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Thread: Towing with Disco 4

  1. #1
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    Towing with Disco 4

    Hi All you LRovers out there
    We have a Disco 4 and it tows (3.5t) off-road van very poorly. Scary in fact. (Just a new (second hand). The previous owners say it was a dream to tow. I have been through weight distribution, wheel alignment and next on the list is tyre pressures. I see these things on the www. LED trailer module LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 4 / LR4 (L319) LED TOWING ADAPTOR MODULE

    1. we don’t have an issue with led lights but I am not sure the disco “recognises” the trailer.
    How can I tell?
    2. we donÂ’t seem to have an issue with the trailer brakes but now have some doubt with possible wireing connections. What is the consequence of incorrect wireing connection?
    3. Does anyone recommend a towing adaptor module?
    4. The van has dexter sway control. It can be felt working but will not correct the big movements caused by overtaking trucks etc. Should a Dexter eliminate ALL sway?

    thanks in advance
    ian

  2. #2
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    Towing with Disco 4

    After watching the recent Cadogan videos on towing and vehicle capabilities I’m now now nervous to share the road and very dubious of any non Ram or F-truck style vehicle attempting to tow 3.5t considering the total loaded combined weight, tow ball weight factors and any situation where the tow vehicle is lighter than the the towed object.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
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    Imbil Queensland
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    Towing with Disco 4

    Hi All you LRovers out there
    We have a Disco 4 and it tows (3.5t) off-road van very poorly. Scary in fact. (Just a new (second hand). The previous owners say it was a dream to tow. I have been through weight distribution, wheel alignment and next on the list is tyre pressures. I see these things on the www. LED trailer module LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 4 / LR4 (L319) LED TOWING ADAPTOR MODULE

    1. we don’t have an issue with led lights but I am not sure the disco “recognises” the trailer.
    How can I tell?
    2. we donÂ’t seem to have an issue with the trailer brakes but now have some doubt with possible wireing connections. What is the consequence of incorrect wireing connection?
    3. Does anyone recommend a towing adaptor module?
    4. The van has dexter sway control. It can be felt working but will not correct the big movements caused by overtaking trucks etc. Should a Dexter eliminate ALL sway?

    thanks in advance
    ian

  4. #4
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    The way to see if your car recognises the van attached is to put your left and/or right indicator on. On the taco binical you should see a green trailer flashing. If not the car is not recognising anything is attached. The car anti sway etc will still work but gear changes etc will be as if nothing is connected.

    Depending on what brake controller you have (I have a redarc) as you drive along push the control button and you should feel the van brakes being applied and pulling you up. Consequences of no van brakes is that you are relying on car to pull the total weight of van and car up. Not only lot more distance required to stop, but possible jack knifing and also illegal with anything more than 750kg attached to the car.

    I made my own adapter from the car round plug to a 12 pin flat plug. Also to operate antisway, and fridge I installed Traxide with Anderson plug. Thgen did a piggy back with red anderson plug for anti sway and grey plug for fridge. Can use the correct pin on the plug but it can get hot because of the amps the fridge draws on 12V.

    I have Al Ko anti sway. I have not felt it work except on extreme sways. Minor sway as you mention would probably not be enough to make it kick in. Not sure if any of them are adjustable.
    2016.5 TDV6 Graphite D4,Corris Grey,APT sliders,Goe air comp plate,UHF & HF radio,Airflow snorkel,Discrete Winch,Compo rims with 265/65/18 KO, LLAMs,Traxide dual battery with winch set up,EAS emergency kit,Mitch Hitch EGR blank & delete,ECU remap

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by PerthDisco View Post
    After watching the recent Cadogan videos on towing and vehicle capabilities I’m now now nervous to share the road and very dubious of any non Ram or F-truck style vehicle attempting to tow 3.5t considering the total loaded combined weight, tow ball weight factors and any situation where the tow vehicle is lighter than the the towed object.
    For my sins, I tow a high 3.5T van (see moniker pic) with my 2.7 D4, but am the first to admit some road surfaces keep me down to cruising at 80 kmph, and even on good roads I'm more comfortable long distance at 95. I'm an ex truck and bus driver from my considerably younger days with a HR licence for over 50 years, and farm driving before that. Don't consider myself an expert driver, but I do have a modicum of common sense and have never had a prang.

