Thread: TD5 5th gear for towing

Originally Posted by loopy111

I have a 2000 series 2 TD5 5 speed manual.
I have heard many opinions about the strength of the 5th gear.
Can anyone help as to the towing a caravan and using 5th gear. Does the gear box in my vehicle have a strong 5th gear or is it like the early Range Rovers that have a weak 5th gear and therefore cannot use when towing.

No 5th gear in the DII is good, never heard of any failures yet, mines towed a heavy trailer it's whole life, from the previous owner towing a caravan to me towing a camper trailer, with 150,000Ks on the clock and still as good as ever.

The best way to look after 5th gear is don't labour it, change down to 4th when she starts to slow going up hills and don't drive in 5th if your under 80KPH when towing.

Baz.

We replaced an R380 in a TD5 Defender last year that had stripped 5th gear completely. Very messy inside... Suspected towing in 5th, I saw the trailer... tandem axle box trailer with a canvas covered frame. Probably not too heavy, but a lot of windage (even more than the Deefer!!).

I tow a large trailer, about 1000kg with a flat front and use 5th all the time and never had a problem, and mine is a 98 Tdi, later ones are meant to be stronger.

Jeff

Just be selective using it, as said do not let it labour. Also all depends on the weight being towed.

no problems using it and ive had up to 4t on the back and normally 1500kg worth in a trailer with about the same areodynamics as big red (which is to say none), No sign of any shavings in the gearbox yet and shes coming up to 100k km service.

The problem comes if you let it labour the drive pulsations from the engine firing will qiuckly eat an overdriven gear set. keep the engine on the boil and Id advise (assuming td5) not holding 5th on climbs or if your at below 90kph real.