98 Disco 1 realistic towing numbers

Wheats

Active member
Nov 20, 2020
27
2
Spokane
What would be realistic towing numbers for a 98 discovery 1? Obvisoulsly these vehicles aren’t in new condition and I would never want to push it to the limits. Brakes are kind of sketchy without a trailer. With and without trailer brakes, what would you be comfortable with on the hitch? Thanks!
 

LRDONE

Well-known member
Dec 3, 2020
336
116
Michigan
I get so nervous pulling stuff with my D1 that I put a hitch on my A4 and laugh at how well it does. But yeah I probably would stay under 2k.
 

MM3846

Well-known member
Feb 18, 2014
1,221
161
LI, NY
In a stock D1 I wouldn't pull more than about 2000lbs un-braked and 4000lb braked. When the inevitable photo of the D1 pulling a boat twice its size appears in this thread, laugh, but don't emulate.

that'll be me

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it was literally a mile down the road from the ramp back to my in-laws house. but yea, if you're actually going somewhere 4500lb with a brake controller is about where I'd say the limit is. My old Chris Craft was something like 2500 wet on the trailer and I was comfortable with that. It looks huge in this pic but it was a 19 footer.

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Last edited:
Aug 20, 2007
2,727
45
Nashville TN
Have a question about D2 towing as well:

who here has towed a disco with a disco? I found a pets trucks with low oil pressure about 10 miles away. I wanted to tow it with a dolly on back roads (45mph max) back to my house. Think it’s doable safely? I was planning to relive the rest driveshaft

I have an 03 with new 2” Rte suspension and 32” tires. Cooling system is up to date and running fine. Part vehicle is a stock 03 with low or no oil pressure
 
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Wheats

Active member
Nov 20, 2020
27
2
Spokane
Thanks for the replies! I was thinking 16-19' boat but may rethink the Disco as a tow vehicle.
 

SMLE

Well-known member
Aug 21, 2014
107
2
GA
Have a question about D2 towing as well:

who here has towed a disco with a disco? I found a pets trucks with low oil pressure about 10 miles away. I wanted to tow it with a dolly on back roads (45mph max) back to my house. Think it’s doable safely? I was planning to relive the rest driveshaft

I have an 03 with new 2” Rte suspension and 32” tires. Cooling system is up to date and running fine. Part vehicle is a stock 03 with low or no oil pressure
My D2 pulling a D1 a few years ago. Have pulled several D2's with the same setup. The pulling Rover handled it just fine. Longest trip was about two hours.

Will say that it probably shortened the life of the transmission flex plate... It shattered one day while driving down the road pulling nothing. Regarding the shattered flex plate, I'd say I pulled a Rover using the pictured trailer about six or seven times, plus pulled a fully loaded 6x12 enclosed trailer more times than I can count.
 

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KorytheLorry

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2020
51
12
Maryland
I tow my 17' Whaler all the time. That boat + trailer is only about 1500 lbs. I hardly notice it's there.
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I've also towed my Series trucks pretty long distances (600+ miles). I struggled to keep up with traffic going through the Appalachians, but the handling was fine and braking-wise, it felt okay. I was definitely glad to have a 5-speed on long descents.
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simondewing

Well-known member
Feb 10, 2020
59
11
Texas
7,700 lbs according to L/R with coupled brakes, but I have done a couple of long distance tows with that or maybe more and no ill effects.
Depends on having adequate brakes on the trailer and not doing anything stupid.
Towed other disco's locally, a series one 107 station wagon from Pennsylvania to Houston and a 25 ft cargo trailer packed full of furniture from Boston down to Houston. Also my wife / daughter regularly tow a double horse box with large horses in and around Texas with one of the D2's.
The vehicle will manage it no problem provided its been well maintained.

Get a decent brake controller, make sure trailer brakes are working and bearings are good and you will not have a problem.

Simon