New defender towing .

[Bob lincs]

I’ve had my new defender ( D250 110 ) for a couple of months now and am really pleased with it apart from one thing . Last wk it put a little motorcycle trailer and the noise though the tow bar was horrendous I put it down to being a small trailer that bounces a lot , today I towed our tri axle 16’ ifor with my Discovery 4 on and it was all over the place . The trailer was loaded correctly and I was on good roads but it felt like the trailer was driving the car and was not a nice experience at all . The tow bar is an electric deploy type and I didn’t check but think it maybe a bit low for an ifor and more caravan height if this is the case it’s an easy fix with a height adjustable fixed tow bar , if this isn’t the case I’m not sure I want to tow with it . Anyone else have any concerns if they have towed with one ? .

 

[mf7480]

I've got one the same spec as yours and would put it at the best towing vehicle i've ever used, it drives no differently with a trailer to without. Mine has the fixed towbar so perhaps the deployable one is the problem? Is yours on springs or air? I'm on the standard springs.

 

[Bob lincs]

I've got one the same spec as yours and would put it at the best towing vehicle i've ever used, it drives no differently with a trailer to without. Mine has the fixed towbar so perhaps the deployable one is the problem? Is yours on springs or air? I'm on the standard springs.

Mine is on air so from experience of previous disco 4s it should tow superbly but it really didn’t. We have another on springs but with the same tow bar so I’m going to put the disco on the trailer and see what that’s like .

 

[Chae1]

I’ve had my new defender ( D250 110 ) for a couple of months now and am really pleased with it apart from one thing . Last wk it put a little motorcycle trailer and the noise though the tow bar was horrendous I put it down to being a small trailer that bounces a lot , today I towed our tri axle 16’ ifor with my Discovery 4 on and it was all over the place . The trailer was loaded correctly and I was on good roads but it felt like the trailer was driving the car and was not a nice experience at all . The tow bar is an electric deploy type and I didn’t check but think it maybe a bit low for an ifor and more caravan height if this is the case it’s an easy fix with a height adjustable fixed tow bar , if this isn’t the case I’m not sure I want to tow with it . Anyone else have any concerns if they have towed with one ? .

My uncle has one too, he's been towing a mini digger with his.

He is very disappointed with how it sits on road when towing also.

Said engine is great for towing.

 

[Bob lincs]

My uncle has one too, he's been towing a mini digger with his.

He is very disappointed with how it sits on road when towing also.

Said engine is great for towing.

I think the engine is superb but the whole car seems to wriggle about when towing.

 

[Chae1]

I think the engine is superb but the whole car seems to wriggle about when towing.

He still has a swb old style defender and says it's much better towing vehicle.

 

[mf7480]

He still has a swb old style defender and says it's much better towing vehicle.

That’s crazy. We too have an old style 90 and there is absolutely no comparison. To be honest I’m not sure how the 90’s ever got certified to tow 3.5t!

 

[Drillman]

I used to think Landrover 90s and TDi/TD5 discos were good for towing, Then I bought a new shape Ford Ranger 3.2 totally different legue for performance and stability with stock box on the back and effortless on the flat bed no matter what’s loaded on it.

 

[alomy75]

I’ve had my new defender ( D250 110 ) for a couple of months now and am really pleased with it apart from one thing . Last wk it put a little motorcycle trailer and the noise though the tow bar was horrendous I put it down to being a small trailer that bounces a lot , today I towed our tri axle 16’ ifor with my Discovery 4 on and it was all over the place . The trailer was loaded correctly and I was on good roads but it felt like the trailer was driving the car and was not a nice experience at all . The tow bar is an electric deploy type and I didn’t check but think it maybe a bit low for an ifor and more caravan height if this is the case it’s an easy fix with a height adjustable fixed tow bar , if this isn’t the case I’m not sure I want to tow with it . Anyone else have any concerns if they have towed with one ? .

Where are these good roads round here of which you speak?! What’s the disco weigh? 2.5? Our 2 axle 14’ ifor weighs 0.5t I seem to recall…you’d be close to if not over the limit I bet with your surplus axle and surplus length…plus…just because you can go fast doesn’t mean you have to…drive ye steady boi!

