Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10360
towing abilty and upgrades
Folks
Just some observations after being away last week with the tintent.
A lot of folks seem to imply that remaps are generally a good idea when shifting close on a couple of tons of tintint, and that better brakes are very handy.
For me, I had V8 discs on my old D3, and have had a BAS remap on the current one, but.....
I've just had my HPF pump replaced, and decided before it went in to drop the remap back off, and I've left it off for now, and this D3 has standard TDV6 brakes.
Did it suffer for this - not a chance. I towed our Bailey Olympus 620-6 up to Ravenglass on the Cumbia coast, and if any of you know the A590 and A595, its not Alpine pass stuff, but its still twisty, windy, steep (up and down), tight, and not once did the D3 miss a beat, or slow down on a climb, or suffer from brake fade on the downhill bits.
And on the M6 on the run home, despite being a tad blustery, just romped home, even showing a couple of other D3's a clean pair of heels.
I guess I'm saying it a damn fine towcar in standard form, so you dont have to tweek it
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
3rd Jun 2013 5:02 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15269
And the D4's not a bad tow car either.
Towed my caravan all the way from York to Skye and back last week.
And towed like a dream, in fact it was difficult to keep the speeds down to 70mph when towing on the motorways.
It just wanted to keep going faster.
Embarrassed not just other towing outfits, but found out that many cars didn't like being overtaken by a caravan .... as they'd then up the speed just so they could re-pass me.
Absolutely flawless ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
< ‘tis but a mere scratch …….. it’ll polish out.
3rd Jun 2013 5:11 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
It's hills where it really shows its class, great fun whizzing past cars, it also lets you get out of the ruts in lane 1 that the lorries make.DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
3rd Jun 2013 5:43 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
took our TA Bailey Unicorn down to Cornwall and showed many a car and many an outfit a clean pair of heals even on some long steep uphill stretches as Ronp said also had to think very carefully about speed as it was easy for it to drift up 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
3rd Jun 2013 5:49 pm
tabbs
Member Since: 13 Dec 2012
Location: Wakefield
Posts: 67
Standard d3s
Best towing vehicle I have used
Nice and steady at 60/65 but feels like could do more Discovery 3, TDV6 S, 2005(55), Java Black
Runner Boards
Privacy Glass
I must have a problem Ive just bought a 2006 D3 and am totally disapointed with the towing power,Ive got a Geist 640 twin axle caravan and have been towing with a Navara D40 for last 4 years but fancied a disco,went to Southport for first trip and couldnt believe how guttless it was wont pull away until revs get around the 1500 mark then its seems to pull away had to be in 4th gear at around 50/55, anyone give me a clue as to what might be wrong.
9th Jun 2013 6:34 pm
Alan B
Member Since: 12 Feb 2013
Location: Fife
Posts: 6528
Pssst. Take the handbrake of the caravan
But I'm sure someone will give you a more realistic answer soon
D3 57 xs Stornaway grey
D2 02 commercial silver gone but a great servant and won't be forgotten
Iid Bluetooth
9th Jun 2013 7:05 pm
JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2486
ronp wrote:
...... in fact it was difficult to keep the speeds down to 70mph when towing on the motorways.
It just wanted to keep going faster.
Sure you want to be admitting that publicly - https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits not good to be condoning breaking the law or advertising it to your insurer?
9th Jun 2013 7:21 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15269
OK guilty, just give me the key and I'll go and lock myself up in the jail of your choice then
Let me ask you one simple question that I require an honest answer to......
'have YOU never driven above the speed limit on a public highway?'
Now when you read this post, make sure you give me your answer.
Btw Reckon my caravan is much safer being towed at 70mph with the D4 than with a standard car within the caravans towing limit at 60mph....... always on the road less travelled 🚧
< ‘tis but a mere scratch …….. it’ll polish out.
9th Jun 2013 10:13 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10360
@ Archi
sounds like you've a problem with your D3.
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
10th Jun 2013 8:46 am
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Archi
what is your car like on fuel, does it smoke, sounds like you have a serious issue, is the turbo working correctly, have you got a split intercooler hose?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
10th Jun 2013 8:55 am
mcsimmo
Member Since: 08 Aug 2011
Location: North of the south
Posts: 1795
Somethings not right with your D3. I pull nearly two tons of tintent with mine and I dont know its behind me.Man with no D3 anymore, but cant leave the forum....how sad.
10th Jun 2013 1:13 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
I have just got back from the inaugural tintent weekend of the year, and first tow with the new D4 (2013). Having done lots of towing with the two D3's that I have had previously (and they were both mighty fine tow cars) The D4 was much better.
The extra power makes a hell of a difference. No down shifting trying to keep a steady speed on motorway hills.
8 speed gear box is ideal for towing. Flappy paddles came in useful a couple of times.
Suspension seemed smoother with the caravan on. The D3 seemed to get jolted around over bumps. Might be just me loading the caravan differently though. Its a twin axle van, so some pitching is inevitable.
Fuel consumption was 24mpg. Never got anywhere near that towing with the 3
Trailer view and tow hitch assistance were ok for helping hook up the caravan, but a bit gimmicky I suppose.
having a look this w/end got an EGR blanking kit and will check turbo and intercooler pipes,whats strange is no smoke and non towing 31mpg according to computer,anything over 1500-2000 revs and drives great, below 1ts crap, having just got it dont know what to expect
11th Jun 2013 6:56 pm
iand3
Member Since: 24 Apr 2013
Location: All over
Posts: 130
You could try the MAP sensor cleaning tip too. Some say it helps the low down pick up abit.Current: D3 TDV6 S; GGAT's, DIY 7inch Tablet mount, DIY Reversing Camera, Stage 1 remap, EGR delete
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I must have a problem Ive just bought a 2006 D3 and am totally disapointed with the towing power,Ive got a Geist 640 twin axle caravan and have been towing with a Navara D40 for last 4 years but fancied a disco,went to Southport for first trip and couldnt believe how guttless it was wont pull away until revs get around the 1500 mark then its seems to pull away had to be in 4th gear at around 50/55, anyone give me a clue as to what might be wrong. 
