Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
jdea wrote:
Bushwanderer wrote:
So what's stopping you?
A wife, 3 teen age children, Front bushes, lower control arms, an alternator, and a 120k service….
I've never been so broke in my life.... The perfect storm: A Land rover and teenage children!
Hi jdea,
I think it's time that you got your priorities right. Join us at the next Epping pub lunch and we'll help. The Bearded Dragon
5th Aug 2010 12:30 am
Peterall
Member Since: 15 Aug 2008
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 15
I have towed my Adventure Off Road Camper at around 1600kg with a Mitch hitch over some very rough territory and had no issues at all. The Mitch hitch makes a big difference and a BAS remap bought the diesel consumption down to 12.5 on the highway, not to mention the get up n' go and lack of turbo lag.. Off to cross the Simpson with it next week. 2005 SE TDV6, BAS remap; Black Widow drawer system; GME 3440 UHF; TPMS; Traxide dual battery controller; Cooper AT3's ; Mitchell Bros tow hitch;
5th Aug 2010 5:37 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Peterall wrote:
Off to cross the Simpson with it next week.
We'll expect some pics. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
5th Aug 2010 7:37 am
Peterall
Member Since: 15 Aug 2008
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 15
[/quote]We'll expect some pics. [/quote]
Of course, I won't let you down.
It seems that we have picked a great time to see the desert in it's green cloak but have some road closure concerns about the trip home via Innaminka. 2005 SE TDV6, BAS remap; Black Widow drawer system; GME 3440 UHF; TPMS; Traxide dual battery controller; Cooper AT3's ; Mitchell Bros tow hitch;
Thanks for all the great comments. I seem to be settling on the Kimberley Limited Edition. My wife and I plan to leave Perth at the end of November, tour through the Fitzerald River National Park then on to Isralite Bay east of Esperance. Then off to Canberra and up to Sydney for xmas coming back home via the Snowies and Victorian high country. Given all your helpful comments I think the car should be able to tow the camper OK. Kimberley tell me that the track of the D4 and rim offsets are close to the LandCruiser 200 and can set the suspension up so that it will track pretty close with the car's wheels (good in sand and mud). However, the PCD on the D4 is 5 x 120 which means that the rims are quite small compared to other 4 wheel drives and they can't match up the hubs at this stage. However, in the future if they do bring out a smaller hub I can always retrofit. With many thanks, Jeff Land Rover Series IIA 1967
Discovery 300 Tdi 1998 (white, ARB bullbar, suspension lift, roof rack, Lightforce spots etc)
Discovery 4 3.0 Litre White, e-diff
Can anyone tell me if the Mitchell Bros hitch fits the D4, whether the existing electrics etc have to be disturbed? I would also be looking for someone in Perth who can install Land Rover Series IIA 1967
Discovery 300 Tdi 1998 (white, ARB bullbar, suspension lift, roof rack, Lightforce spots etc)
Discovery 4 3.0 Litre White, e-diff
8th Aug 2010 10:39 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Jeff,
I'm confident that the D3 MitchHitch will fit the D4 without difficulty. Further, it's so easy to fit that you don't need an installer.
I just had a look at the Mitchell Bros website (www.mitchellbros.com.au) and the hitch seems to be no longer there. IIRC, they sold the distribution rights to one of the large 4x4 chains but I have been unable to locate it. Perhaps it's worth contacting Mitchell Bros website and asking them about the hitch.
NB: The wiring loom for the D4 is different to that for the D3. Just get the loom from your local LR dealer.
HTH,
PeterThe Bearded Dragon
8th Aug 2010 10:21 pm
Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
Towing CAmper trailers
Hi JeffD4,
Went down thru Israelite Baay and Cape Arid on the way to Perth 2yrs ago. We were going the other way to you (from SA). Turned left at Balladonia and wound our way doen there, camped at Israelite Bay for about 3 nights then headed out to Esperence. We were towing our Campomatic off-road camper ttrailer - fully ladenaround 1,000Kgs. Track out was very boggy, deep mud holes and where there wasn't mud there was sand - but had absolutely no problems getting thru. Went down to about 18-20psi in both the Disco and the C/T in a couple of steps. First airdown was to hi 20's and struggled a little, one I dropped further - no problems. There may be some phots in my gallery (can't remember if I uploaded any of that trip or not). If not I'll put some in.
