| Author | Message | ||
     Dave (Plain2000dii) Member Username: Plain2000dii Post Number: 122 Registered: 05-2003 |
I'm a bit skeptical that my fire breathing beast can reliably tow 5300 Lbs. Its a 2000 D2 in very good mechanical condition,as it is it seems like it can barely get out of its way now, realizing i'll need trailer brakes. Will the Disco suprise me with lots of low end torque? or should I consider reluctantly to get a larger tow vehicle? | ||
| Chris Johnson (Disco_fever) New Member Username: Disco_fever Post Number: 30 Registered: 02-2004 |
if you can, it won't be for long | ||
| Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1662 Registered: 02-2002 |
Some guy on ebay was selling a 95 disco that had been used to tow a #5500 trailer for a couple of years. After he told me this, I decided not to buy it. But he did say that he was selling because he wanted another truck that was more powerful. You're very close to the specified limit. I've towed another disco on decent roads a couple of times, and its no fun, and even then I try to keep it in low ratio. Dean | ||
| Chris Browne (Chris_browne) Senior Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 755 Registered: 02-2003 |
Starts will have to be in low range. If you can a Burb super duty or similar would be a stronger choice | ||
| Ted Moyer (Tedmoyer) New Member Username: Tedmoyer Post Number: 36 Registered: 07-2003 |
With two horses in our horse trailer, I am towing pretty close to that - but not particularly fast - or far. Also, the trailer has assisted brakes. I wouldn't tow that much w/out them. | ||
| Don Leichtling (Scruffy) New Member Username: Scruffy Post Number: 15 Registered: 01-2004 |
What do you think the towing weight of a "loaded" trailer would be, that would allow say 1000 mile trips over several days; say San Diego to Baja with a stock strong 2000 D2? | ||
| John Gadd (Roverdude) Member Username: Roverdude Post Number: 53 Registered: 11-2003 |
Don, I towed a loaded 16' travel trailer far and wide. Even to Big Bear and over Crab Flats with my 1989 3.9 RR. Tough on the grades but did not seem to affect it. Pulled my 24' Silver Streak with my DII @ 5,800 lbs. Sold it as it was a bit too much. By the way, when and where in Baja are you headed? | ||
| Shaun Power (Shaunp) Senior Member Username: Shaunp Post Number: 283 Registered: 05-2003 |
Australian cars are rated at 3500kg which I think is 7700lbs. Early cars with out ABS were rated at 4000kg. I tow a Jayco off-road camper which is about 2200lbs on road and off(mostly beach)no trouble. By law all trailers more than 750kg (1650lbs) must have brakes in Australia. | ||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Senior Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 430 Registered: 10-2003 |
I have towed my boat (about 5200) to the coast before (7 hours) and could not complain too much. The D2 has more torque with than a D1. I never used low box but did top out at 50 going up the mountains in NC. Other than that it was fine. Some sway though. I had stock size tires at this point. I never found low end to be a problem as much as hills on the interstate that required foot the floor. | ||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Senior Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 431 Registered: 10-2003 |
I should add that it normally takes about 5 hours. Also, fuel mileage was realllllly low. | ||
| Dave (Plain2000dii) Member Username: Plain2000dii Post Number: 123 Registered: 05-2003 |
So, the concensus is, not a good idea? I need to get a small cargo trailer for my work, which the disco can handle, but I would also like to get an 16 or 18 foot box to shuttle my track car back n forth to events, that's the one that'll be 5300#. Was thinking maybe the one trailer could do it all, buuttt, looks like maybe a smaller cargo for now, then bigger tow vehicle, then bigger trailer....nutz...$$$$$$ | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Senior Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 326 Registered: 11-2002 |
You'll be fine. Check your manual. I think the tow rating is 5500 lbs (7700 in low range which is meaningless for any distance towing). Put the trans in 3rd so you don't use overdrive. There won't be much power, but then it wasn't long ago that big pickups had similar. We tow our boat with my RRC (about 5000 lbs) and Isuzu Trooper which has same rating and torque no issues. We also used to have a late model F150 with 5.4l and that thing pulled the boat as if it weren't there. Trailer brakes are a must with a short wheelbase (100") vehicle. You risk jackknifing if you have to stop suddenly even with surge brakes. The main thing with surge brakes is to anticipate and brake early and in a straight line esp. before a curve. | ||
