Am I mad? Towing vehicle question....

Marnie

Marnie

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I had a Pajero LWB, 2.8 automatic until about 2 weeks ago, it was brilliant to tow with, a lovely truck. Unfortunately it was losing water - a lot of it when under stress such as towing. I had already had the head replaced, and when the offer of another truck came up, I sold the Paj to a mechanic friend cheaply and bought a 2.5 TDI Discovery manual. It was a good price and is a lovely truck to drive around, but (and a big but!), I hate towing with it
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It feels under powered and over 45 on dual carriageway, it feels like the trailer is starting to drag it into swinging. It has made me very nervous, but I can't help feeling that it is me being pathetic, I mean aren't Discoverys supposed to be great towing vehicles?

I spoke to my mechanic friend and asked hi to give me first refusal when he has fixed the Paj.

So, should I buy it back? I will end up losing money, the Paj is more expensive to run but it is soooo much better for towing. I am supposed to be going to Devon (from Essex) with Marnie for a holiday in the summer, as I do every year, and the thought of taking the Disco terrifies me - I am going on a pleasure ride tomorrow and am not looking forward to going along the A12. I am an experienced 'tower', I've been miles and miles in all sorts of conditions, but have never felt like this! I do a lot of towing miles, at the moment we are doing a ride a week, generally up to 100 miles round trips (Norfolk and Suffolk from Essex).

Sorry, this has got really long, sort of talking myself through it I suppose, but I would welcome thoughts from anyone who has been in a similar position!
 
Buy it back and cut your losses. The Paj is a better vehicle and you were happy driving it.
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Thanks - done that, the Disco has pretty new tyres and I checked the pressures before I towed for the first time. The trailer has just (2 weeks ago) had a puncture repaired and pressures in all tyres checked.

I was towing 2 horses each time, I am only towing one tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see what it is like then.

Thanks!
 
Is that on the trailer or truck? I sort of assume the truck, as the trailer towed fine with the Paj...
 
My Disco was fine to tow with, but I have to say my best ever towing vehicle has been my old, knackered SWB Frontera! Dont know why but it was fab from the start

It is available at a knock down price if you want it.... a few minor dents and scratches, new head gasket/shocks/tyres/brakes within the last 12 months
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Love my Shogun!
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Just as a side comment. I tow with a stabiliser bar and it makes everything feel soooooo much more secure. Like the car and trailer are one object. I'd highly recomend!
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The Discovery is a fantastic utility vehicle.....however....

They were specifically designed for 4x4 off road situations...they were never designed with towing heavy weights in mind.
Whilst superb at dragging/winching/rescue work.....
No matter what you do, you'll never find them very stable when towing the weight of 2 horses and a trailer, they will always show a tendancy to wander and drag!!

My opinion....think about selling it on and finding something else all together....as for the Paj, if it's had serious water loss issues....I would really think carefully about taking it on again...it's rapidly heading towards "end of life"!!!
 
You are feeling a difference because the Pajero was a long wheel base and your Disco isn't. A LWB will be more stable.
I tow with a Mercedes Sprinter MWB high roof, ie a vehicle bigger than my trailer (a 510) and I don't even feel the trailer. I've towed with most 4X4 and other than the fact it's not 4X4 (not ideal on mud!) and the van is a much better towing vehicle. See, 2 big Horses in a trailer will weigh more than most 4X4's but it is still legal.
 
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