Weight distribution hitch

From a legal perspective, the reduction in actual towball weight generated by a WDH can not be taken into account when determining whether weights are within limits.

Just for the record, the D2 tow ball weight is 250 kg, which easily copes with a 2.5 tonne van. The D1 is indeed limited by its low tow ball weight limit.

WDHs can be outstandingly successful in stabilising a combined rig, despite Land Rover stating that they should not be used on a D2. I can accept that that advice might be meant only to apply to SLS equipped vehicles, but I know of some with SLS who also use WDH successfully. My vehicle has coils and Poly Air springs, and doesn't need a WDH for load carrying, but it does improve handling and braking.

From my own experience, the need for the centre of gravity to be well forward of the wheels is self evident and well proven. Better minds than mine have determined that towball weights should be from 5 to 10 per cent of the towed weight in order to get the CG where it needs to be. My experience with a 2.5 tonne van supports that view.

Here are the towing facts for Australian delivered D2's:

The manual clearly states - No equalising or other form of weight distribution tow bar should be used on the vehicle.

Maximum trailer weight is 3500 kg with ball weight 250 kg - this applies to a vehicle with coil springs with four passengers only. If fitted with air bags, passengers and some luggage can be accommodated.

When vehicle is loaded to GVW, trailer weight is limited to 2000 kg with ball weight limited to 150 kg.

In my case, the polyairs allow for some luggage and proper leveling of the vehicle with the 190 kg vertical load on the tow ball.

I still think if you lift weight off rear air bags they will drop
air pressure,even worse with full air susp as D3 as the frount will
add air as the weight is throwen foward and will be unstable
and dangerous.

Andrew

'93tdi200
'65 88"s2a

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AKW

I still think if you lift weight off rear air bags they will drop
air pressure,even worse with full air susp as D3 as the frount will
add air as the weight is thrown foward and will be unstable
and dangerous.

Andrew

'93tdi200
'65 88"s2a

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I still can't see how it would matter if you use weight dist. hitch. Surely whether air or coils by shifting some weight to front of vehicle has to be better than all the weight on the rear. And as I said earlier the air bag would adjust accordingly.

Dave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

I still can't see how it would matter if you use weight dist. hitch. Surely whether air or coils by shifting some weight to front of vehicle has to be better than all the weight on the rear. And as I said earlier the air bag would adjust accordingly.

Dave.

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Because the SLS/ACE model D2 and the airbag D3s suspension height is controlled by the ECU, once the ECU detects a difference in height it adjusts accordingly, this means the ECU and WDH will be continually adjusting.

Especially with the D3.

I can't see a problem with a coiled D3 OR D2 having a WDH.

This is my opinion on all this.

The tow vehicle is the key, if you set it up properly with the right suspension FOR TOWING and also if the van your towing has good suspension, tyres with the correct pressures and good load spread, you shouldn't need these tow aids.

Also a WDH will NOT stop swaying, these devices only make things level:D

If the tow vehicle and van have a crap setup the WDH will not stop the swaying.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Redback

The tow vehicle is the key, if you set it up properly with the right suspension FOR TOWING and also if the van your towing has good suspension, tyres with the correct pressures and good load spread, you shouldn't need these tow aids.

Also a WDH will NOT stop swaying, these devices only make things level:D

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Spot on Peter. You cannot beat a tandem axle caravan/poptop towed behind a properly equipped vehicle.

When we towed our van on the D2a i didnt use the WDH, ah i did try it once and the car didnt feal rite, it fealt like i could have lost it so i didnt use it again and we towed nearly 35000ks with out it but now we have coils in the rear i use the WDH and the car feals the best it ever did when towing. I had it explained to me a while ago by someone at LR when there was a lot of heated dicussion between a few people (one caravan mag) and a couple of us readers RE the safety of using a WDH on a SLS LR, LR told me direct not to use it as the vehicle and the towbar had not been tested with a WDH and as the car had SLS the WDH was not needed, the caravan mag fix it guy was then telling us that if we didnt use the WDH and had an accident (that would definatly happen without a WDH) and our insurance company would not cover us, i also checked with the insurance company and they told me that if i used a WDH on a car that the manufacturer stated it was not to be used i would have difficulty in making a claim. On part of LRA that person no longer works for that caravan mag. We have firends that tow with the D3, 1 with air suspension and 1 with coils, the one with air tows a 2.7 cross country van without a WDH on the air, they are retired and just travell all the time (lucky sodes) the other with coils and they use a WDH and travels just as good as the air, the only change they made to the coil one was when they purchased the car LR had the HR tow bar fitted for them so they could use the WDH.

