Anyone towed with a Discovery 2.5 TDI?

Marnie

Marnie

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I've just bought a Discovery 2.5 TDI manual, after having a LWB Pajero, 2.8 automatic. I towed 2 horses in an Ifor 510 today and found it really lacking in power compared to the Pajero. I also felt that the trailer started to 'swing' once or twice (going about 45 on a dual carriageway). Coming out of our yard, we go up a hill, not a massive one, but I couldn't get it to pick up any power, and crawled up it about 5 miles an hour - the Pajero picked up instantly.

I'm not sure if it is just because I haven't towed with a manual for ages, if there is something wrong with the truck or that is just the way they are normally. The truck goes really well not towing - I drove it about 80 miles last night and had a lovely run. It belonged to my cousin who has towed with it but not for about 2 years.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
 
I tow with a N reg 2.5 disco, with a 505 and regularly tow up hills with two 16.2hh tbs, it tows fab, are you sure you are building your revs up enough, before you change gear, you might be to used to having it done for you! If your trailer is swinging, that can indicate that the weight isnt balanced correctly.
 
That's good to hear - I think that I have got lazy with having an automatic!!

I am not sure if it was actually swinging - if it was, it was a minute amount - again, I wonder if it was just a bit of a different 'feel' between the two vehicles. I'm going out again tomorrow, so will see what it is like then!
 
I tow my 510 with a 2.5 tdi landrover disco and it tows the trailer and my 16.3hh fine. Also towed him and a friends 16.1hh ISH today and it didn't feel any different. Its not the so much the engine size that matters when you tow as the the torque of the car - a 2.5 tdi disco can tow up to 4000kg legally (I checked manual today)
 
That's also good to hear
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several people have recommended them as ideal towing vehicles, so I thought it was probably my driving!!
 
I've had both a 2.5 tdi Discovery & a 2.8 Pajero Automatic & I prefer the manual Discovery, although I have the Pajero at the moment. I think you will have to use your accelerator a bit more to get your revs up. When driving the Pajero auto you don't really realise the revs you are actually giving it. You'll get used to it.
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I think that was my problem, not enough revs - I am so used to just putting my foot down, not having to worry about gears, and getting out of trouble!

It is lovely to drive without the trailer, and seems quite a bit more economical - always a bonus, and I am sure that I will get used to it
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See if you can find out where the powerband for the torque is - usually about 2000 to 4000rpm give or take. As it's a TDI, it won't have much in the way of torque when revs are too low (under 2000rpm in most).
 
I have a disco and its pants compared to last 4X4, also all ways remember to have correct trye presures with a disco or you will get a sway on, when on motorways, different tyre presures for towing, mines 40psi on back and 30 psi on front, but thats with chunky all-terrain tyres, maybe different for road tyres.
 
we had one a few years ago and it was flat as anything, I hated it. Rubbish for towing. We replaced our old Isuzu trooper with it but the trooper beats it hands down for towing. Trooper does have a bigger engine (3.0) but is also short wheel base which makes a BIG difference.
We now have another trooper (our third one) and I would not have anything else. Shame that they have stopped making the Trooper, don't know what we will buy next time.
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I borrowed a friend 'L' reg Disco 2.5 TDi a while back, towed a 510 with 1 x 16.2hh in it.
I have to say it was the worst tow vehicle I have ever driven, absolutely gutless and the trailer felt quite unstable.
 
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