABS).
However under Australian National regulations the manufacturer must also provide a ‘Vertical Ball Weight’. It states that both the vehicle and tow bar manufacturers must specify the ball weight and the vehicle is limited to which ever is the lowest.
Now I have never owned a defender nor have I checked the specs on one - but a 1995 Discovery series 1 does have this problem.

Most people don’t know about it - others like myself chose to ignore it because the vehicle towed so well. Not sure if the Insurance Company would in the case of a good prang.

Cheers
All a bit new to me, in the uk it is just how much it can tow. Never ever thought about the ball weight

yep is a well known problem, one of my clients is a national caravan repairer and he is always having a go at me about it.... cheeky sod that he is...

My towbar on a 1998 Cab Chassis defender has a plate that says "Static ball load 150kg", "Towing weight 4000kg with brakes".
The owner's manual says " Unbraked trailers - 750kg, Trailers with overrun brakes - 3500kg, 4wheel trailersith coupled brakes -4000kg, Nose weight - 75kg."
Surely "Nose weight" is not the same as "static ball load". So what does it mean?

Got no idea what my NAS Spec rear step tow bar is . It has nothing on it , at all