| Mark Ley (Markymark25er) New Member Username: Markymark25er Post Number: 2 Registered: 04-2004 |
My buddy crashed his Jeep in Dumont Sand Dunes. He tried to jump it. Well to make long story short I did a one time tow from Dumont(California near Vegas), all the way back to New Port Beach in Orange county. It was a long trip considering I had 5 peopl in my 96 Disco and it was loaded with all of our stuff including a Wrangeler on a flat bet trailer in tow. There are many hills and valleys on Highway 15 but my Disco did very well. Not something I would like to do all the time. But I was suprised because I did not have trailer brakes nor did I think my D1 would do well. But it did. Be careful to leave lots of stopping room. | ||
| Matt Taylor (Whodatmatt) New Member Username: Whodatmatt Post Number: 38 Registered: 09-2003 |
I believe you can most certainly tow that much weight. I've towed my boat all over the place. You are definitely going to feel the 5,300 #s, but you can do it as often as you like. I wouldn't do it without brakes on the trailer, though. | ||
| Dave (Plain2000dii) Member Username: Plain2000dii Post Number: 124 Registered: 05-2003 |
AHhhh, the other side chimes in! So, Matt, Mark and Geoff you've all towed with your Disco's? I'm really not looking for opinions as much as experiences towing that kind of weight. Will it tear up the truck?, Do I need to add supplemental cooling for the trans and radiator? | ||
| Matt Taylor (Whodatmatt) New Member Username: Whodatmatt Post Number: 39 Registered: 09-2003 |
Dave- Specifically, I've towed a 17 ft. Cape Horn center console deep-v fishing boat loaded down with gear, ice chests, and 40 gallons of fuel. Most times with at least three 200 pound people in the truck. I've done probably 100 times total, about one hour in each direction per time. The only problem I've ever noticed is when going up a steep gradient for long periods -- it wants to loose speed. As long as you're comfortable going 50 mph when traffic is whizzing by you at 70, this isn't a problem. I wish I could tell you exactly how much my boat weighs, but I don't have that info handy. I've also towed a 22 ft Boston Whaler a few times, and 26 foot bay boat that is probably the heaviest of the bunch. None of these were really a big deal, but you must have brakes on the trailer. There are no brakes on my trailer and I certainly have to give myself room to stop. Those other boats weigh much more than mine and have braked trailers, and it helps a lot. Of course, you're not in a Suburban, so you can feel the weight behind you. I've towed my boat once with a buddy's Suburban, and you can't feel jack - you don't even know the boat is behind you. Just know that you're not in big chevy and be comfortable feeling weighted down. And the shorter wheelbase of the Discovery makes backing the trailer up much more manueverable, if that is any benefit to you. I think the main issue with towing is the transmission -- the only time I ever noticed anything out of the ordinary was when I was crossing a pretty steep bridge. I was sort of miffed that I couldn't keep up 65-70 miles an hour, so I punched it and held the accelerator to the floor. The transmission kicked down and held a lower gear for a long time, and when I reached the bottom of the bridge I could smell burned transmission fluid. So after that, I got comfortable crossing that bridge at 45-50 miles per hour. Granted, I don't tow every day. But I tow more than once in a while, and I have seen no ill effects. I have close to 120,000 miles on my truck. You can do it fine in your truck. I've noticed that my truck sort of "tells" me when I'm pushing it too hard, like the situation I described above, so I just don't act retarded like that anymore. The good part is after you disconnect the trailer after a trip -- your Discovery will seem really peppy.  | ||
| Matt Taylor (Whodatmatt) New Member Username: Whodatmatt Post Number: 40 Registered: 09-2003 |
