Discovery TD5 series 2 towing instability

lucmol1
lucmol1 Forum Participant Posts: 41
edited June 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi we have a Disco TD5 Series 2 with Ace suspension.  Whilst away this week we had a very scarey experience.  A lorry started to overtake us and the whole outfit started to be pulled towards the lorry then went to the other direction, the caravan rocking
in every direction, then we managed to recover the outfit. We have been towing for 18 years and never had this happen before, we have checked the nose weight, this is fine, Tyre pressures ok, we have even checked the loading of the van this is also ok.  What
we are asking, has anyone ever had this happen with this veichle as we think that we heard somthing some time ago about this supension on these TD5.  Any comment would be appreciated.

Comments

  • rogerwyn
    rogerwyn Forum Participant Posts: 63
    edited June 2016 #2

    Having towed for the best part of 30y have now and again come across this issue, it does depend on the wind direction the size of Lorry ( worst being car transporters) the size of tow car is unimportant having towed with LD110 and currant X5, it does happen,
    it probley has nothing to do with your outfit just the situation your in, hope this helps.

  • iffajobsworthdoing
    iffajobsworthdoing Forum Participant Posts: 94
    edited June 2016 #3

    There were some issues with the ACE on the TD5, caravan club did some tests. I believe you can have the ACE disconnected. We have had two TD5's both without ACE and they were perfect towcars.

  • stevebrookman
    stevebrookman Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited June 2016 #4

    I had similar on my Range Rover a few years ago-turned out to be the tyres-put new on and totally transformed the towing. also changed shock absorbers a little later.

     

    Steve

  • lucmol1
    lucmol1 Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited June 2016 #5

    thank you all, we are looking at changing the suspension to  springs and see if that helps. this is the 3rd TD5 we have had but, the other 2 had normal suspension and had no problems at all with those.

  • andybe
    andybe Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited June 2016 #6

    Having towed many thousands of miles with a Disco 2 equipped with ACE I don't think it is a fault as such that you have experienced. I go with rogerwyn's posting that it was a particular combination of circumstances. These towcars are the best

     

  • paulkerryg
    paulkerryg Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited June 2016 #7

    I would hazard a guess if you went back to that particular stretch of road you would see two distinct grooved lines in the road surface caused by constant running of trucks, I expect you ended up dancing the wheels of your Disco and caravan between one groove to the other as the width of your wheelbase is narrower to that of a truck.

    Frightening when it happens but not a huge amount you can do other than drive through it.  I always hope the straps holding the boat on the trailer are as good as they looked when I checked them!

     

     

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #8

    Never driven a D2, but according to my observations of turned over trailers seems to involve D2's.  Not a scientific observation I know, but then again nether is  "I've had a D2 for years and never had a problem, therefore there isn't a problem", either.  

  • Paul Rainbow
    Paul Rainbow Forum Participant Posts: 129
    100 Comments
    edited June 2016 #9

    Never driven a D2, but according to my observations of turned over trailers seems to involve D2's.  Not a scientific observation I know, but then again nether is  "I've had a D2 for years and never had a problem, therefore there isn't a problem", either.  

    No one ever said that. In fact i read it as the complete opposite, the very fact that others have not had the issue suggests to me that there is in fact a pretty serious problem. Land Rover pride themselves on thier towing capabilities, this should not be happening.

  • Adingley84
    Adingley84 Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited June 2016 #10

    "A lorry started to overtake us and the whole outfit started to be pulled towards the lorry then went to the other direction,"

    I just take the 'suck' then 'release' of pressure as par for the course when towing although definitely not as dramatic as you describe during your experience. 

    I feel road grooves and wind could have added the extra waywardness.

    Worth mentioning I tow with a Forester 2.5XT with a 99% match

  • lucmol1
    lucmol1 Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited June 2016 #11

    Thanks all for your replys.  we have changed to springs to see how much difference it makes,  we  have not used the van yet, but will be taking the van out next, hopefully our experience will be a better one!!!!

  • lucmol1
    lucmol1 Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited June 2016 #12

    After changing the air bags for springs, Well what a difference.  we towed the van for the first time since changing for springs and never had a wobble or and reaction at all when being over took (by some very large lorries). hopefully we have sorted the
    problem.  When the mechanic took of the air bags, he said that the one bag was very hard and the other hardly any air in at all.

     

     

    Thank you for all of your replys.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #13

    After changing the air bags for springs, Well what a difference.  we towed the van for the first time since changing for springs and never had a wobble or and reaction at all when being over took (by some very large lorries). hopefully we have sorted the
    problem.  When the mechanic took of the air bags, he said that the one bag was very hard and the other hardly any air in at all.

     

     

    Thank you for all of your replys.

    Glad you're sorted, but I can't help but think that fixing what you already had would have been the better option. I have airbags all round on my towcar & wouldn't want to lose them.

  • lucmol1
    lucmol1 Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited June 2016 #14

    After changing the air bags for springs, Well what a difference.  we towed the van for the first time since changing for springs and never had a wobble or and reaction at all when being over took (by some very large lorries). hopefully we have sorted the
    problem.  When the mechanic took of the air bags, he said that the one bag was very hard and the other hardly any air in at all.

     

     

    Thank you for all of your replys.

    Glad you're sorted, but I can't help but think that fixing what you already had would have been the better option. I have airbags all round on my towcar & wouldn't want to lose them.

    Write your comments here...Thank you MollysMum, we would not have had them taken off, if it had not been for the freighting experience. the last owner had 1 bag changed but not the other, we think that that is what was causing the problem, and they are expensive
    to change the air bags, so this seemed the cheaper option.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #15

     ..... and they are expensive to change the air bags, so this seemed the cheaper option.

    I've recently had one changed on my R Class at Mercedes. I was quoted the thick end of £1000 to change the complete strut, but they decided it was just an air distribution valve block at 'only' £550 (Bags on their own were around £130) ......
    it didn't fix the fault.  I returned the car three times until they eventually agreed with my original diagnosis and replaced the strut ...... and damaged both passenger doors into the bargain. That was early March. I collected it from the dealers again last
    week after they'd replaced both doors instead of the bodge job they did in the first place. 

  • lucmol1
    lucmol1 Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited July 2016 #16

     ..... and they are expensive to change the air bags, so this seemed the cheaper option.

    I've recently had one changed on my R Class at Mercedes. I was quoted the thick end of £1000 to change the complete strut, but they decided it was just an air distribution valve block at 'only' £550 (Bags on their own were around £130) ......
    it didn't fix the fault.  I returned the car three times until they eventually agreed with my original diagnosis and replaced the strut ...... and damaged both passenger doors into the bargain. That was early March. I collected it from the dealers again last
    week after they'd replaced both doors instead of the bodge job they did in the first place. 

    Write your comments here...Glad you got yours sorted, its a big out lay with buying, caravan and car, you can do without the further expense.

  • lordsward
    lordsward Forum Participant Posts: 69
    edited July 2016 #17

    Disco 2s aren't the greatest of tow cars due to their short (100" wheelbase) and massive rear over-hang.  Load the boot and slosh 21 gallons of diesel into the thing and you've got a real pendulum on your hands.

    Saying that, theres no way I'd have disposed of the air-springs.  I replaced mine.  They are a great feature.

    However what causes Disco instabilty is the wear in the leading and trailing arm suspension bushes.  These are often over looked as they can be a bit of an involved job.

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