T

tree bloke!

New Member
Hi all, First thread from me, I have a 300 tdi defender and am wanting to tow a 2.5t digger around say twice a week, probably nearly 3.5t once on a trailer with the buckets etc, now as it won't do hill starts with that weight on the back it will have to be in low box plus i live on dartmoor so hills round here can be quite monsterous.
Does anyone know if im asking for trouble in general with wear and tear longish term on clutch, engine gearbox etc towing that much regularly, or anyone else do the same? the trailer will have good brakes!
Cheers for the help
Matt
 
ive a customer that does and he has surprisingly few break downs ,is on heavy duty suspension and 130 clutch just change all oils regulary
 
I used to tow anything up to a 10 ton truck on a regular basis with my 300tdi 110. It had a disco transfer box in it and I always used low range to pull away when towing heavy loads. I never wore out my clutch and it never broke down on me. It had HD suspension on the rear (with self leveler) and no matter how much weight I put on or in it I couldn't get the back end to drop at all.
 
I regularly tow a double horse box (with the horses in it) and my Ifor trailer with about 3 tons of firewood. Never had a problem with the clutch or anything else. It depends on how you drive it. Same in any vehicle.
 
Shouldnt be a problem aslong as you drive it well. Its just other dick heads to watch out for and snaking, this what happened to me a few months ago, i wont tow that weight with a 90 ever again a 110-130 yes but not a 90 if you get in the slightest bit of trouble the weight takes you. I now pull machines with daf45.
 

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did the digger move on the trailer during the crash, or is that where it was positioned while you were driving ?
 
Sean said:
did the digger move on the trailer during the crash, or is that where it was positioned while you were driving ?
Click to expand...

EDIT (yes it did about 3 foot) it was Chained and strapped down including buckets. it was perfectly weighted on middle axle.

LOL no it differently was on my tow bar LOL the tow bar didnt break it just stretched and bent and pulled out of the coupler.

A polish wagon wiped me out. on dual carriageway :doh:
 
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LR90 said:
Shouldnt be a problem aslong as you drive it well. Its just other dick heads to watch out for and snaking, this what happened to me a few months ago, i wont tow that weight with a 90 ever again a 110-130 yes but not a 90 if you get in the slightest bit of trouble the weight takes you. I now pull machines with daf45.
Click to expand...
F**k, You ok?
 
mick the builder said:
F**k, You ok?
Click to expand...

Yes Mick thanks! Well no lost limbs anyway but fractured neck and dislocated shoulder and fecked up me fingers etc but nothing in comparison to what should have happened. ambulance bloke said I shouldnt have got out. By god they were quick and really good to.
 
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Surely that arm is facing the wrong way. Arm and bucket (if fitted) should face toward the towing vehicle.
 
redhand said:
Surely that arm is facing the wrong way. Arm and bucket (if fitted) should face toward the towing vehicle.
Click to expand...

The trailer has turned around. The tailgate is nearest the defender and the spare wheel is mounted on the A frame. The digger does look too far forward though which would give too big a nose weight and lead to light steering.
 
Cheers for the replys, in general it sounds like it will cope with it, iv just changed the clutch so am fully aware that its not something i want to do too regularly!
To lr90, that looks nasty, good thing digger didn't get thrown off too, thats a three tonner isnt it?, must be hell of a weight behind a 90?
 
redhand said:
Surely that arm is facing the wrong way. Arm and bucket (if fitted) should face toward the towing vehicle.
Click to expand...

The Dipper with, Ditcher is hooked into a resting frame on top of the A frame.

ratty said:
The trailer has turned around. The tailgate is nearest the defender and the spare wheel is mounted on the A frame. The digger does look too far forward though which would give too big a nose weight and lead to light steering.
Click to expand...

Ratty you are right i thought it hadn't moved! (i dont like looking at the photos tbh) but iv studied it and u r right it has moved forward, May father has told me the chains had snapped the side stations off and the strap slipped but held it enough to keep it on the trailer.
 
LR90 said:
Yes Mick thanks! Well no lost limbs anyway but fractured neck and dislocated shoulder and fecked up me fingers etc but nothing in comparison to what should have happened. ambulance bloke said I shouldnt have got out. By god they were quick and really good to.
Click to expand...
Pleased you got out alive! That must of been real scary.:eek:
 
landie man said:
Pleased you got out alive! That must of been real scary.:eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks me too :D, Tbh im not the sort of guy that gets phased easly iv seen some nasty **** in my time but this got me. Brought a tear to my eye when i looked back at it thought id killed my poodle but as it turned out that day she stayed home with the missus thank god!!
 
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