okay, Dave, you got me curious. Apparently, a 17 ft Cape Horn is 1700 lbs dry weight. That's just the hull, with no electronics, motor, etc. The motor I have weighs just a shade under 500 lbs, and the trailer itself weighs +/- 600 lbs. So without fuel, gear, people, etc., I'm pulling only about 2,800 pounds. I have no idea how much 40 gallons of fuel weighs; I'm sure somebody on this board can do a calculation. When I towed my friends Whaler around the numbers are: Boat Hull - 2,580 lbs. Motor - 550 lbs. Trailer - 1,100 lbs. 70 gallons of fuel -- ? When you add people, gear, ice chests and all other whatnot, it's got to be close to your 5,300 pound number. Basically, I think you can do it. | ||
| Beau Campbell (Bcampbe7) Member Username: Bcampbe7 Post Number: 41 Registered: 03-2004 |
I agree with Matt on the peppy... I tow my ski boat, nowhere near 5300 #'s (around 3000 #'s) and it feels like a whole new D2 after I unhitch. I have never had a problem with pulling my boat, but like I mentioned it is not 5300 #'s. Still at 3000 #'s I hardly know it is there. Beau | ||
| Greg Adams (Gadams) New Member Username: Gadams Post Number: 12 Registered: 02-2004 |
I've towed several trailers up to 3500 lbs as much as 300 miles a trip. Hills are slow and cross winds or fast tractor trailers can be unnerving but the truck can tolerate the load. I asked the question earlier on this site regarding weight distributing hitches. RV folks will tell you to get a WD hitch b/c the wheelbase is so short. Bottom line is its not as fun to pull a 5500 lb trailer as with a Cummins or Powerstroke but it can be done and doesn't seem to hurt the truck if you are smart. Sway control may be a good idea as well but I haven't added that yet. | ||
| Beau Campbell (Bcampbe7) Member Username: Bcampbe7 Post Number: 42 Registered: 03-2004 |
Gasoline weighs approx. 6.5 lbs/gallon. 40 gallons of gas will weigh about 260 lbs and 70 gallons will weigh about 455 lbs. http://www.santacruzpl.org/readyref/files/g-l/gasoline.shtml | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Senior Member Username: Charles Post Number: 399 Registered: 08-2002 |
Dave you should have no problems. I tow 6k lbs of flagstone pretty regularly. 3rd grear. 97 D1 160k on the clock no problems knock on wood. Dont speed you should be fine. | ||
| Leigh Mikolajczyk (Leigh_m) Member Username: Leigh_m Post Number: 102 Registered: 01-2004 |
94 D 1 126k pulls a 5000 pound boat set up regularly and I have had no problems at all. Slow up hills bad gas milage but over all nothing to complain about. Just got a 2000 D2 it has only towed once but it was even better than the D1 neither of which hold a candle to my frinds Duramax diesel that can pull 5000 + pounds at 80mph and still get 18 miles a gallon. Trailer brakes are a must and I like having a tandem on longer road trips | ||
| thom mathie (Muskyman) Senior Member Username: Muskyman Post Number: 680 Registered: 11-2002 |
I pull this on a pretty regular basis during the summer. last year I pulled it 1000 miles in a week and the disco did just fine. hydraulic serge brakes in working order is key Thom | ||
| Timothy A. Green (Tree_trimmer) Member Username: Tree_trimmer Post Number: 82 Registered: 02-2004 |
Dave, Dave, Dave. Do you love your disco? I am not all that familiar with the 2000 D2. I don't know what size motor it has, or what the tow rating is, nor do I know if your D2 has air assisted springs in the rear. I do know my D1 has a 3.9 liter motor, upgraded springs (OME HD) and larger than stock tires (265/75R16). I tow a 4400 lb. camper (listed in the brochure as 3800) sans personal gear. I love my disco, so I will be (in the very near future) regearing to 4.10. This is due to the fact that the poor old 3.9 is just not quite up to the task. Also, when the engine finally goes (120,000 currently) I will be upgrading to at least an RPI 4.6. I do use a WD hitch, but I think I can do without it for a hitch that is within the owners manual specs. One thing I don't think I could do without is an anti-sway bar. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be opposed to trying two of them. And for the record, I have towed the camper with the WD hitch (also with AND without anti-sway bar) and without the WD hitch (without anti-sway bar). Also, trailer brakes (good ones) are a must. As for the tandem, the more axles, the easier to tow, my camper is a tandem. The reason I asked about your affection for your disco is I personally feel the cost of gearing and engine upgrade is money well spent on MY disco as opposed to a tow vehicle. You; however, may not feel the same way. Use this information as you wish. Just to let you know, I drive a truck for a living. Please be safe on the road! |
