Advertise on DISCO4.COM
Forum · Gallery · Wiki · Shop · Sponsors
DISCO4.COM > Faults & Fixes (D4)

Towing issues with large trailer - TowTrust fixed
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 2 of 3 <123>
garrycol
 


Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1114

Australia 

Your sway will be directly related to tow ball weight - it needs to be increased but you are limited by your ridiculously low ball weight of 150kg - so on about 5% on the ball which really is on the margins of being too light given the trailer weight of 3t.

Here in Aust, even with the same vehicle we have 350kg ball weight so can load up to a better ball weight of 10% of the trailer weight - the best is probably about 8%. All our trailers here are up around the 3t mark and we do not have too many problems.

Given your 3t and only 150kg ball weight, all I can suggest is that you load up to that amount and drive very cautiously and there is not much else you can do.

Garry
  
Post #223806424th Jun 2021 1:35 pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
lukeob
 


Member Since: 02 Aug 2016
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 2013 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

Thanks all for the insights - some useful learnings there! Will confirm the nose weight and am getting rear arms looked at too.

Aside from recent wobbling, towing is a doddle. Automatic, cruise control on motorway and dual carriageway. Doubt any of those luxuries in a lorry. Not to mention the F-S-F-S you'd have to mutter every time you go down a narrow street with cars parked on it!

Cheers Thumbs Up
 Luke

D4 MY13 HSE Lux 
 
Post #223808424th Jun 2021 4:34 pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JackNorris
 


Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1877

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 HSE Auto Tonga GreenDiscovery 3

Reading the thread you say it’s rated to 150kg

Apologies if ive missed it - but have you weighed it empty and with a load at the nose to see the actual weight ?
 MY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD 
 
Post #223814224th Jun 2021 8:57 pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
James W
 


Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
Posts: 3056

United Kingdom 

I made the same point Jack, I think the hitch rating and the actual noseweight have been confused. I strongly suggest OP measures actual laden noseweight and aim for 100kg or so.
 D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - WTF does this button do 
 
Post #223820925th Jun 2021 7:11 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
garrycol
 


Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1114

Australia 

100kg nose/ball weight for a 3t trailer is just too light and will cause sway. Ideally should be up just over 200kg but the specifications for UK cars is only 150kg and assuming the towbar can take that, then 150kg is the max you can legally go to.
  
Post #223825225th Jun 2021 11:00 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JackNorris
 


Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1877

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 HSE Auto Tonga GreenDiscovery 3

Yes our nose weights are a lot lower than yours.

Majority of caravans regardless of size are all 100kg!
 MY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD 
 
Post #223835325th Jun 2021 9:21 pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
garrycol
 


Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1114

Australia 

"Majority of caravans regardless of size are all 100kg"

Hence why when towing 3t there is a sway issue!
  
Post #223836626th Jun 2021 1:15 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
robpenrose
 


Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2136

United Kingdom 2010 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 HSE Auto Stornoway GreyDiscovery 4

Why is the uk nose weight set much lower when the LR fixed tow bar has a 350kg limit?
 

Current: D4 HSE
Previous: BMW Z4M Coupe
Previous: Land Rover Defender 90 CSW Td5
Previous: Land Rover Discovery Td5 ES 
 
Post #223837326th Jun 2021 6:32 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
M3DPO
 


Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8043

England 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Corris GreyDiscovery 4

It isn’t everyone that tows with a Disco Laughing
 It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't. 
 
Post #223838026th Jun 2021 7:25 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Hardware
 


Member Since: 28 Jun 2016
Location: Hiding under the M60
Posts: 12676

United Kingdom 2011 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 XS Auto Sumatra BlackDiscovery 4

so ... what would it mean if you exceed the 100kg limit ? is that the max the UK fittings are spec'd for and the Aussie ones are better ? (Is the Aussie one the 2" square receiver on the car ?)

or is it a legal thing and set to lowest common denominator, so the limit of weight you can hang off the back of a Ford Ka ?
  
Post #223838126th Jun 2021 7:29 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Farmer Chalk
 


Member Since: 06 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4156

England 2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE Auto Tangiers OrangeDiscovery 3

lukeob wrote:
Thanks all for the insights - some useful learnings there! Will confirm the nose weight and am getting rear arms looked at too.

