Towing a Travel Trailer with my Disco II

[P.Ford]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']This is for those of you that are thinking about pulling a Travel Trailer with your Discovery II[/font][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'].[/font]​

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']
I've seen that some of you have asked about pulling a Travel Trailer with your Disco and how or what one should use to do it. I've done all the research and found that there isn't much out there about what one needs to do in order to pull a Travel Trailer with a Discovery II, and wanted to pass what I have done with my Disco to pull a Travel Trailer.

My Disco is a 2002 with about 81,000 miles and my Travel Trailer is a 19 foot Fleetwood Terry that has a "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating" of 5200 lbs. That is, as I understand, the weight of the Trailer 'loaded'; that's with water tank full and all 'gear' aboard. Mine is around 3800 lbs when I'm pulling it.

Because I don't have the rear self leveling system I'm using the 'equalizer' bars and a anti-sway bar to keep the Trailer under control. I'm also using the electric brakes on the trailer, with a brake controler, to help stop. My Disco has the factory wiring and I added the wires for the electric brakes and battery power for the 12 volt system to the Trailer.

I just got back from a 1100 mille trip to the Gulf Coast and back, other than using about two tanks of gas more than driving without the Trailer, there were no real problems..........one note though........during a very bad rain storm with the wind blowing straight at me I couldn't get over 50 miles per hour without having the gas pedal down on the floor. Other than that I could go about 70 MPH at 2500 RPM if I wanted to without any problems.

If any of you are thinking about using your Disco to pull a Travel Trailer and have any questions please give me an email at lastcar1@yahoo.com and I'll be more that happy to share with you what I have. I can't seem to post any pictures so If you would like to see what my Disco looks like with the Trailer attached, send me an email and I'll send them using that.

C'ya,
[/font]

 

[ptschram]

Patrick:

If you want an answer, try using a type color that is readable.

 

[mbrummal]

Patrick:

If you want an answer, try using a type color that is readable.

X1000

Black on dark gray is not a good combination

 

[P.Ford]

WOW...didn't mean to break any rules about what color to type in......Just wanted to let you folks know that I have a good set-up for pulling my Travel Trailer with my Disco II and that I'm happy to share what I've learned with those that might want to do the same.

Sorry,

 

[pdogg]

WOW...didn't mean to break any rules about what color to type in......Just wanted to let you folks know that I have a good set-up for pulling my Travel Trailer with my Disco II and that I'm happy to share what I've learned with those that might want to do the same.

Sorry,

Well the basic rule is, if we can't read it, we can't comment on it..

 

[I HATE PONIES]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']This is for those of you that are thinking about pulling a Travel Trailer with your Discovery II[/font][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'].[/font]​

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']
I've seen that some of you have asked about pulling a Travel Trailer with your Disco and how or what one should use to do it. I've done all the research and found that there isn't much out there about what one needs to do in order to pull a Travel Trailer with a Discovery II, and wanted to pass what I have done with my Disco to pull a Travel Trailer.

My Disco is a 2002 with about 81,000 miles and my Travel Trailer is a 19 foot Fleetwood Terry that has a "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating" of 5200 lbs. That is, as I understand, the weight of the Trailer 'loaded'; that's with water tank full and all 'gear' aboard. Mine is around 3800 lbs when I'm pulling it.

Because I don't have the rear self leveling system I'm using the 'equalizer' bars and a anti-sway bar to keep the Trailer under control. I'm also using the electric brakes on the trailer, with a brake controler, to help stop. My Disco has the factory wiring and I added the wires for the electric brakes and battery power for the 12 volt system to the Trailer.

I just got back from a 1100 mille trip to the Gulf Coast and back, other than using about two tanks of gas more than driving without the Trailer, there were no real problems..........one note though........during a very bad rain storm with the wind blowing straight at me I couldn't get over 50 miles per hour without having the gas pedal down on the floor. Other than that I could go about 70 MPH at 2500 RPM if I wanted to without any problems.

If any of you are thinking about using your Disco to pull a Travel Trailer and have any questions please give me an email at lastcar1@yahoo.com and I'll be more that happy to share with you what I have. I can't seem to post any pictures so If you would like to see what my Disco looks like with the Trailer attached, send me an email and I'll send them using that.
Fixed!
C'ya,
[/font]

 

[mbrummal]

Just so you know, Land Rover says: An equalizing or other form of weight distributing hitch should NOT be used with your vehicle.

Just saying.

 

[canuck]

Hey Brother, have a 2001 Dico 11 and also tow a 19 ft fun finder(GVR of trailer around 3600lbs -loaded) i had a class 4 hitch installed(custom with a tow rating of 5500lbs) although manual says 7500 lbs towing cap i beleive that is from dead start in low gear) Unfortunately couldn't find a hitch rated higher for me than that so also using a equalizer bar. Haven't needed a a sway bar and just towed the trailer out to Victoria BC from Calgary over rockies with no prob. Gas an issues but again because of small 4.0 litre v8 not the lager V8 i wished i had.

Had to get a power booster for the trailer lights in the rover as light hookup was only running the brake lights with the controller and the signal lights weren't getting enough juice.

It towed great with no issues other than gas( could pass anything but a gas station) Enjoy camping as we will ..canuck ps. i also read the piece that landrover discourages use of equalizers or sway bars but assumed that was for vehicles with the lowering option..canuck

 

[Durt D1ver]

Just so you know, Land Rover says: An equalizing or other form of weight distributing hitch should NOT be used with your vehicle.

Just saying.

