Hypothetical - towing a car trans-con with high mileage DII?
So, now that you all already think I'm crazy - I'm thinking this can be done if I perform some serious maintenance.
I'm revamping the SLS system first of all - with new compressor, the bags seem good (probably been replaced already. This will dramatically improve the ride quality/safety while towing.
New head gasket in spring before the journey - along with valve cover, timing cover, etc. Probably new waterpump, tensioner, hoses, maybe radiator. Also doing electric fan conversion (less parasitic loss, more power, better MPG).
A good trailer brake controller and decent trailer, though I'm not sure on the trailer model or weight yet.
The car is a 2005 mustang GT, around ~3400lbs, the DII will also have a decent amount of furniture and crap in it - however the SLS increases the GVWR so I should be okay.
HOWEVER, this is hypothetical.. in your opinion, regardless of what the manual says, does a DII have the required power/braking and inherent reliability (ok don't laugh, but I'm talking things like strong enough transmission and adequate heat dissipation) to tow long distances?
Let me know what your past towing impressions have been. I'm also contemplating towing a horse trailer, however the associated weights of that stuff adds up QUICK and you're dealing with an additional life back there, so I'm not sure I'd risk it.
So, now that you all already think I'm crazy - I'm thinking this can be done if I perform some serious maintenance.
I'm revamping the SLS system first of all - with new compressor, the bags seem good (probably been replaced already. This will dramatically improve the ride quality/safety while towing.
New head gasket in spring before the journey - along with valve cover, timing cover, etc. Probably new waterpump, tensioner, hoses, maybe radiator. Also doing electric fan conversion (less parasitic loss, more power, better MPG).
A good trailer brake controller and decent trailer, though I'm not sure on the trailer model or weight yet.
The car is a 2005 mustang GT, around ~3400lbs, the DII will also have a decent amount of furniture and crap in it - however the SLS increases the GVWR so I should be okay.
HOWEVER, this is hypothetical.. in your opinion, regardless of what the manual says, does a DII have the required power/braking and inherent reliability (ok don't laugh, but I'm talking things like strong enough transmission and adequate heat dissipation) to tow long distances?
Let me know what your past towing impressions have been. I'm also contemplating towing a horse trailer, however the associated weights of that stuff adds up QUICK and you're dealing with an additional life back there, so I'm not sure I'd risk it.
Thanks guys!
Yes, probably crazy, I would pay a transport company to do the work.
Yeahhh but that's the TD5 with ACE right? At least from the full round-the-world disco promo video that's taken from, I think that was the rig they were using.
You're probably right.
I'd be such a proud landy owner if she pulled it off though.
Yeahhh but that's the TD5 with ACE right? At least from the full round-the-world disco promo video that's taken from, I think that was the rig they were using.
You're probably right.
I'd be such a proud landy owner if she pulled it off though.
Yea it is the td5 promo video .... proud of the DII is great. But, the cost of the tralier rental, insurance, gas and wear and tear, your more than halfway to the transport cost.
Maybe an afternoon at the local dirt hill will be help!
Generally speaking, most of the vehicle is pretty bulletproof, the axles, brakes, transmission etc.
Most Discoveries get into high mileage as a matter of course, and they carry on running. Ours will cross the 100k miles point this week sometime, but there are plenty around with double that mileage, and more.
What needs to be addressed are the things that go wrong, and the things that are a known possible breakdown cause.
Once you've addressed all of those points and done a shake-down run then there's no need not to do it.
Nearly all problems are engine-related, you don't have the R380/LT230 gearbox/transfer boxes over there, so it's the standard auto box and torque converter.
I'd do all the head gaskets, be meticulous about reassembly, especially lining the lower manifold up with the heads before pulling the heads down, and so on. Engines that are properly reassembled tend to be far more reliable than those which are 'thrown together' over a weekend.
Use the torque values given in RAVE especially.
I'd have no problem bringing our own Disco 2 over to the USA for a few months, I've been over it a few times and rebuilt the engine, so know roughly what is likely to need attention and would bring a spares package to cover that.
Yea it is the td5 promo video .... proud of the DII is great. But, the cost of the tralier rental, insurance, gas and wear and tear, your more than halfway to the transport cost.
Come on, DD, where's your sense of adventure? Open roads and spaces and all that?
Just to say that you'd been there and done it would be great!
Come on, DD, where's your sense of adventure? Open roads and spaces and all that?
Just to say that you'd been there and done it would be great!
Peter
LOL! I am a road tripper for sure, many thousand miles behind the wheel, loved to road trip back in the day.
I do love the adventure for sure. Drove the DII behind a moving truck from Seattle WA to Denver CO to Dallas TX and back. Crossed a mountain pass that had a chain requirement and we did just fine for the stock 255 55 18's. At one point had white out conditions so we pulled over to rest for the night only to find out calmer conditions were just 20 minutes down the road. The chains ($110 US) flew off the moving truck and missed the windscreen of the DII by a few inches. That was enough adventure for me! My thoughts are, if it has a trailer hitch put something on it. We pull a small camper in the summer at high altitude (and pull out tourists from the snow bank in the winter). It's hard to tell that camper is back there.
Run through it, make sure everything is in decent shape and make a run for it! Adventure trip is the way to go! Mine's pushing 150k and still pulling more than it's supposed to. NOW..with that said, it's probably not the best idea in the world. But for what it's worth...I'd do it! Check out the pic - gas mileage SUCKS but it does it.
But my dad did always tell me "do as I say, not as I do."
__________________
99 DII, lots of miles, various funny smells and the underside is well (and self) lubricated.
"Naw, it's not leaking...it's marking its territory!"
"Quick, take a picture, there's no lights on the dash!"
265/75/16 BFG AT KO's on factory 16's, lightened the front end with bumper removal (with help from a poorly placed tree), driveshaft mishap avoided, blah blah...
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Hypothetical - towing a car trans-con with high mileage DII?
Check out the pic - gas mileage SUCKS but it does it. 
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