I have towed pretty much everything with my Defender, car trailers box trailers, flats the lot, but this will be the first time for any distance with the D3.
I will be heading south through the UK across the water and down France pulling a box trailer, the trailer is a good 8 foot high and will be circa 2 Tonne loaded, so I guess its like pullng a Caravan? I thought I would ask the "Tin Tenters" for advice.
I have a D3 Auto with Cruise,
I would like to return a sensible MPG and I'll be hitting the French motorways at night, I have noticed on short motorway runs with the box trailer that at 60 the gearbox prefers 5th in auto mode, but it will happy hold 60 in 6th at 1500 rpm in command shift
So do you recommend
1.let the auto do what it does, and set a sensible 60 on the cruise
2.let the auto do what it does, but no cruise and regulate throttle to maintain a steady progress
3.hold the higher gear using command shift and use my foot for throttle.
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15th Apr 2012 6:35 pm
stew 46
Member Since: 01 Dec 2011
Location: cornwall
Posts: 10147
best 4x4 ever for towing , i tow 3.5 tone when i have to move my digger around , and its great , i find keep the weight just a little more to the rear of trailer but only just , so load evenly and should be fine -------------------------------------------------
if you cant hold on dont let go , it ill come in handy for something even if you never use it.
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15th Apr 2012 6:42 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8219
D3 auto is a dream to tow with.
If speed is limited to 60mph for any reason I find the most economical way is to use auto upto 50 then change up to 6th with sport mode and keep in sport mode until speed drops to below 50 then change across to normal auto, if you are travelling over 60 keep in normal auto, the problem is the car will not change into 6th gear when towing until you reach 60, you can travel 100s of miles in 5th gear and not know it but the car will travel quite happily at 50 or over if you change manually.
Be aware when using auto cruise (I always use it) in sport mode when you hit a hill it will hold onto 6th gear as long as possible then change down and will take of like a rocket, even with a 2 ton trailer on the back, can be a little alarming first time it does it and you are on the brow of a hill following slower traffic.
I have achieved over 30 mpg with a 2 ton caravan on a long run using this method.
Be aware it is now illegal in France to have any device that will detect speed cameras, this includes satnavs that can detect them or warn when approaching one, the Gendarm have devices that can detect if you have one installed in your car, very heavy fines if one is caught and fines have to be paid instantly or your car is impounded.
Good luck and enjoy your trip, wish I was coming with you.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
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15th Apr 2012 7:50 pm
DerbyshireDisco
Member Since: 12 Mar 2012
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 1397
I have a speed camera app on my iPhone, would this be detectable by the cops or is it just Snooper type devices,.Displaced Yorkshireman.
=^:^=
SDV6 Auto obviously, Loire blue/Ebony, ugly kid glass, RLD wheel protector, private plate and maybe side steps.
I do have a snooper in the D3 but as I have for the past few years, I will be putting it in the boot at the port, to be honest at night there is unlikely to be many mobile units about and I know wherre the fixed units are on my route to the house
DerbyshireDisco I doubt it can be detected by external means, in fact I'm not convinced they can detect a GPS based unit, after all it is only a series of POI's in use as camera sites that warn you when you approach the location, but if they pull you over for any other reason, bulb out etc, then I expect they can ask to check.
As for my snooper, it is a passive detector, but the unit is obvious on the windscreen when in place Altox GSM FBH controller thread
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15th Apr 2012 10:52 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26767
Let the auto do its stuff, engine is at most efficient at about 2000 rpm. Lower revs dont necessarily mean lower fuel consumption. Use cruise on the flat and downhill (will change down automatically for engine braking), turn off cruise going up hill as it will try to maintain a speed which might not be achievable.
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16th Apr 2012 7:09 am
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10350
with a 2ton trailer and a D3, the gross train weight is over 3.5tons, so the towing speed limit in France is now approx 56mph
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16th Apr 2012 7:56 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
i find keeping it in "S" mode in command shift is much better on hills, Auto on flat and use the gears in command shift for roads where you need to constantly slow down for sharp bends, traffic islands etc.
D3 can just be left in Auto all the time and that will be perfectly fine - i just find having a little more control over what gear you are in on the windy roads helps keep progress smooth and a bit quicker accelerating.
how ever you drive it though - it is effortless and will be easier and more comfortable than the defender without a trailer
towed my 1900Kgs caravan with my 4.2V8 defender - never again..... couldnt stop Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
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Well a mixture of al the advise was used, I think that command shift to keep at at 2000 RPM up hills was my prefered option at timein auto the D3 dropped to 4th
They were big hills though
I have to say though towed really well no problems just used a little fuel Ave 19.2 indicated over 1200 miles
but i was between 65 and 70 most of the time, the D3 seems foe efficient in England, i think our hills are less drastic than those between Caen and Southern brittany, but when Diesel is only 1.38 Euro a litre 8)
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7th May 2012 3:56 pm
aw255
Member Since: 06 May 2012
Location: Bradford
Posts: 6
I know this thread started about towing, but as it is talking about France and advice is being offered about speed detectors, are you ware there is another new law that has sneaked in in France.
You need to carry a brethalizer (2 as you need a spare if you use 1!)
From the Telegraph
New laws will make the equipment compulsory for all cars on French roads from July 1, with anyone caught without the equipment facing an 11 euro (£9.20) fine.
Around three million Britons a year take their car abroad and the new offence comes into force on July 1 as the holiday season approaches its height.
The kits, costing up to £2 are expected to be available at Channel ports and will enable motorists to see if they are under the French limit of 50 mg per 100ml of blood which is 30 mg lower than in the UK.
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7th May 2012 6:46 pm
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
I try to keep the revs at around 2000rpm as that is meant to be the most economical range for the D3, it also keeps the turbo spinning up. I find that keeping it in "sport" is best.
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