It's fine for NON-sls vehicles. LR put that in there because weight distribution can mess with the sls system.

 

[mbrummal]

It's fine for NON-sls vehicles. LR put that in there because weight distribution can mess with the sls system.

Hmm. The owner's manual has no mention of the rear suspension type where it says that.

 

[P.Ford]

Hey Brother, have a 2001 Dico 11 and also tow a 19 ft fun finder(GVR of trailer around 3600lbs -loaded) i had a class 4 hitch installed(custom with a tow rating of 5500lbs) although manual says 7500 lbs towing cap i beleive that is from dead start in low gear) Unfortunately couldn't find a hitch rated higher for me than that so also using a equalizer bar. Haven't needed a a sway bar and just towed the trailer out to Victoria BC from Calgary over rockies with no prob. Gas an issues but again because of small 4.0 litre v8 not the lager V8 i wished i had.

Had to get a power booster for the trailer lights in the rover as light hookup was only running the brake lights with the controller and the signal lights weren't getting enough juice.

It towed great with no issues other than gas( could pass anything but a gas station) Enjoy camping as we will ..canuck ps. i also read the piece that landrover discourages use of equalizers or sway bars but assumed that was for vehicles with the lowering option..canuck

canuck,

Thanks for the 'kind' reply.
I think that my TT is a little heaver than yours, but I'm using the OEM receiver and a hitch that works with the equalizer and sway bar, and it is doing okay. On the Interstate at about 65 MPH my Disco and TT drive straight as an arrow with this set-up.
I also beleive that the reason for Land Rover putting the 'do not use equalizer' in the manual is because of the rear seat option with raise/lower system and some with ACE; my Disco II doesn't have either, so that is why I'm using it. Although I've only made one trip it was about 1100 miles (about a 100 in some very heavy rain storm) and everything 'felt' great.
I joined the RV-NET forum to see what is going on in the TT world.
Thanks again for the reply,

 

[pdogg]

I believe you are at the maximum length and weight that I would tow with a DII... the wheel base on these are not adequate to tow anything much larger than that.

I wouldn't want to get caught in a huge windstorm in your situation... my buddy learned his lesson trying to tow a 24' TT with his 4Runner.. nearly killed him, after he flipped the whole rig 3 times on the freeway..

 

[P.Ford]

I believe you are at the maximum length and weight that I would tow with a DII... the wheel base on these are not adequate to tow anything much larger than that.

I wouldn't want to get caught in a huge windstorm in your situation... my buddy learned his lesson trying to tow a 24' TT with his 4Runner.. nearly killed him, after he flipped the whole rig 3 times on the freeway..

pdogg, thanks for the warning, but I assure you that I'm a very careful driver (been driving for about 45 years now) and I DO know the limits of my Disco II.
If this works, here is a link of my DiscoII with TT attached:
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/ae356/our94ladybug/ForestandLadyBugby18WheeleratRestst.jpg

 

[canuck]

canuck,

Thanks for the 'kind' reply.
I think that my TT is a little heaver than yours, but I'm using the OEM receiver and a hitch that works with the equalizer and sway bar, and it is doing okay. On the Interstate at about 65 MPH my Disco and TT drive straight as an arrow with this set-up.
I also beleive that the reason for Land Rover putting the 'do not use equalizer' in the manual is because of the rear seat option with raise/lower system and some with ACE; my Disco II doesn't have either, so that is why I'm using it. Although I've only made one trip it was about 1100 miles (about a 100 in some very heavy rain storm) and everything 'felt' great.
I joined the RV-NET forum to see what is going on in the TT world.
Thanks again for the reply,

Hey Pford, great pic of your Disco towing your TT, you seem to also have same issue i had in that trailer seems a little low at rear and high at hitch. I resolved with different bar hook up when hitch installed.Didn't seem to fight the wind as much. I saw a trailer this summer with a bike attachement at rear of trailer and both truck and trailer all over the road.I opted for roof mounted bike rack for two bikes and put my other two in trailer.(prob solved). Your right my trailer lighter and a little more aerodynamic than yours. I think i will take your lead and join the RV-net forum for tips. I bought my Disco as my V6 forerunner really struggled pulling my trailer. No prob with sway but it dragged on any slight hills and the fuel consumption really bad. Noticed you are south of St.Louis. We have towed to friends in Kirkwood MO and really enjoyed trailering there. cheers..canuck

 

[ml4x4]

I was wondering about all of this. I almost bought an 18ft. Starcraft last year but hesitated due to lack of knowledge about how my truck would perform.
As far as the font on the first post, i just highlighted it as if I was going to "cut" and "paste" it, then read it.

Thanks.

 

[carlosz]

chucks, for that matter I just pulled a 29 foot coachman from ocean city, maryland to fredericksburg, virginia with my 95 long wheel base classic with a new 4.6 and new transmission. I did not have one iota of difficulty, I mantained a steady 65 mph all the way for 190 plus miles.
mind you I have been a commercial tractor trailer driver for about 15 yrs as well as a mechanic for nearly 25 yrs, so experience is definitively on my side....
at the farm, during the summer I pull a 16 ft flat bed trailer with 50 bales of hay with my 87 rangie on narrow wyndi country roads... slow and steady is the name of the game....

 

[carlosz]

yes the 87 is the truck on my avatar and yes that plow was attached to my front brush guard via winch, we sold it and we had to deliver it to laurel maryland and trailer was not avalable.... the plow was made of fiberglass and the steel frame rested against my brushguard frame so it was not too heavy althou it did have lots of wind resistance.