Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Away,
Re-tighten the bolt on the hitch after first use. “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.
31st Aug 2012 2:25 am
away
Member Since: 18 Nov 2006
Location: Cossack
Posts: 111
caverD3 wrote:
Away,
Re-tighten the bolt on the hitch after first use.
I saw that in the instructions, have you heard of a bad experience? Thanks Caver.
CheersD4: Expedition Rack, 104 Litre Long Range Tank, Raised Air Intake
D3: Every bloomin' thing but the kitchen sink
31st Aug 2012 2:56 am
caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
The mitch hitch was my idea and I worked with them on it. Mine has been fine but I have seen the result of the eye bush failing and the bolt shearing. The hitch still stayed attached with other two bolts so it has a fail safe aspect. New ones have a thicker bolt. I believe the faiure was due to some of the early ones having too long a crush tube so the bush didn't tighten properly.
It is a good precaution to check it once it has settled and like the D3/4 itself regularly check it. “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.
31st Aug 2012 4:28 am
away
Member Since: 18 Nov 2006
Location: Cossack
Posts: 111
G'day again Caver
I did note that the fittings instructions mentioned a smaller diameter bolt for the bush assembly, but the supplied bolt was the same diameter as the bottom two bolts. I deduced from that, that there may have been issues with the thinner bolt.
The instructions suggest checking the tension of the upper bolt after the first 50Km of towing and thereafter at about 1000Km intervals for the first few thousand K's.
I should have got one of these hitches for the D3 but never got around to it.
Cheers
RussD4: Expedition Rack, 104 Litre Long Range Tank, Raised Air Intake
D3: Every bloomin' thing but the kitchen sink
31st Aug 2012 6:32 am
topcat1964
Member Since: 12 Jun 2012
Location: Selby
Posts: 2
Epic Trip in Epic D4
Well not exactly today, but last week got back from 4,500 mile 4 week trip down to southern portugal via Belgium, Bordeaux, Salamanca (on the way down) and Valencia, Barcelona, Annecy and Paris on the way back.
Thought we would have a change from the normal airport issues and see some of the countryside that normally looks like a google map from 35,000 feet!.
After trying to switch over the non adapatable Xenon's to LHD mode and failing (due to limited space in the front bulkheads (and apparently very big hands!) a quick trip to Farnell Leeds and they showed me how to remove the grille and remove the light units and make the adjustement. Thanks Farnells for the service at no charge. Don't be scared it took all of 2 minutes and I managed to do it myself on the return trip.
4 up with luggage for 4 weeks and could still see out of the back window. Average mpg was 29.4. Only glitch was a frozen sat nav (due to me as a bored passenger fiddling while it was doing some complcated re calcs crossing from Spain back into France when SWMBO was driving). Cant blame the car for that!. A quick call to Farnells and ten minutes later it had recovered (after disconnecting the battery). Thanks Tracey on service reception - more than just a pretty face.
Cruising happilly at motorway speeds (at some times around 100mph) Effie (short for "Epherlump" as the kids christened the car due to her size and registration monika) was quiet smooth comfortable and relaxing, Cruise control on for many hours just took the stress out of journeys (some days doing c 750 miles). Fantastic stereo linked in to the iPhone and we got through a playlist of over 750 songs put together by my 15 year old. Kids had rear seat entertainment . These are standalone linked screens and a Sony ps2 linked in. Used some domestic cable tidies from maplins to get rid of unsighly cables hanging around and the beuaty is they are transferrable to the Smax. The only downside was repeated rumble noises and vibration which sounded like wheel bearing problems but turned out to be the hand controllers of the ps2 set on vibrate! and left running by my son in the seat back pocket of the drivers seat).
Saw some stunning scenary, drove on some fantastic roads and stayed and ate at some great places. All in all - a trip of a lifetime.
Interestingly in the Algarve (Quinta do Lago) saw three other 2012 MY Disco 4s around including one "twin" HSE in Santorini black staying less than 1/4 mile away (Registration included digits YORKS or soemthing similar - was that you?)
Car is now washed and valleted and looks like it is striaght out of the showroom. Only downside is we set of with 2000 miles on the clock (bought the car in June) and now it has over 6,500. Anyone contemplating such a trip should not have any fears fromthe car perspective but I would not have wanted to do it in a lesser vehicle.
Disco 4 has to be the best long distance cruiser ever made. Brilliant trip, brilliant car!2012 - D4 HSE SDV6 Santorini Black - my truck!