    On our NE AU trip from WA and return over a year ago, the Queensland roads were generally woeful, unlike WA/most NT versions, so had plenty of variances ( and slower driving).

    I've always been told D3/4 should never have any weight distribution hitching (its all built in), but anti sway control on the van is good for road trains and "variegated" road surfaces etc. I have it on mine and it gets used now and again. But yes it doesn't eliminate, just mitigate.

    The experts should tune in soon with their comments.
    MY16 D4 TDV6 - with a little Cambo magic for towing "The Brick"
    MY95 RRC LSE Vogue Softdash "Bessie" (turning circle comparable to QE II) with MY99 TD5 and 4HP24 transplants. Back home Nov 22 after a magic overhaul by Chivalry
    SADLY SOLD MY04 D2a TD5 auto Classic and MY10 D4 2.7 both with lots of goodies

  6. #6
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    Jan 1970
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    What do you have on the rear of the van? One spare wheel, or two plus jerry cans.
    What did you tow the van with previously, and how big was the van that the previous owners towed.
    All valid questions, but I agree. None of the vehicles with a 3.5 ton towing limit are really well suited to towing 3.5 ton!

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by ytt105 View Post
    What do you have on the rear of the van? One spare wheel, or two plus jerry cans.

    There is only one spare on the rear. BUT just inside is a full Redarc Battery management system with a 3000w inverter and 2 big batteries.
    And two diesel tanks probably 14litres total.

    the van weighs 2.5 tonne bare (at the factory). We are light campers so we generally weigh 3t in travel mode with 210kg on the hitch.

    What did you tow the van with previously,
    We have only just purchased this van so no previous vehicle and no van experience.

    and how big was the van that the previous owners towed.

    The van is 18.5 feet with everything that opens and shuts
    They towed with a Ranger and then a cruiser. They report no towing issues with either vehicle

    We only seem to have the following options

    1. Load positions
    2. Tow ball weight
    3. Tow ball height
    4. Tyre pressure
    5. Air bag pressure in van
    6. And if a resistor will help the disco computer change ride hts and gear changing (not just lights


    All valid questions, but I agree. None of the vehicles with a 3.5 ton towing limit are really well suited to towing 3.5 ton!
    I think the disco is here to stay. The van is expendable

    Thanks
    Ian

  8. #8
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    Personally, I'd up the towbar weight a bit myself.

  9. #9
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    Bittern Vic
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    It sounds like something is wrong with the balance of the van. More info on the van would help. Next time ..... i get the van out for a trip i am going to get a professional to come over and do a weight test of all axles etc just to ensure i am legal and cant be blamed for any overloading.

    A full weight test may highlight is the van is over weight at the rear and has poor weight distribution

    A D4 should to reasonably well with a reasonable sized van. But caravans have been getting very large of late and also some have very high centre of gravity which wont help.
    One freind nearly rolled his van and cruiser down a steep slope, after this he moved the generator from the back to in front of the axle and all was good there after.

    Ian
    Bittern

  10. #10
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    Ian, we have a D4 and Trakmaster Nullabor ; Total weight was 5800kg years ago ,and I never toss anything out ,so would be heavier now.

    NO weight distribution or anti sway equipment.

    And to use a stupid expression, “ don’t know the van is there “when on the road

    i concur with ytt , shift a bit of weight forward , perhaps have a bit more pressure in rear tyres of van , ours at 36 psi all round

    Now Ian , I don’t know if you believe in fairies, but if we haven’t travelled for a few months, the first half hour on the road can be a bit underwhelming. I think the D4 takes a while to realise it is in a heavy towing mode ,and also of course me.

    Then after the fairies and various systems are all synchronised ... “ don’t know it’s there”

    so get on a quiet road, and try a few things and hope you get sorted and enjoy

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