By Todd Matthews on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 02:06 pm: Edit

I am on my third alternator starting this week. First alt. went out after 80k. Second one failed (NEW LR genuine part) this last week. It was installed on 3/02/00. Putting in third. Naturally I am pissed off. LR Seattle wants $770 for the part plus $85 for the hour to put it in. I ordered a genuine alt from British Pacific. $369.50 plus $10 to ship it from San Fransisco to Seattle.

Unfortunately my Disco died on the side of I-5 near the Nisqually flats and was towed to Seattle dealership. I was towing a trailer at the time. Thankfully my Dad was in his Ford behind us and towed the trailer onward. I love the disco but it is a wild ride towing a 21 foot trailer. Damn frightening. Didn't think it would be. The GVW on the trailer is 4500 pounds. The Disco has a rating of 5500lbs. Even downshifting the disco is gutless on grades. I put sway bars etc....still awful. Any hints on better towing?

I think the extra load from the trailer caused my alt to fry. Any way to get a bigger alternator?
Thanks.
TR

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Friday, September 07, 2001 - 07:14 pm: Edit

Hmmm....

I towed my Series back home from Knoxville on a trailer.... an empty 88" SW is about 3300lbs, had it on a regular flat-trailer I had borrowed from a buddy... hmmm.... guess it was about a 20-footer, so by itself it'd weigh what, 800lbs, maybe? That'd be 4100lbs, then, maybe more maybe less....

Anyway, it had NO trouble with it. No serious grades, and I wasn't breaking any speed-limits, but I kept it moving along at a good pace.

If it was getting squirrelly on you, maybe you need to look at your springs/shocks/tires/et al....

As far as power, no, they're not powerhouses. SOunds like you've got some miles on your rig, maybe it's a bit tired....

Anyway... Best o' luck!

-L