Anyone tow with a 110?

[Peri_5109318]

Does anybody on this forum tow a caravan with a 110" Land Rover? If so, what is its performance like when under load? I have a 1989 110" V8 that I used when I collected our new caravan. Brought it home empty albeit for a few necessities like battery, sleeping bags, aquaroll and wastemaster. Approximate weight 1500kg. The old girl really struggled (and I mean really struggled!) on anything other than a straight level road. 0-60mph could be measured on a sundial; even motorway hills reduced our speed to 40-45mph and third gear. One particular hill in Lincolnshire saw us down to 25mph (in a 40mph limit thankfully)

I have had the Landie checked by my local garage but they say that she is running fine and as they would expect for a vehicle of that age. Is this performance normal or should I expect slightly better acceleration, maintenance of 'top speed' and less fear of hills than I am at present experiencing?

 

[CliveV]

Hi Peri

Something not right there as you suggest. I have towed with the V8 in RR's and Discovery's (but not a 110 I admit - that has a TD300) and the V8 should tow well and provide more than enough power.

Presumably you have checked the brakes etc on the 'van?

Only time I had a "lack of power" problem was when a trailers brakes were binding - also caused the outfit to "surge".

Other problem on the V8 could just be that it is worn. How many miles has it done?

 

[sparkes]

Not towed with a v8 myself but it should be well up to the job

Try posting on http://forums.mud-club.com/index.php as there is a caravan section there and loads of people with good LR knowledge

Steve

 

[RogerL]

Top speed, acceleration and hill climbing are all determined by power, not torque. The Land-Rover V8 only had about 140bhp even though it had plenty of torque. It would never be brilliant performance with a heavy outfit but it does sound as though it's not working as well as it should.

 

[craigmurray]

i used to own a 1984 110 defender with a 2.5td (not tdi) it was great with the first van we had would sit happily on the motorway, but when we swopped to a bigger van the old gal struggled for maintaining speed the same as you are having, even tho i was in a diesel i was struggling with the same speeds. i swopped it for a 1989 classic rangerover 3.9efi v8, the difference is amazing pulls like a dream all day with loadsa power.....how many miles has your landy done? what does it run like without van on the back? they are funny engines the v8 if not running right or looked after....

 

[DavidW1]

My better half had a RR EFI 3.5 a few years back - it too was gutless and dismal when towing. I tried all the normal stuff like plugs, ignition, aircleaner ect.untill an agricultural engineer of my aquiantance told me it was probably the camshaft, apparently the lobes wear on high milers or if oil changes are neglected. It started and ran OK apart from that and didn't use much oil, apart from the standard oil leaks, but we got rid before it bankrupted us.