So I have a 2001 Discovery II. High mileage, but well maintained. I'd like to be able to start towing with the Disco - Enclosed car trailers in particular. Max distance one-way would be under 100 miles, typically, 25 miles or so. I noticed the specs for towing are 5500 lbs in high gear and 7700 in low gear. At issue is the lightest enclosed trailers weigh around 2500 lbs. The cars I'd like to tow ('69 Camaro, '70 Camaro), weigh around 3300-3600 lbs, putting me over the rated limits in high gear.

Does anyone know what are the constraints on trailer weight and is there anything that can be done to increase the towing weight?

Thanks!

 

I have towed Discos (4400 lbs) with a Disco using Uhaul trailers (2200 lbs) max distance so far 5 hrs. Gets a little squirrely over 65 mph, but otherwise fine. Rear air suspension or rear coil helper airbags would help because the tongue weight raises the front end and reduces the camber on the axle.

 

Good to know. Yes, I have air suspension (ACE package), in the rear and upgraded the front springs to Medium Duty ARB's. I can keep it under 55 mph for the tows - I'd only going 25 miles or less typically. I've towed with it before (enclosed U-Haul trailers as well) for 300 mile trips, loaded with furniture and the like, but I doubt the total weight exceed 4000 lbs.

 

I'm searching for a modest SUV that my significant other can drive sporadically and can tow the racecar 3-4 ends of the week out of each year. There are lots of LR Disclosures around here with low miles for under $5k (a nearer to $2500). They are evaluated to tow 7700 lbs, which appears to be amazing as they "look" sort of unbalanced and the wheelbase is by all accounts on the short side.




Kodi

 

A P38 Range Rover on Air Suspension won’t sag. I suspect that any Discovery later than D2 or Range Rover from the P38 on (being on Air Suspension) would work.

 

Curious, did you mean Discovery 2 and later with AIR Suspension, as the D2 is based on the P38 chassis, correct? My 2001 has ACE (with rear air suspension), and has upgraded ARB front springs (medium stiffness). If it can pull about 6,000 lbs (trailer and car inside), with the SUV being nearly empty (just me driving it), I would be in good shape, even if I have to limit to the speed to 55 mph.

Thanks.

 

Hans, have you considered a weight distribution hitch? Does the trailer have any sort of brakes? The 7,700 pound limit seems to indicate the chassis can support the weight. I'm sure the limiting factor for high range is simply because of the anemic power output of the engine.

 

No, I forgot about rear Air Suspension (SLS) on some D2’s. It’ll probably work well for towing.

As a P38 and D2 owner I can verify that the D2 is not based on a P38. Other than engine and transmission parts, virtually nothing is compatible. I think it’s more based on a Defender chassis, but I don’t have a Defender to compare.
Harv

 

Yes, the enclosed car trailer would have electric brakes and would be constructed mostly of aluminum ~ 2500 lbs trailer weight. The issue is the car(s) being trailered weigh between 3200 - 3400 lbs, putting me over the official tow rating by 200-400 lbs.

 

The weight is less of an issue really the biggest problem is how much sail you will have on a short wheel base. Passing semi’s or string crosswinds may make your life miserable or worse