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TB2
Member Since: 23 Dec 2012
Location: SE England
Posts: 26
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| Some (silly?) towing questions |
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Ladies and gents of the forum, we are very close to supplementing our existing, ageing Defender 110 with a newer Solihull product for our towing requirements.
We are looking at a Disco 3 and, (am I allowed to mention it on here?) a Range Rover Tdv8.
We have found two vehicles that appear to meet our demands and more importantly, sit within our budget. neither have a towbar (towball?) fitted at present.
Would it be naive of me to think that the fitting of a towbar would be easy? or relatively cheap? or that all it involved would be a qd towball to be purchased and attached to an existing mount?
Secondly, as far as the two vehicles are concerned, would towing with the Tdv8 be a much more refined affair than with the Tdv6, or would either be more than sufficient to pull a 26ft twin-axle? (We are planning on visiting the Italian lakes, Scandinavia and Spain although not, as it may appear to read, in one epic journey)!
Our annual mileage when these overseas trips are not factored into the equation, would be around 3,000 miles. I understand that some motoring correspondents advocate the use of petrol engined vehicles for anyone who drives less than 12,000 miles p.a.
We would keep this vehicle for some considerable time so resale value is not high on our list.
One final question: one of the vehicles is for sale privately and amongst the items 'missing' is one of the ignition keys. (the other items being a wireless headset and a remote control for the Dvd player).
Would any of you have qualms about buying a car with one of the keys 'lost' or am I being overly cautious?
Kind regards
Tb2
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 1st Jul 2013 7:19 pm |
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geoff.
Member Since: 24 Jan 2010
Location: West kent
Posts: 8531
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both will do the job and do it very well 
as for the tow bar just have a good look to see if electrics have been fitted but if its not then it aint the end of the world to get it done
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| 1st Jul 2013 7:22 pm |
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mrsclayton
Member Since: 21 Oct 2012
Location: B78ish
Posts: 81
  
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I have a d3 57reg and my hubby has a newish L322 4.4 vogue se.. we have used both in the past few weeks to tow our 7.95 meter twin axle caravan... out come. the L322 does it much better, the d3 doesnt struggle but the L322 does it more effortlessly.. I believe the L322 is more expensive to get the electrics and tow bar fitted but worth it in the end!
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| 1st Jul 2013 7:34 pm |
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Crost
Member Since: 29 Jan 2013
Location: Croston, Lancashire
Posts: 997
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I have a D3 and tow a 27ft twin axel with it. I've had an X-trail and a free lander 2. THis is a different league over them .
Are the electrics there? If not it should be really easy to fit them my guy didn't take the bumper off and charged £100 with the loom. The tow bar is detachable and can be bought on here or an infamous auction site.
Keys arnt cheap from the dealers and need to be reprogrammed. the headsets and remotes again on the auction site. Mark
Remember its only an obsession....
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| 1st Jul 2013 7:46 pm |
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Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
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Either will tow it with no problems, many of us tow TA caravans, I think I'd have the FFRR, I would guess with the extra torque it would be be more economical to run. DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
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| 1st Jul 2013 8:32 pm |
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BLFarrar
Member Since: 02 Aug 2006
Location: Deepest, Dankest, Darkest, Dingiest......Le Halifax, West Yorkshire...with strong links to Ireland
Posts: 6222
 
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| Re: Some (silly?) towing questions |
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TB2 wrote:....Would any of you have qualms about buying a car with one of the keys 'lost' or am I being overly cautious?
Errrr...some 13 months after we returned from living in NZ my SWMBO'd asked what she should do with the "spare car keys"...somewhat puzzled I asked "for which car" the SAAB she she said...sold some 14 months before...
It happens....
as long as you have one set of keys, all the correct paperwork & the car is checked out as not being stolen......OK BREXIT - done properly.
Right now ...We need Government - not Politics
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FL2 has DIPSTICK..."real comfort in rear seats"
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Morris Minor..original DIPSTICK technology..and a real KEY.
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| 1st Jul 2013 9:32 pm |
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mcsimmo
Member Since: 08 Aug 2011
Location: North of the south
Posts: 1795
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The D3 will take some beating when it comes to the amount of storage space you need for all thosebits that you dont want in your van when you are on the move. Man with no D3 anymore, but cant leave the forum....how sad.
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| 2nd Jul 2013 6:39 am |
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LiftedDisco
Member Since: 10 Jun 2010
Location: Towcester
Posts: 1002
 
