hughesy
Member Since: 30 Sep 2012
Location: manchester
Posts: 127
  
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Hi everyone, gonna be towing my caravan with the disco for the first time next week so was wondering if any of you select the low gear ratio when towing a caravan, i thought it was just for slow driving/manouvering or offroading etc, i will be towing a bailey 525 olympus, also what tyre pressures do you increase your tyre pressures to when towing.Thanks Roy
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 24th Oct 2012 6:24 pm |
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J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
 
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Only if you want to tow very slowly!
I might use it if pulling away on a slope in order to save my clutch, or if moving around a site, but not for normal road driving no. 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
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| 24th Oct 2012 6:28 pm |
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z4cAtS
Member Since: 05 May 2011
Location: M4 J13
Posts: 137
 
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I always use low range for the maneuvering at either end of the trip, I also unlock the stabiliser.
Tyre pressure seems to fine when pumped up to the max loaded settings or even an extra psi or so. (Remap, EGRs Blanked,Silicon I/C hose) from BAS, (Torque Convertor, Compressor, FL Wishbones, Alternator) by WD, Belts by Newbury4x4, Megaflush+extra cooler by GRGB, Diff+Transfer oils, ARB Bushes, Fuel filter, Fixed Towbar, Remote FBH.
The 'z' is silent
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| 24th Oct 2012 6:33 pm |
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hughesy
Member Since: 30 Sep 2012
Location: manchester
Posts: 127
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thats what i thought j@mes so will come in handy for reversingback down my drive etc but not sure how you would use it at a slope, say you was at some lights on a slope would you set off on low gear then just quickly put your clutch in and select high gear ratio 
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| 24th Oct 2012 6:34 pm |
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J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
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Yep if on a slope I normally start in low 2nd then 3rd 4th then quickly back in to high 2nd before losing too much momentum and off you go! 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
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| 24th Oct 2012 7:08 pm |
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hughesy
Member Since: 30 Sep 2012
Location: manchester
Posts: 127
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thanks for replys will will give the low gear ratio a go if on a slope and definatley when manouvering 
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| 24th Oct 2012 7:22 pm |
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Madrunner
Member Since: 23 Oct 2011
Location: Dorset
Posts: 391
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We tow a bailey unicorn all over the place and have never needed to use low ratio yet.
On site manouvering, particular with slopes onto the pitch, I'd imagine it could be useful. 2013 Evoque
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| 24th Oct 2012 7:38 pm |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244
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You don't say if you've got an auto or manual, with an auto I've never had any difficulty in starting off on a incline with a loaded trailer on the back, that includes a horse trailer with 2 hunters in.
If manouvering in low ratio be aware of the rapid response from the accelerator the car literally jumps forward or reverse, I find the mud and snow setting in low ratio is best. As above post you are unlikely to need low ratio, except to give yourself the renowned D3 permagrin  For the benefit of onlookers of course.
Can't comment on a manual, only driven one for a test and did not like it. It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 24th Oct 2012 8:14 pm |
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Discolegal
Member Since: 27 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 78
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I manoeuvre on site and when reversing into my drive in Low Ratio, accelerator can be sensitive, but on level ground I rarely need to touch the accelerator anyway.
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| 24th Oct 2012 10:25 pm |
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hughesy
Member Since: 30 Sep 2012
Location: manchester
Posts: 127
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Thanks for all the replys i am looking forward to my first tow with her next week and will definatley try the low gear ratio for manouvering.
Madrunner how much do you have your nose weight at , i know baileys average 100kg just wondering if you tow at that and do you load the back of the car up?
M3DPO- sory their, its a manual which you would of noticed by now reading the post, im with you on the automatic though my old merc e280(petrol v6) was an auto and i miss her lik mad now you just cant beat the effortless driving i find this manual lark hard work now  , will definatley get the auto in the future.
thanks for the tip of selecting the snow when in low gear
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| 25th Oct 2012 6:05 am |
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Madrunner
Member Since: 23 Oct 2011
Location: Dorset
Posts: 391
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Hi Roy
We load around the 90-95kg mark. Any lighter and the van gets lively, any heavier and it's over the Alko hitch limit.
We've always loaded the car to the max - not only increases towing weight for stability but also keeps the van clear of clutter when arriving on site or stopping for a brew on a long haul.
As we don't load too much in the van I don't need to faff about checking noseweights and moving stuff to achieve the optimum, people seem to be forever faffing around checking this, folding that, moving something else. We spend a lot of weekends away so have pitching and packing away down to under 30 mins.
What van you towing ?
The D3 makes an epic towcar, especially on motorways. Ours is rock solid. Even better than our navara that we tow with.
Tyre pressures - for me I use 42 at the rear and 36 front. I found the rear tyre pressures make a huge difference to stability.
Let us know how the first tow goes !!!! 2013 Evoque
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| 25th Oct 2012 6:52 am |
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Discoed
Member Since: 16 Jun 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1020
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With a manual its always best to pull off on a hill in low range when towing to protect the clutch - not known for its durability!! I was told to do this by LR.
I also use low range in slow moving traffic for extra control - its easy enough to pop back into high range.
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| 25th Oct 2012 7:10 am |
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Matty 2332
Member Since: 02 Dec 2008
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 670
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As others have said, low ratio is handy for the short backwards and forward shunts, I also find using the key fob to higher or lower suspension when hooking up quite useful.
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| 25th Oct 2012 7:21 am |
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subaru60
Member Since: 05 Oct 2012
Location: crawley
Posts: 277
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what key fob do you use to lower and raise the suspension
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| 25th Oct 2012 3:28 pm |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18573
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You can program the LR logo button on the keyfob to raise/lower the suspension  06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
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| 25th Oct 2012 3:29 pm |
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