2003 - Porsche 996 C2 - my middle age crisis car!
2010 - Ford S-Max Titanium - wife's family bus!
Carerra hybrid 21 speed - For fighting the flab (and losing)!
12th Sep 2012 3:00 pm
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
Helped out on the Kielder 4x4 Safari on Saturday raising money for The Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.
Then had a spot of wild camping in Northumberland overnight on Saturday then onto some very wet lanes on Sunday. Had a little mishap on one lane and slid into a ditch and got well and truly stuck But luckily Simon17 was behind me in his D3 complete with winch With a group effort we managed to extract it without any damage
A couple of photos
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Crack Recovery Team Jumps into action
Click image to enlarge
Cheers Ian
--------------------
Club N.E.R.D.S
Kielder 4x4 Safari
Discoless
Last edited by Hairy Dan on 19th Feb 2013 2:29 pm. Edited 1 time in total
1st Oct 2012 12:52 pm
Russell
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Played down at the beach
Click image to enlarge
MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
1st Oct 2012 1:14 pm
devonchilliman
Member Since: 03 Nov 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 5224
Ian....
That's well and truly stuck
1st Oct 2012 1:17 pm
MJIbex
Member Since: 13 Sep 2009
Location: Reading
Posts: 195
A spot of surfing on Monday
Click image to enlarge
Can anyone guess the beach (in Cornwall for a hint).
Mark.
Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Gone: 2010MY 59 plate Bali Blue HSE.
Also gone : 2012MY 12 plate Firenze Red HSE.
In Bits : 2005 55plate 4.0 V8 Ibex 250s SW.
4th Oct 2012 11:57 pm
RRR207
Member Since: 12 Oct 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 372
Regency Stage Rally 2012
Spent the weekend doing 'safety radio' on the rally, a single venue rally at the Bath & West Showground (Shepton Mallet). 11 stages based around the showground on Saturday evening & all day on Sunday. Approx 60 vehicles from WRC Evo's to a Ford Anglia! My favourite was a Rover SD1, probably the most inappropriate rally car especially around a very right course ..... it eventualy went out after the navigator said right & the driver went left & hit the curb side-on, wrecking the suspension. There was a decent fall out rate, due to mechanical failure & accidents, see my gallery for pictures (I still haven't managed to work out how to post in the thread).Nick
2010 D4 ....... now gone and replaced with a 05RRV Autobiography
Member of Wessex4x4Response, (Bristol team)
24th Oct 2012 4:35 pm
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
Click image to enlarge
Underneath each photo in your gallery it says BBCode Full Size: Copy the text next to it which looks like
and then paste that into your post reply box Cheers Ian
--------------------
Club N.E.R.D.S
Kielder 4x4 Safari
Discoless
24th Oct 2012 5:16 pm
RRR207
Member Since: 12 Oct 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 372
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
These two were arguing about who had the corner, I don't think either were very happy after. Coincidently the driver of the Talbot was related to the driver of the blue escort that HD kindly posted for me.
I think the navigator of the Talbot needed new underwear after!!
On the bright side neither crews had any injuries.
Thanks HD for the advice.Nick
2010 D4 ....... now gone and replaced with a 05RRV Autobiography
Member of Wessex4x4Response, (Bristol team)
24th Oct 2012 5:28 pm
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
No problem, at least there were no injuries just their pride and wallets, it always worries me at SV events when they don't have a lot to keep them apart and they both have the red mist down Cheers Ian
--------------------
Club N.E.R.D.S
Kielder 4x4 Safari
Discoless
24th Oct 2012 5:36 pm
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
Helped out on the Kielder 4x4 Safari today raising money for The Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.
A shot of my car on the top of Ogre Hill in Northumberland, the fence you can see in the background is the border with Scotland, just as the sun went down
Click image to enlarge
Cheers Ian
--------------------
Club N.E.R.D.S
Kielder 4x4 Safari
Discoless
Last edited by Hairy Dan on 19th Feb 2013 2:30 pm. Edited 1 time in total
10th Nov 2012 8:46 pm
RRR207
Member Since: 12 Oct 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 372
Nice picture.
That's a 'calendar' shot. Very moody with the dark sky & the last glint of sun.Nick
2010 D4 ....... now gone and replaced with a 05RRV Autobiography
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
But luckily Simon17 was behind me in his D3 complete with winch 
With a group effort we managed to extract it without any damage 