Now on ours LR told us that if we used the WDH with the SLS the WDH would lift the rear of the car (if set correctly) to its standard ride hight or higher than and would not charge the system with air thus could make the car unstable in certain circumstances.

Yes iam sure someone will find some fault with what i have posted and if you do take it up with LR NOT ME i went through enough **** over this in the original circumstance. :mad:

I aggree, i never said a WDH would stop swaying.
But with air bags if you lift weight from the rear,
move it to the frount via a WDH,
the rear bags will lower and the frount will raise in
pressure because the ECU will do what it needs to do
to keep it level.
The total weight is still there, it has to be unstable..

Overlander had a tow comp 4or5years ago said the d3
handled like a pos untill the WDH was removed then all was fine.

The orignal poster whs springs under his D2 anyway
so if he loads the van right there should be no problem.

leave the WDH to toyo drivers that can not load right.

Andrew

'93 200tdi disco
'65 88" s2a

LR’s stance on not using WDH with air sus has been explained here many times before.

The recommendations only came out after the D2 was released – note not an issue with the P38a… The problem occurs when the load bars are fitted to lift the rear, the ECU detects this and reduces air pressure to regain the set height. Nothing bad so far – there’s more to these systems than "sitting level" …

What can happen is the bars can be adjusted in a manner that lifts too much weight off the rear and the rear suspension pressures drop significantly putting far greater torsion through the towbar assembly than it can handle (and vehicle can become unstable with a soft air spring). This is not likely with coils as the user will notice the car sitting high in the rear and adjust before setting off – but with air the user has no idea how much force is being applied through the frame, the ECU continually adjusts to mask it. Note the factory tow bar assembly is the weak link - This is why the P38a didn’t have the warnings. There are several cases in AUS where the factory casting on the D3 (one I know of was coiled) has completely snapped off. Compare the difference HR tow kit and the factory D2 frame – it’s huge….

LR recommend not to use WDH – it’s bad… They are never going to admit that LR has fitted pathetic tow frames to their vehicles… VW, Merc and Toyota have no issues with WDH being used with their air suspension equipped vehicles because that don’t have some stupid system between the tow bar and vehicle chassis.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Redback

The tow vehicle is the key, if you set it up properly with the right suspension FOR TOWING and also if the van your towing has good suspension, tyres with the correct pressures and good load spread, you shouldn't need these tow aids.

Also a WDH will NOT stop swaying, these devices only make things level:D

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Your right - a well set up rig sould never NEED a tow aid. I don’t agree at all with that second point. It’s not a just case of making it level – my air suspension does that. It transfers weight to the front axle of the car - giving back its designed spring/shock rates, it creates a torsion bond between the car and trailer chassis which dramatically changes the rig behaviour especially on poor surfaces.

There is a process to initially set up WDH with air equipped vehicles. I have used WDH with air suspension LRs for over 12 years now and won’t drag our 3.2t boat at highway speeds without it (notified and approved by my insurance co when LR kicked up originally). It’s true that I don’t NEED a WDH but the rig handles and rides significantly better with it- providing it is not over adjusted. I can add that WDH does not add as much improvement to an air sus vehicle as it does to a coil car but it still adds a hell of a lot. It is easy to see from the replys in this thread who has tried/tested a properly adjusted WDH and who hasn’t….

And for the record my trailer has load sharing sus, shock absorbers fitted to all four wheels, runs 60psi in tyres and a ball weight of 280kg. Boat trailers are fully adjustable and we’ve tested many different ball weights. A ball weight of 20kg was just dangerous – 3.2t seesaw just picks the rear of the car up and pushes it around like a rag doll - a seesaw that is not balanced behaves more predicably.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AKW

I aggree, i never said a WDH would stop swaying.
But with air bags if you lift weight from the rear,
move it to the frount via a WDH,
the rear bags will lower and the frount will raise in
pressure because the ECU will do what it needs to do
to keep it level.
The total weight is still there, it has to be unstable..

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true - IF the bars are adjusted too high