Thread: Towing

I have a TD5 auto 7 seat with the air suspension which I use to tow a Jayco Swan which is obviously not as large. I haven't noticed any tendency to sway at normal speeds or in reasonable side winds.

What I do like is that the suspension has an automatic load height adjustment.

Simon

Hi Batman,

I do know someone who has towed a very large trailer with their TD5 and used a load leveller, but somehow, I believe (and this is purely a personal opinion) that load levellers can be used with the rear coil sprung DII but not with the SLS equipped DII.

The spring rate properties of an airbag is completely different to a coil spring, and that is why even the shock absorber rates need to be different for the SLS in order to avoid topping out.

Do you know what the ball weight of the caravan that you are towing is?

The DII has a 250 kg ball weight limit on it.

Cheers,

Lawrance

Originally Posted by tempestv8

Hi Batman,

I do know someone who has towed a very large trailer with their TD5 and used a load leveller, but somehow, I believe (and this is purely a personal opinion) that load levellers can be used with the rear coil sprung DII but not with the SLS equipped DII.

SNIP

Do you know what the ball weight of the caravan that you are towing is?

The DII has a 250 kg ball weight limit on it.

Cheers,

Lawrance

Lawrance is quite right, load-levellers OK (Good) with rear coils, & a "No No" with SLS.

Just think, with the towbar load imposed by the towed vehicle, the suspension tends to sag. SLS compensates for this by "pumping up" the rear air bags, thereby stiffening the suspension.

If you get "trailer" sway, there is something else wrong, such as trailer tyre pressures, or you are travelling too fast for the conditions.

One of the significant benefits of weight-distribution hitches on rear-coiled vehicles is to redistribute the load to the front wheels of the towing vehicle, thereby giving you back your steering control. With SLS, this is done automatically.

Originally Posted by Bushwanderer

Lawrance is quite right, load-levellers OK (Good) with rear coils, & a "No No" with SLS.

Just think, with the towbar load imposed by the towed vehicle, the suspension tends to sag. SLS compensates for this by "pumping up" the rear air bags, thereby stiffening the suspension.

If you get "trailer" sway, there is something else wrong, such as trailer tyre pressures, or you are travelling too fast for the conditions.

One of the significant benefits of weight-distribution hitches on rear-coiled vehicles is to redistribute the load to the front wheels of the towing vehicle, thereby giving you back your steering control. With SLS, this is done automatically.

I don't know the do's and don'ts & the finer points, but that last paragraph's not quite right.
AFAIK a load leveler is moving the load centre so to speak, using the rear axle as a fulcrum, and actively transfering weight to the front axle (and lightening the ball weight).
Whereas SLS is merely automatically firming the rear suspension, nothing more. Very different.

Can anyone tell me how the series 2 auto td5 with air suspension goes towing

No problem whatsoever for towing a big van. I personally tow a 21.5 off road van with a dry weight of 1,900 kg. Loaded, up about 2,500 kg at least.

Landrover say not to use a load levelling device such as Hayman Reece. The fact is that the tow bar itself is supposed not to be able to take the downwards force exerted on it by these devices.

I have a MY2003 model and the towbar is bolted to the frame. I, being a try it and see for myself type ,use a 750kg hayman reece unit and have towed the van about 15,000 klms with it absolutely trouble free. No cracks, towbar has not fallen off, etc. If you are worried fit a hayman reece towbar instead of the landrover one and hayman reece and landrover are both happy then.

I definitely need heavier duty shocks than the standard ones on the Disco for this type of towing as the van can throw the back around a bit. You need the longer neck drawbar for the hayman reece unit because of the landrover bumper.

I am getting the heavier shocks after christmas. I think then all will tow just perfect.

Also I tow the van at 100klms per hour in Drive on the open road where possible. I have done 84,000klms in the disco and 30,000 of that with my previous 19.5 foot van or this new one on the back. All is good.

See some of my posts about the TR Chip job, removing EGR Valve, fitting vortex exhaust and cranking up the boost a bit. You will have one capable tow horse.

BradM

Originally Posted by 100I

I don't know the do's and don'ts & the finer points, but that last paragraph's not quite right.
AFAIK a load leveler is moving the load centre so to speak, using the rear axle as a fulcrum, and actively transfering weight to the front axle (and lightening the ball weight).
Whereas SLS is merely automatically firming the rear suspension, nothing more. Very different.

nope.. a load leveler is put in place to act as a canterlever under the tow ball removing some of the downforce on the ball and transfering it as torque onto the tow hitch and the front of the trailer (of course the amount varies with type and setup of the leveller)

providing that the downforce on the ball is not exceeded they are not required with airbag suspension and without them they should be used and adjusted untill the tow vehicle is in its normal "heights"

Thanks for that. All sounds good, and I won't be touching the load levellers. I have a set of the new RAW Nitromax shocks here now to fit (must be the biggest i have ever seen too) so that should ensure it rides right. Pick up the van tomorrow afternoon, so will give it a quick run to see how she handles. The chip is next on my list.
Batman

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

nope.. a load leveler is put in place to act as a canterlever under the tow ball removing some of the downforce on the ball and transfering it as torque onto the tow hitch and the front of the trailer (of course the amount varies with type and setup of the leveller)

providing that the downforce on the ball is not exceeded they are not required with airbag suspension and without them they should be used and adjusted untill the tow vehicle is in its normal "heights"

100I is right.
Self levelling suspension corrects the height, but doesn't change the load distribution.
But a load levelling hitch as it is levelling jacks the tongue weight from the rear axle to the front axle and trailer axle. Changing the axle weights as it does so.