Thread: Towing

Originally Posted by 4X4V8

Aside from towbar strength issues, I have heard that the air suspension in Disco 3 works the compressor overtime when load levellers are being used. as it tries to compensate fr the weights. True or not?

I haven't heard that but I have seen a bulletin from LR stating that load levelling hitches must not be used with air suspended Disco 3s.

Origionally posed by Batman
Ok
I have now done my trip away tried with and without the sway bars, and the thing was down right scary without them. The van WAS loaded correctly and actually doens't have anywhere near the maximum tow ball weight and its a tandam axle. ALthough it towed without them, being a 2000kg semi offroad 18 foot van, the wind did tend to move it around. Even with the bars the rear end wanted to squirm, which I now think may even be the new BFG tyres, as I have noticed now that it does tend to move around even without the van. I tried the van on a different vehicle just to check, and it towed perfectly to 120km/hr. I am going to borrow another set of tyres and try with and without to see if it makes a difference. As for towing power, it is a gutless slug as soon as you hit a slight incline. Knockling the auto back to 3rd beforehand helped a little, but it really needs the chip etc.
Batman

It is terrifying without them towing my 21.5 ft, 2,500 kg loaded off road van.

What was the other vehicle you tried it on out of interest and what size are your tyres? I have 255/65 16 Yokohama's G012 stretched on the origional 7" rims and they are OK.

Tombraider can fix your power problems by ECU remap, along with you removing the EGR valve and fitting a Vortex muffler in place of the origional muffler. For much less than a $1,000 you can have 30-40% more power with the same fuel economy. This gives me plenty of "Go" to tow mine.

I still get a squirm in the back from left to right or vice versa in the back end as the van still has the leverage to move it around. I feel after talking to a very knowledgable Land rover mechanic, Jinc that a set of Koni shocks
8240-1178SPX Front
8240-1179SPX Rear
will go a long way to curing the problem.

I will be fitting a set before my next R&R in March when I am heading down to Shark Bay for a week of fishing..cyclones permitting.

BradM