Aside from recent wobbling, towing is a doddle. Automatic, cruise control on motorway and dual carriageway. Doubt any of those luxuries in a lorry. Not to mention the F-S-F-S you'd have to mutter every time you go down a narrow street with cars parked on it!

Cheers Thumbs Up


Trust me you do not know how true that is! Lockdown has been a disaster for us….all the city dwellers driving out into the country and abandoning their cars wherever they see fit without any consideration for farmers, fire engines or horse boxes…

  
Post #223838326th Jun 2021 7:32 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
JackNorris
 


Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1877

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 4.4 V8 HSE Auto Tonga GreenDiscovery 3

Hardware wrote:
so ... what would it mean if you exceed the 100kg limit ? is that the max the UK fittings are spec'd for and the Aussie ones are better ? (Is the Aussie one the 2" square receiver on the car ?)

or is it a legal thing and set to lowest common denominator, so the limit of weight you can hang off the back of a Ford Ka ?


Nope, some cars will be as low as 70kg. These days too a RRs hybrid is around 100kg lower than a RRS

The 100kg on a caravan is the alko chassis/hitch limit. If your car is max 70kg then you are even lower.


I can’t remember off the top of my head what the ifor trailers are but they are a lot Higher typically
 MY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD 
 
Post #223839326th Jun 2021 8:12 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
garrycol
 


Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1114

Australia 

robpenrose wrote:
Why is the uk nose weight set much lower when the LR fixed tow bar has a 350kg limit?


The UK vehicle limit is 150kg so even if you have a rated 350kg tow bar the limit remains at 150kg. The limit is the lowest rated component in the system.
  
Post #223841726th Jun 2021 9:39 am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Alphamale
 


Member Since: 28 May 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 496

United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Loire BlueDiscovery 4

I'm sorry, but I've been following this thread and keep reading people saying the legal max towing weight here in the UK is 100Kg. I don't think that is right.

Max nose weight is dependant on the car and its hitch type on the one hand, (could be anything from a measly 50Kg for something like a mini perhaps, up to 250Kg in the case of a discovery 4, as per owners handbook) which ever is the lesser, car or hitch. And the Max nose weight recommended by the trailer/caravan manufacturer on the other again what ever is the lower car, hitch or trailer/caravan and of course there's the train weight limits for car / trailer combination.

Assuming that your gross trailer weight is 3500Kg and its nose weight limit was high enough you could have the nose weight on your Discovery at 7% of the trailer weight i.e. 250Kg of course the hitch needs to be rated to the same. So detachable tow hook is out. The Discover hand book states:

Max permissible towing weights

Trailer with overrun brakes 3500Kg

Nose weight- detachable tow ball 150Kg (330Lb)

Nose weight - multi height drop plate tow ball 250Kg (551Lb)

There is no legal weight limit, the recommendation is 5 - 7% of trailer weight.
  

Last edited by Alphamale on 30th Jun 2021 9:24 am. Edited 1 time in total 
Post #223866627th Jun 2021 5:46 pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Hardware
 


Member Since: 28 Jun 2016
Location: Hiding under the M60
Posts: 12676

United Kingdom 2011 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 XS Auto Sumatra BlackDiscovery 4

hmmm ... as I happened to have my 2011 handbook in front of me ( checking oils spec for diffs ), had a look at nose weight ratings. (page 69)

100kg ( 330 lbs )
350 kg (770 lb) Australia only.

As someone who doesn't tow ( but is still on a paper 1979 licence so can ! ) I'm finding it all very concussing Confused

edit: It says "recommended" so afaik, you can do the 330kg "Oz" weight if you choose.
  
Post #223867027th Jun 2021 5:56 pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Display posts from the last:  
Post Reply Back to top
Page 2 of 3 <123>
Jump to:  
Previous Topic | Next Topic >


Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



DISCO4.COM Copyright © 2004-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DISCO3.CO.UK RSS Feed - All Forums

DISCO4.COM is independent and not affiliated to Land Rover.
Switch to Mobile Site