| Author | Message | ||
     Mike Dougherty (Mikedougherty) New Member Username: Mikedougherty Post Number: 9 Registered: 01-2003 |
Hey all, I think I'm getting closer to purchasing my Disco. However, I am running into one technical spcification that isn't making much sense to me. The towing capacity of a '96 is rated at 1650lbs, while the '97 is rated at 5500lbs. As I understand it the only difference between the two years is the type of fuel injection (multi-port vs. sequential). I wouldn't think the change in injection type is responsible for the difference in towing ability. Does anyone know if this stated difference is accutate? I am hoping there really isn't a difference and the places I have been doing my research just have thier information wrong. Including '96's in my search opens up the possibilities tremendously. Any information or thoughts regarding this are welcome. Thanks, Mike | ||
| Shaun Power (Shaunp) New Member Username: Shaunp Post Number: 31 Registered: 05-2003 |
In Australia the cars are rated at 3500kg if they have ABS brakes and 4000kg if they don't, the year don't matter . You must use a pintal hook if you want to pull 4000kg as balls are only rated to 3500kg | ||
| Alan Greening (Alan_g) New Member Username: Alan_g Post Number: 19 Registered: 04-2003 |
It's the same in the UK, 3500Kg (About 7700lb), and 4000Kg (8800lb) with air braked trailer. The 1650lb (750Kg) is the maximum reccomended off-road towing weight for a Discovery. As an aside, I've seen a Police Discovery tow a broken down 40 tonne tanker along the motorway. | ||
| dareDVL (Daredvl) Member Username: Daredvl Post Number: 45 Registered: 03-2003 |
I think you have a few things mixed up. There should be no towing load differences between '96 and '97. However, 1650lbs rings a bell if you are towing a trailer WITHOUT its own braking system. And of course, as already stated, it could be the offroad towing limit too ... both should be similar. | ||
| Chris Whybrew (Dcwhybrew) New Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 22 Registered: 05-2003 |
My 96's towing capacity is 5,500 in high range and 7,700 in low range. | ||
| Mike Dougherty (Mikedougherty) New Member Username: Mikedougherty Post Number: 10 Registered: 01-2003 |
Thanks for the info guys. I suppose the UK (ROW?) rating is going to be slightly higher than the U.S. models. Simply because we have such lame requirements. Does anyone on here use their Disco for towing? I'm hoping to be able to use it as a tow vehicle (~5000lb trailer) as well as off roading. Anything I should be looking for while doing my search? I'm pretty much limited to '96 or '97 since one of other requirements is a manual. Thanks again for the help, Mike | ||
| Mike Dougherty (Mikedougherty) New Member Username: Mikedougherty Post Number: 11 Registered: 01-2003 |
OK, cool, thanks Chris. That's pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Is that from the manual? Have you tried towing with yours, does it pull well? | ||
| Chris Whybrew (Dcwhybrew) New Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 24 Registered: 05-2003 |
Yep, it's from the manual. Of course, I went back read the manual again and I need to clarify the weights. Daredvl is correct too...1650lbs (750kg) for unbreaked trailers. The 5500lbs (2495kg) is for trailers with breaks in high range (2200lbs/995kg off road), 7700lbs (3490kg) for trailers with breaks in low range. The max tounge weight is 330 lbs (150kg). I pull my 18 ft ski boat that wights a little over 1900lbs, so I am probably pushing the envelope more than I should. Yes, it tows pretty well but you can feel it. Typical performance that you'd expect, slower acceleration, greater stopping distance. Hope that helps! | ||
| Shaun Power (Shaunp) New Member Username: Shaunp Post Number: 35 Registered: 05-2003 |
I pull a Jayco swan Camper(1100kg) with ours and it's no problem. All trailers over 750kg have to have brakes in Austraila, the camper has electric brakes. The car is happy to cruise at 120km towing. I also tow it on lite off road work mostly the beach. The original 2 door Range Rovers had a tow wieght of 6000kg in Australia. | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) Senior Member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 710 Registered: 10-2002 |
Mike, 5000 lbs, will be tough, you might only be able to go short distances, but it will do it. Make sure the trailer brakes are in good shape. I once pulled my 5000 lbs boat and it was a bit scary. Remember a disco has a short wheel base compared to a Chevy or Ford PU or SUV. Be careful. | ||
| dareDVL (Daredvl) Member Username: Daredvl Post Number: 47 Registered: 03-2003 |
Chris, Regarding your 1900lb boat. Is that the total weight of both the boat and the trailer, or just the boat itself? I assume you are saying the trailer does not have brakes of its own? I'm going to eventually be pulling about a 2000 pound car with mine. | ||
| Chris Whybrew (Dcwhybrew) New Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 25 Registered: 05-2003 |
"DareDVL", I believe the boat itself weighs 1950lbs. I got the weight off the NADA website. I didn't think about the trailer weight, I just initially assumed it was both. The trailer is a single axel trailer with no brakes. I don't know how much those weigh. Are you going to put your car on a trailer or attach the car to the truck? | ||
| Chris Whybrew (Dcwhybrew) New Member Username: Dcwhybrew Post Number: 26 Registered: 05-2003 |
