sluggish towing

shanecl · Oct 30, 2014

Hi Folks

Had a job on the weekend and got a lend of a 12' foot ifor with a 1 ton digger. Hitched up and went to drive off in high box and man alive did the disco struggle to take off, it moaned and groaned. Threw it into low box and second and no problem. I wouldn't have thought this was a heavy load to pull, is it or is their something up with the disco?

thebiglad · Oct 30, 2014

shanecl said:
Hi Folks

Had a job on the weekend and got a lend of a 12' foot ifor with a 1 ton digger. Hitched up and went to drive off in high box and man alive did the disco struggle to take off, it moaned and groaned. Threw it into low box and second and no problem. I wouldn't have thought this was a heavy load to pull, is it or is their something up with the disco?

Assuming it's a manual gearbox car, it sounds like something is wrong.

The horse trailer probably weighs about a ton empty (they come in different sizes, so just a guess) so you were only towing 2 tons which it should do easily.

A couple of months ago I was towing a big Ifor Williams trailer (1200kgs empty) plus 2 big heavy horses so I reckon I was towing 2800-ish kgs and my old D2 managed fine. You KNOW you've got something on the back and planning ahead really pays, but she pulled that load perfectly well.

Are you used to towing heavy loads? If not it might have come as a bit of a surprise

D2's have a max towing limit of 3.5tons braked trailer - but that doesn't mean she'll peel off like a Ferrari

Dave

Vanmancan · Oct 30, 2014

I to tow a ifor 12ft drop side trailer and carry my ford1210 tractor with loader and back hoe and it comes in at 2600kg total weight . And pulls away great .As thebiglad said are you shaw you not just used to it towing ! And is it auto or manual. Cuz if it's a auto I find it better to use the gears rather then D

shanecl · Oct 30, 2014

Ah I would be use to it all right but this is my first disco. It's a manual. Was sort of looking forward to towing my first big load with it and bragging about its 3.5t tow rating. Hitched up and thought what the hell.
Just actually thinking the last load I towed was a 1 ton digger on a plant trailer with a quashai and it towed off fine compared to the disco. What could be wrong

ShaunPDisco · Oct 30, 2014

Have you checked the brakes on the trailer????

poacherman · Oct 30, 2014

Silverlandy · Oct 30, 2014

I've towed an Ifor with 2 large horses in it with my D1 manual and D2 auto. Never a problem, though like said, Ifor+2 you know it's there....but not experienced what you have.

KillaJoules · Oct 30, 2014

I take it that it is a TD5?

Did you let the anti stall work or did you touch the throttle?

It took me quite a while to get used to to TD5 in my fender after being used to 300tdis and older perkins

discodrivercumbria · Oct 30, 2014

take break off the trailer first! i pull an ifor with the diggers on etc, pulls no problem, you have to balance the revs thou,

musky81 · Oct 30, 2014

+1 on the guys suspecting trailer brakes. I tow heavy bait trailer regular and you do know its there but the old girl doesnt struggle by any means. Ive seen plenty problems with trailer brakes such as brake shoe linings coming adrift and jamming everything up.

shanecl · Oct 31, 2014

Yep a Td5. Handbrake off all right. If the brakes were on or dragging would their not be a smell of hot brakes, I drove a considerable distance.

I had to reverse up a small incline and could smell the brakes after but I know this is due to the design of the braking system.

No I didn't allow the anti stall to work, I used the throttle.

The other thing I noticed was last night, when i was pulling into my estate, there is a slight hill and if I turn in slow, in 2nd gear, with no trailer just the disco it even struggles to get up that

Monkey13 · Oct 31, 2014

Sure it's not a freelander? Lol

DIFFLOCK66 · Oct 31, 2014

The turbo has to boost to deliver power.....

KillaJoules · Oct 31, 2014

Yep, that's the annoyance of the td5, no low diesel grunt unless you spool up the turbo to get any power

Then with Al these stupid EU emissions additions as soon as you let go of the throttle the turbo shudders to a halt and all your power is gone.

I was stunned when I first towed with the 110, I picked up my brothers old d1 in Leeds and dragged it home to Hertfordshire. Bagley lane in Farsley is very steep I suddenly found myself struggling down to 1st and revving the nuts to get to the top. I didn't really want to stop and use low range.
Since then I have learned to trust the anti stall to get it rolling, but also use low box for maneuvering heavy loads on hills. And to keep the turbo spinning to get the power when I need it.

Obviously the Defender gearing is different to the d2 but once you get used to winding the td5 up in time it's not a bad towing engine

Now if you could only get the txv6 or 8 engines in 😉

DIFFLOCK66 · Oct 31, 2014

KillaJoules said:
Now if you could only get the txv6 or 8 engines in 😉

Would a 6 litre GMC diesel motor fit? :amen:

Turboman · Oct 31, 2014

DIFFLOCK66 said:
Would a 6 litre GMC diesel motor fit? :amen:

Afternoons work for Evil!

And another afternoon to uprate the halfshafts

shanecl · Oct 31, 2014

DIFFLOCK66 said:
Would a 6 litre GMC diesel motor fit? :amen:

Amen to that. Would be nice

Must be not use to a Td5 towing. Bit disappointing

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Turboman · Oct 31, 2014

shanecl said:
Amen to that. Would be nice

Must be not use to a Td5 towing. Bit disappointing

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Try the V8 D2, I love mine for towing

thebiglad · Oct 31, 2014

shanecl said:
Amen to that. Would be nice

Must be not use to a Td5 towing. Bit disappointing

Thanks for all the replies guys.

My first D2 TD5 auto was initially very disappointing at towing, but after a re-map and a new MAF she was transformed.

Dave

Silverlandy · Oct 31, 2014

Turboman said:
Try the V8 D2, I love mine for towing

Show off.....not that I'm jealous, or anything.

thebiglad said:
My first D2 TD5 auto was initially very disappointing at towing, but after a re-map and a new MAF she was transformed.

Dave

Really? I'm quite impressed with mine.

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