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Just one quick comment to add about the 'lost keys' scenario and something that cropped up when I insured our daughter's car...
It is worth advising your insurer that you only have two keys (assuming there are three on original issue) or as may be appropriate as in the event of a vehicle theft, you will be required to hand back the additional keys to prove that you didn't leave the key in the ignition / car and thereby assist with the theft! It's easier to argue a missing key at the outset rather than having to do the 'Er, well....' bit after the event!
Thinking about this, my D4 only came with two keys so you might want to get the second key in case of loss or damage but as has been said earlier, it ain't going to be cheap! D4 Commercial - 65 Plate, 2016MY
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| 2nd Jul 2013 12:01 pm |
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TB2
Member Since: 23 Dec 2012
Location: SE England
Posts: 26
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Thanks for your replies thus far.
The boot space was (still is) a consideration. Moving from a 110 CSW and having to haul around 2 x Lab retrievers, I realise now how fortunate we have been until now in having the two rear side benches that the dogs love laying on during long drives. This frees up all of the floor space for 'essentials' (Essentials? Did I really say that!)
It was partly the insurance angle that I was thinking of re the 'missing' key. It appears prudent to declare it from the outset although I am a little unsettled by the thought that there are two or three unaccounted for keys out there somewhere.
A quote today from a main dealer was £169 for the key plus £69 for the cutting/coding. You're right.......they're not cheap are they! 
I'm torn between the two vehicles. Part of me says that the practicality of a D3 wins through (just how much extra 'usable' luggage space is there ~ or rear leg room for that matter) and the other part screams effortless towing, far lower vehicle/trailer weight ratio.
Decisions, decisions.
Tb2
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| 2nd Jul 2013 7:38 pm |
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Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
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I have not owned a FFRR but have had one on long term loan. Yes it will probably tow the caravan better but to be honest the D3 will tow it without effort as well. The D3 has the practicality over the FFRR and I also found the FF not suitable for our life style with two tenage kids, in years to come when there is just me and the wife then perhaps the FFRR would be a better chice then.
However I think you have answered your own question when you said about the dogs and room, MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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| 2nd Jul 2013 7:58 pm |
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Eyeball
Member Since: 14 Jun 2011
Location: Essex
Posts: 81
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I've not had the pleasure of towing with a RR, however, towing my TA 7.95m caravan with my D3 is effortless. Borrowed a friends Ford Ranger while my D3 had a new engine fitted (that's another story!!) and can truly say the difference was amazing...couldn't wait to get the D3 back. The RR would need to be exceptional to make the difference. Throw in cavernous space in the back and the 7 seats when necessary and you can see why the D3 is such a good option. If its got the electrics I use the removable tow-bar and felt very confident with it. When you get the key, don't forget to program it to operate the suspension....very useful facility. Whatever your choice, I hope it a works out we for you and you enjoy your trips abroad D3 HSE 06 with all the bells and whistles 
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| 2nd Jul 2013 8:39 pm |
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Billy B
Member Since: 21 Dec 2007
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 198
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Hi There,
Sorry this is a late reply, but thought I must add my bit!!!
I have towed a twin axle 26ft. caravan for the past 7 years with a Disco 3 with absolutely no problems, it has handled the task without the slightest murmur. I chose the 3 because it had the space to carry all the equipment and 2 Springer's, both show dogs and weighing in at 35kg each in a large cage.
In May this year I was due for a change, like yourself it was either a LR TDV8 or a Disco 3/ 4.
The TDV8 although more refined in the interior department was not a patch on the Disco for various reasons. Its rear loading bay is cramped in comparison. I could not get the dogs cage in due to the sloping back, and space for camping equipment was sparse. The fuel consumption is also pretty poor when towing.
My choice, again had to be a Discovery. I ended up with a Disco 4 SDV6. Power wise it is very close to the TDV8 but with a much better fuel consumption and I haven't lost all that precious space and handling.
Billy B Nothing is foolproof as the ingenuity of fools is endless.
2012 Discovery 4 HSE Luxury
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| 5th Jul 2013 9:07 am |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8243
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Another point if you are taking the dogs with you is their comfort, not so much comfort but needs, I was going to suggest and recommend the D4, but ISTR it no longer has air con. in the rear dogs department  some D3s have, I don't know about the RR, check the D3 you are interested in has got this extra and that it is working, if it hasn't find one that has, IMHO it is essential with two dogs in hot weather.
You could also have a BAS remap on the D3 specific for towing, not really needed in my experience, I have towed an Iffor Williams trailer with 3 tons on it with no problems and kept up with the flow of traffic on hills.
The RR and D4 have better braking capacity than the D3, although the D3 brakes can be upgraded.
In conclusion best vehicle for you no question is a D4 with rear aircon fitted- if that's possible. It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 5th Jul 2013 10:24 am |
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TB2
Member Since: 23 Dec 2012
Location: SE England
Posts: 26
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Again, thank you for your replies and recommendations.
Unfortunately, the D4 is out of our price range at the moment, but the 3.0L Sdv6 does look a real challenger to the Tdv8 ~ certainly the closest thing that a diesel Disco will get to the Tdv8 lump anyway (although I read that the D5 is due out in March 2014? Will be interesting to see which engine options are fitted to this model  )
Good points raised about the luggage capacity of the RR and it's angled tailgate.
Excellent points about the rear air-con (rear as in luggage area). I thought that all D3's had air-con to this area but stand corrected. Thank you for pointing this out, I will definitely take a look. At a risk of sounding extremely naive, how will I know if a particular vehicle has this option fitted? Are there additional vents in the rear behind the 2nd row of seats, or is the air forced through the side window de-mist vents?
Regards
Tb2
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| 5th Jul 2013 11:44 pm |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8243
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Sitting in the middle row of seats, the controls for the ventilation/heating are overhead in the centre, check that it is working by turning to max cold with the engine running and feeling the vents in the rear, they should blow painfully cold. It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 6th Jul 2013 6:23 am |
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