Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
I was in low range, trailer electrics connected, fridge running, beer cold, and it automatically went into extended mode when the &^%% standard towbar started ploughing a furrow
26th Apr 2006 6:28 am
grommet
Member Since: 15 Feb 2005
Location: Northern California
Posts: 331
Maybe that feature does need to be "turned on" by your service department -- D'oh! It's not mentioned in the tow electrics documentation.
26th Apr 2006 6:32 am
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
I think I would rather leave it as it is. If you are towing a normal road trailer, then fine, but for offraod trailers there is no problem going to extended mode anyway.
26th Apr 2006 7:20 am
Penguin
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: A fun place
Posts: 485
grommet wrote:
I'm pretty sure the air suspension raising is only prevented when you are using the tow electrics and the transmission is in Low Range.
Nope it isn't... Tested it again yesterday evening...
In all modes with trailer electrics attached, it goes to off-road height
But I might be possibe it differs from country to country. Just like in the US you don't have the magic DSC buttonIn a time of chimpanzees, I was a penguin. www.m-release.com
26th Apr 2006 7:43 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
I was under the impression that it should be enabled if your towbar is factory fitted, if not the dealer should switch it on. As I said I towed for sometime with it not having been enabled and never noticed any difference, so why bother? The caravans in the UK struggle to cope with the roads without cracking, so I can't think that anyone over here would need to get into OR height - or that the caravan would survive 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
26th Apr 2006 8:05 am
Penguin
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: A fun place
Posts: 485
not for a caravan, but when you pull an off-road trailer to go camping off-road, than you will need it.
This is my off-road trailer:
In a time of chimpanzees, I was a penguin. www.m-release.com
26th Apr 2006 8:15 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
Yes no doubt Penguin, I was trying to convey the differences between UK and the ROW!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
26th Apr 2006 9:26 am
SuperMan
Member Since: 17 Jun 2006
Location: Surrey
Posts: 113
right I've skip most of the posts so sorry if this has been answered got a couple of question as I've now bought a D3.
We are caravanners we tow many 1000's of miles and mainly in europe.
We just assumed to go for the detachable towbar but some posts on here says the van sits low I would have thought the air suspension would level things out and the hitch between van and car was level.
Also does the LR have the (not sure what name LR would call it) but does it electronics built into the motor which will brake the car when something is hitched on the back which cuts in should the van sway etc etc and helps smooth things out I know X'5 and Touaregs have them.
18th Jun 2006 5:07 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26702
I also tow a lot, and find the detachable tow bracket perfect with my 21 foot Fleetwood. It sits at perfect height.
I am not aware of anything electronic to control stability other than the DSC system (dynamic stability control). When I did my LR Experience course, the instructor demonstrated a snake with the DSC on, then OFF and the difference is remarkable. I suspect that this system reacts accordingly to the caravan.
IMO the D3 is the perfect tow car, it is so relaxed with the caravan, and with command shift it is so easy on hills.
18th Jun 2006 5:24 pm
SuperMan
Member Since: 17 Jun 2006
Location: Surrey
Posts: 113
hi thanks for that my van is 7.82 meters which is just over 25ft so hopefully it will sit nice and level as all my previous hitches have been spot on and I hate that bum up in the air look. Makes for un stable towing IMHO. F&M
18th Jun 2006 6:15 pm
norto
Member Since: 10 Apr 2006
Location: batemans bay
Posts: 1605
im keen for a caravan get together
if you guys can get down here
19th Jun 2006 12:25 am
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
Penguin wrote:
grommet wrote:
I'm pretty sure the air suspension raising is only prevented when you are using the tow electrics and the transmission is in Low Range.
Nope it isn't... Tested it again yesterday evening...
In all modes with trailer electrics attached, it goes to off-road height
But I might be possibe it differs from country to country. Just like in the US you don't have the magic DSC button
Penguin,
this is from the manual....
Message: TRAILER CONNECTED OFF ROAD HEIGHT NOT SELECTED AUTOMATICALLY
Meaning: Vehicle has not achieved off-road height as trailer socket is being used.
Action: If a trailer is connected, do nothing. If no trailer is connected but
something else, such as a bike rack, is connected, raise to off-road height manually. If nothing is connected, check socket for faults.
15th Oct 2006 10:52 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
I tow a TA Fleetwood and have no problem with the towing angle. I think X5s & Touaregs have DSC type system like the D3, nothing more. We have a lot more weight too! If you stay in CLs and other less manicured sites you will be glad that you have a D3 and not an X5 on the front, especially in the winter.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
16th Oct 2006 9:31 am
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
The detatchable towbar is slightly lower that normal, but to be honest, all caravans or trailers will be more stable if towed with a slightly nose down stance. The problem with stability, is if the caravan sits slightly higher than level the airflow when travelling, can get under the van and encourage the nose to lift even more, this is VERY dangerous and must be avoided at all costs. If this happens the pressure of airflow can negate the noseweight of the caravan (approx 7%of caravan weight ) this would then mean there was no positive weight acting on the towball and if you went fast enough the airflow would create a negative weight.
The townbar pictured would be illegal in the UK as you are prohibited from raising the towball height by using a drop plate in reverse, as this changes the forces acting on the towball to the opposite direction again VERY dangerous.
16th Oct 2006 12:53 pm
Tony
Member Since: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 183
It appears that the UK has a lower towbar height than the rest of the world - I have had to fit a goose-neck to raise the hitch to a height similar to Penguin's to attach both my van and trailer in a near-level position. They have attached to previous vehicles, including my Defender, with the hitch protruding straight from the vehicle mounting. It would perhaps have been simpler for LR to have fitted a square receiver into the rear bumper, without going to the complication and expense of the cast-iron contraption required now.
Just another example of the time-honored Land Rover practice of doing something totally unsuitable for the export markets Ex Defender 110 200Tdi owner.
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