P38A Diesel vs Petrol which one tow's better?

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Henry_b

Henry_b

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Are the diesels better at towing than the V8s?

I bought my P38 v8 primarily to comfortably tow some stuff in the future

Also wondering what their true towing capacity is?


Cheers H
 
True or legal towing capacity? I assume you know there is a legal limit in the UK. Partly on you and what you are licensed and also what the vehicle is rated too.

In answer both are probably pretty equal. But the V8 has more power and is smoother. And won’t fall off the turbo. Mpg is likely to favour the diesel however.
 
As a diesel manual manual owner I'd say the v8, 4.6. The v8 never struggles with anything whereas on hills when I am fully loaded it is foot to the floor with temperature gauge climbing. Reliability .. well, there's a whole new question: I am sticking with the oil burner.
 
well for the towing capacity book says 3500kg legally, but i am sure a few exceed this
for me a chipped manual diesel is very good.
 
Auto diesel owner, bone stock. I might've once towed a slightly not legal trailer once that was nudging 4,000kg. It pulled okay, you felt it on hills, but it is hardly a racecar on hills as it is. If you aren't expecting hair raising performance, it'll be reet. Although I'd happily have a V8 if they were more reliable, but the horror stories put me off. I'd hate to put one under heavy load and have it pop.
 
I have no idea on P38 diesel v petrol towing. However, I have had a V8 D2 and a TD6 L322. The difference , whilst towing two horses, a ID and an IDxTB, in an Ifor, was not enough to make an impact on which I would choose for towing. Both did/do a sterling job. Hth
 
Thanks all for your replies.

I assumed the listed towing capacity in the book was all the 38a could handle..

Clearly not :D
 
Henry_b said:
Thanks all for your replies.

I assumed the listed towing capacity in the book was all the 38a could handle..

Clearly not :D
Click to expand...
Again, I have no knowledge of the 'listed towing capacity' of a P38, however, if you tow more than said capacity and are pulled over you will get done. If you are involved in accident, whether you believe you are at fault or not, if found to be over manufacturer listed capacity, you will get done. If you have need of your insurance company and have exceeded......blah, blah , blah........you will not be insured.
I understand you are very young, which I permanently take into account , but it is no excuse for some things. I think I recall you saying, on first joining, you had inherited/acquired the vehicle, but would only be able to look at it/clean it for now. I may be wrong and the search function is U/S. Whatever the situation, take the time now and learn the book side of driving. Being a driver is about so much more than just sitting behind the wheel. As in this example take time to learn that maximum means maximum.
Then when you are driving you will be able to enjoy it, rather than losing your licence before the ink is dry ;)
 
gold rover said:
Again, I have no knowledge of the 'listed towing capacity' of a P38, however, if you tow more than said capacity and are pulled over you will get done. If you are involved in accident, whether you believe you are at fault or not, if found to be over manufacturer listed capacity, you will get done. If you have need of your insurance company and have exceeded......blah, blah , blah........you will not be insured.
I understand you are very young, which I permanently take into account , but it is no excuse for some things. I think I recall you saying, on first joining, you had inherited/acquired the vehicle, but would only be able to look at it/clean it for now. I may be wrong and the search function is U/S. Whatever the situation, take the time now and learn the book side of driving. Being a driver is about so much more than just sitting behind the wheel. As in this example take time to learn that maximum means maximum.
Then when you are driving you will be able to enjoy it, rather than losing your licence before the ink is dry ;)
Click to expand...


True True i am a novice when it comes to driving. :p

I don't plan on towing more than the legal capacity, I imagine 2.2 tonnes would be the most she would haul.. :)

Also i don't plan on driving and towing with her till i have a few yrs driving under my belt. :)
 
Henry_b said:
True True i am a novice when it comes to driving. :p

I don't plan on towing more than the legal capacity, I imagine 2.2 tonnes would be the most she would haul.. :)

Also i don't plan on driving and towing with her till i have a few yrs driving under my belt. :)
Click to expand...
You would need to do a +E driving test to tow that much, a new license is only a B with a maximum trailer weight of 650kg.
 
Henry_b said:
I know lol

Royal pain in the Arse IMO

Won't stop me though :cool:
Click to expand...
If the test is anything like C+E it is a piece of **** and mostly just a tick in a box exercise. Just another way to milk more money from you.
 
Henry_b said:
Are the diesels better at towing than the V8s?

I bought my P38 v8 primarily to comfortably tow some stuff in the future

Also wondering what their true towing capacity is?


Cheers H
Click to expand...

V8 Auto is hard to beat for towing. My D2 was the best of the many tow vehicles I have had over the years, by a country mile.
Legal limit is 3500kg, for all Range Rovers, you wouldn't want to tow much more anyway for performance on hills as well as safety.
 
Henry_b said:
True True i am a novice when it comes to driving. :p

I don't plan on towing more than the legal capacity, I imagine 2.2 tonnes would be the most she would haul.. :)

Also i don't plan on driving and towing with her till i have a few yrs driving under my belt. :)
Click to expand...

Personally I would advocate that you learn to tow as soon as you are allowed. As your pass is/will be after 1997, you can have a combined veh up to 3500kg max and tow weight of 750kg max, making 4250kg max Or trailer over 750kg with veh not taking the maximum allowed over 4250kg.
Get out there and get used to the difference a trailer makes , as soon as you are able. Start low and slow and build knowledge and confidence.
Just because you can tow doesnt mean it's always easy, nor does it mean you should do it without practice.The amount of idiots with caravans chasing them down the road, I passed on the way home on Friday was ridiculous. It was so obvious at least half of them had never towed before, or only towed on high days and holidays.
Anyway, I digress. Learn to tow as soon as you are able and it will stand you in good stead for the future.
 
gold rover said:
Personally I would advocate that you learn to tow as soon as you are allowed. As your pass is/will be after 1997, you can have a combined veh up to 3500kg max and tow weight of 750kg max, making 4250kg max Or trailer over 750kg with veh not taking the maximum allowed over 4250kg.
Get out there and get used to the difference a trailer makes , as soon as you are able. Start low and slow and build knowledge and confidence.
Just because you can tow doesnt mean it's always easy, nor does it mean you should do it without practice.The amount of idiots with caravans chasing them down the road, I passed on the way home on Friday was ridiculous. It was so obvious at least half of them had never towed before, or only towed on high days and holidays.
Anyway, I digress. Learn to tow as soon as you are able and it will stand you in good stead for the future.
Click to expand...

Agreeing with all of that. I am always on at my daughter to get a towing test, before they tighten the regs further.
So far, she has ignored my suggestions! :rolleyes::(
 
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