Your trip sounds fantastic - how do you get to have so much time for travelling?
Cheers,
MartinMY08 TDV6 SE. White/Alpaca. BFG265/65/18 At's
Autologic, Trackside Dual Battery syst., Remote GME UHF, 4X4 Intelligence rear wheel carrier, Boab removable rear drawer system w National Luna fridge, Mitchell Bros hitch.
Rasta Plate. 110L LRA long-range fuel tank.
My employer owes me 2 lots of Long Service leave and loads of annual leave, so my wife and I have a few trips planned! We were in the Isralite Bay area last November - spent a few nights camping near the old telegraph station, then a few more nights at Point Malcolm. Had the whole place to ourselves, but on the day we packed up to go back to Esperance a group of three cars arrived - they had travelled the beach route from Eucla all the way across to Isralite - took them five days but apparently a wonderful trip (no camper trailers though). This coming November to January we are heading back to Isralite for about a week then across the Nullabor and thought of cutting up North through the Flinders to see Lake Eyre if its still got water in it. However, I'm a bit wary of how hot it will be at that time of year, and the flies (guess ther'e bad at that time of year). Then wer'e off to the Snowies and Vic high country - I used to hike their a few years ago and wanted to go to Cowombat Flat and a few other out of the way places.
I checked out your photos and was impressed by the look of your Campomatic. So far we seem to be settling on the Kimberley, but its quite a big beast, about 1.2 to 1.3 T fully loaded. However, the D4 has lots of torque so probably won't be a problem. How have you found your Campomatic - obviously from your description of the Isralite trip the D3 2.7 has no trouble towing it? I also notice that you seem to have a Mitch hitch fitted. The D4 has a higher tow bar than the D3 and I think I'll be able to plonk the KK straight onto it (it comes with the Treg hitch as standard including the C coupling).
Member Since: 08 Dec 2006
Location: sydney
Posts: 32
I have the D3 2.7 with the Mitch Hitch. I have just returned from a trip to the Centre, across the Tanami, up into Bungle Bungle, then to Fitzroy Crossing and then east along the Gibb River road (including Mitchell Plateau). We towed our Aussie swag with no trouble what so ever. In fact you had to keep checking it was still there as you hardly even noticed the trailer. (We have the air suspension which worked a treat). On other trip we have had no issues with towing the trailer either. So I would also highly recommend it. HSE TDV6 Silver. Roof rails, Adaptive lights, electronic diff. Now its time to add a few extra bits..... Dual Battery setup, Rhino Roof Racks, UHF / VHF radio, ARB bar and winch, custom storage..by me ... Now trying some Grabber AT2's.
12th Aug 2010 2:23 am
mowog
Member Since: 12 Jan 2010
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 90
I followed a different path for my hitch. I have a rapid hitch.
I have found the rapid hitch to be a great product.Discovery 4 SE Long range fuel tank Kaymar Rear Bar.
Mini Inspired by Goodwood
Mini JCW Clubman
Lotus Trooper Off Road Caravan
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
Towing Camper Trailer
Hi JeffD4.
Your D4 will eat it! My D3 is 'mapped' so it is getting up around the D4 figures (supposedly around 540NM) and the difference between towing it with the D3 and towing it with the old Paj is like the difference between camper trailer and no camper trailer (well almost). Have spent a lot of time in the Flinders, often camping out on properties off from the main tourist routes and accessed off PARs and station properties. nothing has been too difficult.
The one place I wouldn't take it is across the Simpson. Whilst there are some that say you can tow C/Ts across there, its not something I'd do. Heavy sand and steep sand dunes are not a good combination when towing.
