Checks before towing long distances?

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barmatt said:
T'was a joke matey, actually more of a flippant comment towards the idea of having to stop regularly to let the drivetrain cool down:confused:.
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Lol :) thank god for that for a minute I thought I had been a bit foolish expecting to tow a big van with it.

I have just had it remapped to give me a bit more grunt when towing so hopefully all will be good ;)
 
Upgrade the FL brakes?

I have fitted drilled & grooved discs and EBC ultimate pads to mine. They do take a few hundred miles to bed in though.
 
mikey7985 said:
That's something I haven't done but will definitely do it before taking the family away.
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My discs were very worn when I bought mine so so I replaced them. 116,000 miles isn't bad for an auto with not much engine braking. I don't use the brakes much anyway, as I try and keep my distance from the vehicle in front and just use the throttle.
 
Epicuser said:
My discs were very worn when I bought mine so so I replaced them. 116,000 miles isn't bad for an auto with not much engine braking. I don't use the brakes much anyway, as I try and keep my distance from the vehicle in front and just use the throttle.
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I think I have about 18mm on the discs. I will start looking on eBay for a set. Good policy to keep distance I say my boy racer days are over :)
 
Epicuser said:
Upgrade the FL brakes?

I have fitted drilled & grooved discs and EBC ultimate pads to mine. They do take a few hundred miles to bed in though.
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Gotta change mine soon so how are yours working out? I fitted those to my old MX5 and it was too much for the poor tyres on occasion... :D
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by IndiTd4 View Post
Take regular breaks,

So the Freelander can cool its drive-train down a bit,
And you get several chances to look things over..

Tyres
Coolant
Oil

Take your fecking time, its ****e weather out there,
a slow safe drive is better than a broken anything..

know one expects a caravan to be towed fast,
and add in a Freelander, and they should all be passing you..

barmatt said:
Sounds like a lot of hassle if you ask me, can't you just borrow a disco/110 off someone, that'd make it a lot easier;):p.
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Again, this was more of a personal thought,
if your not sure what the Freelander will be like enough to start a thread about it,
then a couple of stops just to make sure all is well is no bother surely.:confused:
I suppose everyone is different, but I would make a point on the first
outing to check now and again, rather than be stranded miles from home..
once you know all is well then the next time will be worry free..;)
 
Another point - check wheel-nut torque on both the FL and the caravan. Loss of a wheel seems to be a fairly regular occurrence with caravans - and in most instances it seems that the owner was neither aware of the importance of making the check, nor owned a torque wrench. I always check mine both ends of the journey - never found a loose one yet, but better safe than sorry !!
 
mikey7985 said:
Thanks for the advice and I am relieved to say I have just had it replaced with the BMW Cyclone filter. Did your FL tow ok apart from that?
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It tows fine when everythings working, I used mine for towing regularly, never any more than 1.2T as ive never needed to but it pulls well enough. As other folks have mentioned already, with speed limits applied to towing its easily good enough in my opinion, you may have to drop a gear or two on steep inclines. I also run a disco td5 and if it wasnt for having to launch boat in dodgy places I would just stick with td4.
 
IndiTd4 said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by IndiTd4 View Post
Take regular breaks,

So the Freelander can cool its drive-train down a bit,
And you get several chances to look things over..

Tyres
Coolant
Oil

Take your fecking time, its ****e weather out there,
a slow safe drive is better than a broken anything..

know one expects a caravan to be towed fast,
and add in a Freelander, and they should all be passing you..



Again, this was more of a personal thought,
if your not sure what the Freelander will be like enough to start a thread about it,
then a couple of stops just to make sure all is well is no bother surely.:confused:
I suppose everyone is different, but I would make a point on the first
outing to check now and again, rather than be stranded miles from home..
once you know all is well then the next time will be worry free..;)
Click to expand...

Totally agree, its always worth taking regular breaks when towing for all things folks have mentioned, giving hitch and trailer tyres a once over and such like. Could save you a massive problem, not to mention points and a fine. I always find long journeys towing more tiring too as eyes constantly darting between mirrors and road ahead.
 
One thing to check(caught me out)
If the caravan has got a later alko stabilizer hitch on it,make sure you have the extended towball or you will have trouble hitching up.
 
Spacemonkey... said:
Gotta change mine soon so how are yours working out? I fitted those to my old MX5 and it was too much for the poor tyres on occasion... :D
Click to expand...

So far they are fine and appear to be better than the old ones, but only done about 300 miles on them since changing, so they are still bedding in. I have hardly worked over the last 2 weeks due to illness.

I wanted to fit the EBC ones, but couldn't justify the cost so fitted some Terafirma ones in the end with the EBC Ultimate pads. Bought from Terrain Vehicles of St. Leonard's on Sea. They were at the SLSLOC London to Brighton event a few weeks ago. Our stand (Surrey 4x4 Response) were next to them.
I changed the guide pins as well as it appears to be recommended to be done at the same time as changing discs. Preventative maintenance.
 
mikey7985 said:
Man after my own heart!!!!

Are EBC discs and pads the dogs danglies then? Where are they cheapest?
Click to expand...

It depends who you speak to. Some rate them others don't.

EBC shop appeared to be the cheapest. Pads & discs about £200.

I paid £100 for my Terafirma discs & EBC pads delivered.
 
and paint free - the new ones have a protective paint coating on it, need to emery paper this off before use, other wise the paint contaminates the friction pads and they'll be fooked.

good luck, towed a 1675 unladen weight single axle caravan with mine, rock solid, felt really happy with it, never a worry at all, even when forced into an emergency stop and lane change from 60

(dual carriage way, car pulled out of a layby 100 yards in front of me then panicked when he saw me, and stopped in lane 1, I was being overtaken so couldn't change lane until within mere feet of the cretin that pulled out.)
 
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