 

[Lakesdigger]

I’ve had my new defender ( D250 110 ) for a couple of months now and am really pleased with it apart from one thing . Last wk it put a little motorcycle trailer and the noise though the tow bar was horrendous I put it down to being a small trailer that bounces a lot , today I towed our tri axle 16’ ifor with my Discovery 4 on and it was all over the place . The trailer was loaded correctly and I was on good roads but it felt like the trailer was driving the car and was not a nice experience at all . The tow bar is an electric deploy type and I didn’t check but think it maybe a bit low for an ifor and more caravan height if this is the case it’s an easy fix with a height adjustable fixed tow bar , if this isn’t the case I’m not sure I want to tow with it . Anyone else have any concerns if they have towed with one ? .

If you're tow ball height doesn't match up with the trailer you're on the back foot to start with however well you load the trailer and tbh even if when loaded it looks to be sitting nicely it probably isn't.

 

[HarryB97]

I went from a Discovery 4 to a new Defender 110. I was expecting it to be worse at towing however it is much more stable and doesn’t wallow about nearly as much as the discovery. Feels a lot safer, the engine isn’t as good as the disco though.

 

[michael N123]

That’s crazy. We too have an old style 90 and there is absolutely no comparison. To be honest I’m not sure how the 90’s ever got certified to tow 3.5t!

Daft how a lot of modern 4x4s can’t legally tow 3.5ton but you can with a old daihatsu fortrack

 

[Dave W]

I’ve had my new defender ( D250 110 ) for a couple of months now and am really pleased with it apart from one thing . Last wk it put a little motorcycle trailer and the noise though the tow bar was horrendous I put it down to being a small trailer that bounces a lot , today I towed our tri axle 16’ ifor with my Discovery 4 on and it was all over the place . The trailer was loaded correctly and I was on good roads but it felt like the trailer was driving the car and was not a nice experience at all . The tow bar is an electric deploy type and I didn’t check but think it maybe a bit low for an ifor and more caravan height if this is the case it’s an easy fix with a height adjustable fixed tow bar , if this isn’t the case I’m not sure I want to tow with it . Anyone else have any concerns if they have towed with one ? .

I’d be considering upgrading to a better more stable trailer.

 

[ford 7810]

I’ve had my new defender ( D250 110 ) for a couple of months now and am really pleased with it apart from one thing . Last wk it put a little motorcycle trailer and the noise though the tow bar was horrendous I put it down to being a small trailer that bounces a lot , today I towed our tri axle 16’ ifor with my Discovery 4 on and it was all over the place . The trailer was loaded correctly and I was on good roads but it felt like the trailer was driving the car and was not a nice experience at all . The tow bar is an electric deploy type and I didn’t check but think it maybe a bit low for an ifor and more caravan height if this is the case it’s an easy fix with a height adjustable fixed tow bar , if this isn’t the case I’m not sure I want to tow with it . Anyone else have any concerns if they have towed with one ? .

Drawbar height is everything you need the nose weight just right . Tape measure and a level yard Measure empty then load up and Measure again

 

[Pistonbroke]

There's three new defenders around here on farms and every one of them looks too low on the backend when towing.

 

[Dukes Fit]

I used to tow my 18ft ifor Williams with my D4 every day and would say it's the best 4x4 for towing.

The drawbar height with the standard towball is slightly too low for unladen trailer but as soon as there is weight on it it's fine.

What tyres do you have on your trailer as there is a fair difference in height between the standard 195/60/12 and the 185/70/13 that can be fitted as an option.

 

[Drillman]

I’d be considering upgrading to a better more stable trailer.

Don’t worry puntawotshisname will be along shortly to tell us all where we are going wrong,

let’s just hope the sweary filter doesn’t have meltdown

 

[Timbo]

There's three new defenders around here on farms and every one of them looks too low on the backend when towing.

90's are usually on springs, whereas they should be on air as standard if the HD tow pack is fitted.

 

[Lakesdigger]

Daft how a lot of modern 4x4s can’t legally tow 3.5ton but you can with a old daihatsu fortrack

Its the manufacturer who sets towing weight (possibly within a few set guidelines).

 

[B R C]

Can you not alter ride height with the air suspension? A discovery on a flatbed is maybe not the best load to be towing with anything? Maybe try it with a more normal load. I’m interested as looking at 90 hardtop and currently thinking air would be best.