towing with a td4

[bill2]

eveing all, i 'am looking at replaceing my 96 discovery with a td4 later this year ,can any one tell me what they like to tow with please ? the caravan weight is 1269kgs/24.93 ct when fully load'd .

[chrisstevenson]

Dont do it! Stick to a Disco, no IRD and no crappy viscous coupling.

[s.stirley]

Depends what you want to do .. ours lugged a 1300Kg caravan with ease, and returned 37-40mpg regularly. That was an early L series too, the later Td4 should be better.

[HeritageBoy]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'll soon have to move a horse and a pony from SW Herts to Glos - will my TD4 cope with pulling a double horse-trailer that far?

[bill2]

hi , if i buy a td4 it will be use'd mainly for towing my caravan and the odd school run etc i was wondering if there was any proplem's with them towing ie suspension or over heating when towing uphill on motorway's and i'am planing to take it to norway up to the arctic circle :D

[TEMPL4R]

When you consider a lot of cars with smaller engines tow Caravans, a TD4 should have no problem.

I believe they are regarded as good 'Van towers in the Caravan world.

Just drive it sensibly, the 4WD will be an advantage on a wet site. I believe it is speed that damages them, not reasonable driving. ( My opinion only)

Chris

[bill2]

thanks for the reply ,i never tow much over 55 m.p.h any way even when i had a 2.8 s/ corsworth many year's back love'd that car to bits :D i only sold it due to lack of seat's for the kid's and it's now got to the stage were i don't need the extra seat's as the older 2 don't come away on holiday with us so a td4 look's like it's the one to replace my 96 300 tdi with later this year

[s.stirley]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'll soon have to move a horse and a pony from SW Herts to Glos - will my TD4 cope with pulling a double horse-trailer that far?

Easy .. but be aware you might be over the vehicles 2000Kg limit ? which is illegal ..

[Newsreader]

Easy .. but be aware you might be over the vehicles 2000Kg limit ? which is illegal ..
Yep be careful but you probably won't be over the limit - average horse 500kg or so? Pony maybe 300-400kg? Even if the horsebox is a tonne you will still be ok :rolleyes:

[NewBloke]

IIRC 85% of the towing vehicles weight is recommended as a "limit"? Maybe a sensible limit rather than a legal limit..

[Newsreader]

The only legal limit is the manufacturer's stated maximum for the vehicle. From Simon's post I'm assuming that's 2000kg for a Freelander.

I've never managed to get my head round this 85% business:

the 85% figure recommended for caravans by the Caravan Club. This suggests that you should not tow a caravan that weighs more than 85% of the towing vehicle's kerb weight. (as long as 85% does not exceed the vehicle manufacturer's recommended towing limit. (The kerb weight is defined as the weight of the vehicle plus a full tank of petrol and 75kg (for the driver and luggage).)
See what I mean? Far easier and safer to go by the manufacturer's maximum, and be sure of staying within the law.

[NewBloke]

I see what you mean, but I reckon that 85% will be less than the manufacurers limit.

Very confusing though. My 110 when full holds over 100kg of fuel and I weigh 85kg but I'm allowed to tow 3 1/2 tonnes or is it tons?

85% of the all up weight (even given my girth) would be much easier to pull.

[Lacy]

Isn't the 85% rule more to do with ensuring you remain well within safe handling limits rather than reaching a situation where a too heavy trailer/van relative to the towing vehicle becomes difficult to handle........

[Newsreader]

My 110 when full holds over 100kg of fuel and I weigh 85kg but I'm allowed to tow 3 1/2 tonnes or is it tons?
That's because it's a Land Rover not a Ford Mondano :D And that's why the 85% 'guideline' is IMO a bit of a joke as it doesn't take into account that some vehicles are far better suited to towing than others. Land Rovers have a huge towing capacity comapred to most other vehicles.

That's why I think it's best to ignore the 85% rule, as it is confusing, and just stick to what the manufacturer says for the specific vehicle.

It's metric tonnes as opposed to imperial tons (though they are almost the same I think :rolleyes: )

[Newsreader]

Isn't the 85% rule more to do with ensuring you remain well within safe handling limits rather than reaching a situation where a too heavy trailer/van relative to the towing vehicle becomes difficult to handle........
Yes I think so, though doesn't that conflict with the fact that a 2T Landy can safely and legally pull a 3.5T trailer :rolleyes:

[Desert Warrior]

Just drive it sensibly, the 4WD will be an advantage on a wet site. I believe it is speed that damages them, not reasonable driving. ( My opinion only)

Chris

I agree entirely Chris which is why my Hippo only goes to 70 to overtake. I intent to keep mine for a good few years and so decided to drive it a little under the spped limit and not thrash it.