Advice on Landrover Discovery

[warren cook]

Hi All,

I am going away in a couple of weeks and I have grounded the Grand Cherokee to get it sold.

I have a 2011 Land Rover Discovery 4 My12 V6 3.0 Tdd on the yard and thought I might take that for a while.

Having a closer look it seems to have a built in brake controller and 2 in built Anderson plugs, was wondering if anyone has experience with the brake controller, good or bad.

With the Anderson plug can I just get an adaptor from that to my 12 pin or do I just get a new 12 pin installed?

What are they like for towing in general v's the Grand Cherokee as the Jeep was a dream to drive with plenty of grunt when needed?

Any thought would be appreciated.

 

[warren cook]

I have just double checked about the brake controller being built in and the guy who told me is now double checking his info he gave me. He thought it had this feature, now I have questioned him he is backtracking so it looks like I would have to install a whole brake controller set up also, which is fine either way.

 

[davemc]

not sure of a built in brake controller never heard of one for the Disco.
We have the Redarc and had a IQ in the older D3

With the Disco's if you have LED lights you probably going to get flickering unless they have a resistor setup.
If the load is setup correctly the Disco changes things like you do not get reverse beeps, adjusts suspension etc.
You can tell if you have a load when the van is connected by a trailer light flashing in the dash when you indicate.

Can't compare to the Jeep but our Disco tows the 22.68 pretty easily. We avg 16-18 fuel towing.
The air suspension is nice you cannot use WDH with Discos. they travel pretty level.
It also helps hitching and un hitching you lower to get off the towball instead of turning the jockey wheel lots of times
Same as hitching lower the car instead of turning the jockey wheel

Not sure with the 2011 although our 2015 the camera is a little offset from the towball although easy to get used to it.
It has a setting you can change so you can line up when reversing.

hope that helps

 

[warren cook]

Thanks @davemc, I didn't think about asking if the WDH can be used.

Good to know about the tow ball height as the Jeep does get pretty high when hitching up, I even use blocks sometimes to make it easier.

Will check out the light also.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[twscoot]

Hi @warren cook
D4 doesn't have a built in (factory) brake controller. It may of course have an aftermarket one fitted.

 

[davemc]

Also if your free camping and leaving the car hitched the Disco will auto level every 20-30 mins even with engine off.
So if you leave the front ALKO legs down on the van they can be pushed into the dirt come morning Also scares the crap out of you when the van moves

 

[warren cook]

Hi @warren cook
D4 doesn't have a built in (factory) brake controller. It may of course have an aftermarket one fitted.

Thanks @twscoot,

Salesman here has confirmed that too. If the Jeep is not sold by the time I go away I will probably just take it again as I am used to it. The Disco does seem like a nice vehicle and reviews put it up there on the list of great towing vehicles so I am going to get a Tow Pro elite put on it just in case along with a 12 pin plug.

 

[warren cook]

Also if your free camping and leaving the car hitched the Disco will auto level every 20-30 mins even with engine off.
So if you leave the front ALKO legs down on the van they can be pushed into the dirt come morning Also scares the crap out of you when the van moves

That's the last thing I need happening, I find it hard enough to stay level after a few beverages as it is, how long did it take you to figure that one out?

 

[davemc]

That's the last thing I need happening, I find it hard enough to stay level after a few beverages as it is, how long did it take you to figure that one out?

First night away on a drive through site. Heard the noises wondered what it was the first time. Realised the 2nd time.
In the morning the front legs where pushed into the ground lucky it was wet soil dug in a little
So now only leave back legs down which really as its connected to car do not need front legs as well.

 

[Alexeis]

I recently towed an EXPANDA 20.6? OB for 7,500kms over 3 weeks at Easter, using our DISCO 4 HSE with 6 of us onboard. Melbourne to Cairns via the coast, and return via red-dirt. It worked brilliantly. I can concur with the 16-18ltr/100km fuel consumption noted above - wish it had a bigger or auxiliary fuel tank. The air suspension is brilliant, keeps the vehicle and draw-bar level. Decided to unhitch from the ball after leaving it hitched only 1 night. Dead-easy with the air suspension - just lower it down in place. We have a REDARC TowPro Elite setup, which i highly recommend.
Plenty of grunt too, passed lots of LandCruisers with vans on our trip.

 

[warren cook]

I have been driving the Disco for the last week and am very impressed with it. I am still going to use the Jeep for the trip on Monday as its all set up and ready to tow, and then when I get back I will have the tow pro elite fitted and run it for a while.

I am thinking about having the brake controller set up so it can just be removed from car to car, rather than have the dial fitted I will have it on a small block or something and just leave it in the glove box when not being used. The wiring will be the only thing that will need replacing when I move it to a new car.

I am assuming that you just hitch it up and the vehicle will self level the suspension itself and maintain it through the journey or do I have to do anything to it?

I have to say the way the detachable receiver just clicks in did put some doubt in my mind about putting 3 tonne of caravan on the back but it must be fine.

 

[davemc]

just be careful with brake controller that I think some need to be mounted a certain way

Yes the Disco just levels it self.

There should be a key to lock in the receiver or yes it would drop out.
it should click into place
here is a video

 

[warren cook]

Thanks @davemc, I watched the same video, I couldn't believe that I would be relying on a lock like that to keep the whole thing together, but hey it must be fine right.

I noticed also the receiver sits very low so will have to use the adjustable gooseneck without the strengthening bars connected.

I will just need to get a round plug to 12 pin connector and check the wiring set up also I think.

I will get the module fitted correctly each time which normally goes behind the glove box, but I will have it set up with connectors so I can just remove the module and dial button each time. The tow pro elite will calibrate itself each time. Can you see any other issues with moving it from car to car?, it will just save me buying a new one every time I change cars, which is frequent being in the motor trade.

 

[davemc]

I replaced the 7pin with a 12pin flat.. Although was tempted to go 7pin with anderson.

We have our tow pro control on the side of steering wheel.
So not easy to move .. I know friends who move their old IQ boxes from one car to another.. No idea with TowPro

/

 

[warren cook]

Cheers, nice and neat and out of the way.

I will suss it all out when I get back, it seems like it can all be fixed up if I choose to go with it.

I've been such an advocate of the Jeep that I feel guilty driving anything else lol.

 

[davemc]

Remember whatever car you are driving at the time is the best and all the rest are crap he he he he he

 

[warren cook]

Love it, so true!!!!