I have a 7-seater 2003 Discovery 2 TD5 . My air suspension has being giving me no end of hassle and I've been advised that a conversion to coil springs would be the way to go.

My only reservation is that I've heard this can cause problems when towing. I regularly pull a horsebox with 2 large horses. Anyone out there tried pulling such a load on coil spings?

Niall_Ire said:

I have a 7-seater 2003 Discovery 2 TD5 . My air suspension has being giving me no end of hassle and I've been advised that a conversion to coil springs would be the way to go.

My only reservation is that I've heard this can cause problems when towing. I regularly pull a horsebox with 2 large horses. Anyone out there tried pulling such a load on coil springs?

Click to expand...

My previous TD5 has air suspension and my current one has coil springs. I tow horse trailers and other heavy loads regularly and coils don't cause trouble, but they are not as good in terms of giving the horses a smooth ride, as air springs.

Dave

When I got my D2 (7 seats) it had been converted to coils, and I used it a few times for work towing our 12' & 14' Trailers. The 14' generally coming in at around 2.5T, not sure how much a horse weighs, but I imagine a couple with the box can't be more than about 1.5T ?

The issue I had was it riding pretty low at the back, and therefore high at the front. Never actually had an issue driving, and was never pulled, although how it looked I would have pulled me if I were a traffic cop, or VOSA.

I subsequently converted back to air springs, and its much better now. The only issue is it still rides a little high at the front, in comparison to the companies RR that I also use for towing. I assume that this is for two reasons :-

1. The RR has full air suspension, and so can compensate at the front correctly.

2. The D2's tow bar is a long way back from the rear axel in comparison to the RR, so it has a lot more of a leverage effect.

Regards

Ben

Thanks folks, 2 horses in a box would be just shy of 2.5T and I tow with a double axel trailer.

Well there you go then 2.5T, I guess it will be very similar to my experience then.

Also as has been pointed out somewhere recently coils on a 7 seated break type approval so technically they are a no no anyway.

Coils on a seven seater would technically break type approval, but its just bacause LR didnt apply for it with springs as they didnt build 7 searers with springs - doesnt mean they are unsafe in any way. You also need to be careful what springs are fitted. Heavy duty OME or OEM progressive resistance springs would mae a harsher ride than air, but it would be miles better than a `standard' britpart or similar spring.
Overall Air is better, but perhaps a tad less `robust' as there is more to go wrong.
Hope this helps,