John, what affect does wheel base have on towing? Does the longer wheel base help stabilize the towing vehicle? The only thing answer I can come up with is that the longer wheel base might prevent the front end from bouncing upwards. ???? Just curious | ||
| Jonathan Hensel (Nanoscale) Member Username: Nanoscale Post Number: 72 Registered: 03-2003 |
Yeah, the short wheelbase, and tall skinny profile make the disco a real crappy tow vehicle. I tow two fullsize seadoo's and a generator on a heavy trailer, and have used a Toyota V6 pickup, a Silverado, an F250 SuperDuty, and my Disco is far and away the worst. The understeer accentuates sway on the freeway, and the gutless engine doesn't help. I've heard D2's are better though, probably because they sit lower with lower profile tires. | ||
| Mike Dougherty (Mikedougherty) New Member Username: Mikedougherty Post Number: 13 Registered: 01-2003 |
I do know the Disco is not the ideal tow vehicle. Ideally (and eventually) I should have a dedicated tow vehicle (diesel power preferred) and an off road vehicle. Unfortunately, I don't have the room nor the budget for both at the moment. So I need to try and find a decent middle ground. I'm hoping the Disco will be adequate enough to get me through the next couple years. The 5000# was my "at most" estimate. My car is 2800# (at least until I put it on a diet), trailer will be about 1000#, then add in gear, tools, spare parts etc. I should be able to keep it under 5000# most of the time. John: when you say short distances do you mean I should try to limit it to just around town? Or just short, couple hour long, day trips? About the farthest I plan to go is Sears Point, which is about a ~10 hour drive (a lot of flat, but some mountains). Do you think that would be too far? Jonathan: of the vehicles you have used to tow, which did you like the best? Does your trailer have anti-sway bars? If not, do you think it would help? The trailer I am planning to get is a dual axel. The nice thing about that, at least as I understand it, is that I can adjust the position of the car on the trailer to help with balance. Do you think this would help aleviate some of the problems you noticed? | ||
| Justin (Vanroth) Member Username: Vanroth Post Number: 46 Registered: 02-2003 |
For the heavy (5000lbs is alot for a disco) loads I would worry about the transmission on the longer hauls. Those loads can overheat the transmission if you run too long in OD. I used to do a lot of towing with my blazer (full size) and boat (6000lbs minus trailer) and went through serveral transmissions over the life of the vehicle. A transmission temp gauge would be prudent. -justin | ||
| Jonathan Hensel (Nanoscale) Member Username: Nanoscale Post Number: 75 Registered: 03-2003 |
Mike, by far it was the F250 super duty crew cab 4x4 deisel. I didn't even know the trailer was there, even with a Lance cabover. If I ever start making money again I will buy that exact same one I had. The Toyota before it was an LWB extra cab V6 and although gutless, it towed very smooth. My ex's Silverado was fine too. All towing the same trailer. I have adjusted the ski's so there is proper weight on the tongue, never had to think about anti sway bars until I hitched it up to the disco. I plan on just muddling through with it until I can buy a dedicated tow rig. I'd say muddle if you have to, but keep both hands on the wheel. | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Member Username: Charles Post Number: 241 Registered: 08-2002 |
If it is not a long haul 5k lbs is will be ok. I frequently haul flagstone 4K -5K avg with a trailer w/o brakes. Stoping distance is increased and speed decreased. Going up hills is pushing it. | ||
| Kevin Novakowski (Kln) New Member Username: Kln Post Number: 35 Registered: 02-2002 |
I tow a 20 foot travel trailer. With full load its 4800lbs. Tough going with the stock gearing (automatic) but still doable. Third gear was to high for strong headwinds or moderate hills. When I replaced the transfer case last year I dropped it down by 14 or 15 percent. Just what the doctor ordered. kln | ||
| Daniel Covaciu (Danielcovaciu) Senior Member Username: Danielcovaciu Post Number: 302 Registered: 10-2002 |
If you need to tow a 5000lb trailer over a 10 hr dirve than you need something other than a disco. You are going to have a hard time on even the smallest hill. IMHO Dan | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) Senior Member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 711 Registered: 10-2002 |
Mike the other guys I believed answered your questions about long distance towing. The thing to remember is that our trucks are really geared low. | ||
| Scott Scott (Scottoz) Member Username: Scottoz Post Number: 71 Registered: 02-2003 |
I have towed a 22 foot tandem axel caravan through thick sand on a beach in OZ. I was in low range third most of the time and it did it easy. The van weighed 2000 kilos which therefore exceeded LR's reccomended off road towing limits - thats about 4500 pounds. | ||
| thom mathie (Muskyman) Senior Member Username: Muskyman Post Number: 304 Registered: 11-2002 |
disco's pull heavy loads just fine as long as you dont drive like a idiot | ||
| Mike Dougherty (Mikedougherty) New Member Username: Mikedougherty Post Number: 14 Registered: 01-2003 |
Cool, I really appreciate all the answers. Seems like the Disco will be adequate enough to get me through until I can manage a real tow vehicle. Thanks all. |