With regard to hitches - the big thing is to make sure the rig is level, and you can adjust that by the tounge you use. I just went to a towbar manufacturer and got them to make up a tongue to exactly the height I specified - cost about $60 from memory. What you fit it into (standard LR, or Mitchell) is up to you. The Mitchell is a 'no brainer' with the old D3 plough, but I believe they've improved a bit with the D4.
After all the great trips we've had with the campomatic we sold it last weekend! My wife wants a bit more by way of creature comforts (not that the C/T isn't comfortable) so we've bought a new Quantum cross-over camper which will be delivered in December (after a 9 month lead time). So we go from a bit under 1,000Kgs to 1,600Kgs, but they are supposed to be equally capable off-road.
You're right about the time of year and heat/flies - you'll definately get plenty of both. We were at Lake Eyre Easter '09, camped at Halligan Bay and paddled in the water that was there then. It was pretty hot and there were a lot of flies even in April. Still, there are always flies in the outback! But I think it might be a bit hot for me at that time. BTW, if you're planning to stay in the Flinders for a few days, I recommend you look at staying on one of the stations, Willow Springs, Moolooloo - there are several that are setup for camping. You do have to pay, but you'll find great spots completely away from the crowds. Unfortunately the 'mainstream' Flinders camping spots have all got a bit over-regulated and crowded these days.
Cheers,
MartinMY08 TDV6 SE. White/Alpaca. BFG265/65/18 At's
Autologic, Trackside Dual Battery syst., Remote GME UHF, 4X4 Intelligence rear wheel carrier, Boab removable rear drawer system w National Luna fridge, Mitchell Bros hitch.
Rasta Plate. 110L LRA long-range fuel tank.
Have bought a Kimberley Kamper gullwing limited edition, picking up this coming Friday. I put it on the car before making the decision - the car's suspension adjusted within a few seconds to the downball weight and put the vehicle back to its normaly height at the rear and with the standard D4 hitch the camper is only slightly down at the nose (will probably be level in off road height). A caravanning friend tells me this is a good setup so I'll stay with the normal D4 hitch for now. Land Rover Series IIA 1967
Discovery 300 Tdi 1998 (white, ARB bullbar, suspension lift, roof rack, Lightforce spots etc)
Discovery 4 3.0 Litre White, e-diff
5th Sep 2010 4:30 am
Peterall
Member Since: 15 Aug 2008
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 15
Re: Towing Camper Trailer
Martin Krutli wrote:
Hi JeffD4.
The one place I wouldn't take it is across the Simpson. Whilst there are some that say you can tow C/Ts across there, its not something I'd do. Heavy sand and steep sand dunes are not a good combination when towing.
Martin
I have just returned from a Simpson Crossing with my D3 & Aventure Camper trailer. We had no issues at all with vehicles or trailers and experienced an amazing green desert with wildflowers on the east face of every dune. The authorities discourage trailers in this desert but a well setup OFFROAD trailer and decent 4WD will get through if you are sensible and don't risk damage by 'charging' the big climbs. Also beware of boggy clay pans, there is usually a detour around them. The second last pic shows a typical dune crossing and the last pic shows the climb over Big Red.
Instead of a two day break in Birdsville, we had an enforced seven day stay due to road closures but it was all very relaxing.
[/code]2005 SE TDV6, BAS remap; Black Widow drawer system; GME 3440 UHF; TPMS; Traxide dual battery controller; Cooper AT3's ; Mitchell Bros tow hitch;
8th Sep 2010 12:59 am
ozd4
Member Since: 11 Nov 2009
Location: Queensland
Posts: 92
Re: Towing Camper Trailer
Martin Krutli wrote:
Hi Jeff,
The only possible issue is that I believe the suspension won't go into extended mode with a trailer on behind - cause me to hit the bottom once or twice thru the steeper river crossing exits thru the Finke Gorge - Cheers,
Martin
Hi I use shortened suspension rods and off road height is normal extended
and you get to stay in normal off road height over 50 k\h works a treat for me 8)
I tow a Kimberley Karavan and they get around just fine
Cheers Ken
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