Advice on Old Discovery's and Towing

[GrowingLad]

Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

Afternoon/Evening all,

Firstly, I wasn't sure where was the best place to post this, hopefully this is the correct place.

I'm soon to be bringing my boat from the UK down to Greece.

I've looked at various options and so far the best bet seems to be purchasing the services of a chap with a New Defender who can tow her down via road. The quote I have is for 2.5 grand which I feel is a reasonable price. Now I have niggerling thought that I'd like to run past the collective.

I keep wondering whether I'd be better purchasing an old Discovery for around the 1500 mark and taking a slow journey down. The boat comes in at around 1.5 tons so the Discovery will be up to the job.
I feel that the quote for the 3rd party transport is fair but once the bills paid it's gone. Where as if I bring the boat down myself with an old Disco I've still got a 4x4 I can use to launch the boat once she's down here (The boat will be kept on the trailer when not in use).

My main concern apart from engine mechanicals which I'm hoping if I take it real easy shouldn't be a problem is what should I expect from the chassis and tow bar connections?

I have no problems with rust holes in doors as the car is going to be purely a work horse but I'm a bit concerned that something BIG might go snap.

Anyone in the know who could offer some pointers on what to expect from old Discovery’s?

Cheers.

 

[KREW2]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

Head gaskets are prone to going so, check it out along with the cam belt. If neither has been done probly worth doing before you set off.
Good luck

 

[sarabande]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

You could not ask for a better vehicle. Avoid any one with a 300 turbo, as it is too full of electronics.

The D1 or D2 is so well known, and buying one is almost intuitive. Check with Land Rover International magazine for tips, if you are unsure.

http://www.lro.com/


In the early 70's, we were driving a Series3 SW through Thessalonica, when the clutch release bearing evaporated. The local garage had a spare in stock, and fixed it in half a day !

 

[paulburton44]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

I have a 300tdi Disco on a R plate.... done 121,000 miles.

Great for towing a boat on motorways and slipways....

My boat loaded up is nearly 2 tons and we tow it hundreds of miles and launch on any type of slipway.

Hope this helps you make your mind up....

 

[GrowingLad]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

Cheers for the replies guys.

Two questions if I may:

Are there any particular sections to the vehicle which are prone to rust, which could also be a major problem for weight on the tow bar? I'm looking at the 1500 max 2000 mark so I'm going to be seeing some pretty poor examples.

And your views on getting a standard diesel 110 defender.

I know the discovery is a lot more comfortable but I'm a bit concerned with the things that can go wrong, eg turbo etc.

I know from driving an old series III there's not much to go wrong and when it does you have a good chance of bodging something to keep you going?

 

[motayotty]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

The 200's are the best by far if you can find a good one.Head gaskets are easy to replace and any test should show if it is overheating or pressurising etc..
More than worrying about what makes it go look at what makes it stop as these were old SD1 brakes and need to be in good condition to stop itself let alone a trailer. Check for serious gearbox leaks and make sure the low range and diff lock works. Steering boxes start to leak before the excess play starts. The start of rot is usually in the rear load area as the upper windows leak and the corrosion sets in. Rear wiper mechs are plastic so dont expect it to work! Great vehs, had loads. Still got a 300 auto. Great for towing. Get low spec less to go wrong. Test the clutch hard they disguise it well until they let go completely. Dont forget the cam belt change. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Otherwise the rest is meccano. Fantastic. Cheers Simon.

 

[MrCramp]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

I had the same problem when I bought a boat that was 300 miles into France and I got a best quote of £1600.

I did a load of research to find out wiich 4X4 was likely to be the most cost effective vehicle to buy and run. I had driven company owned Shoguns previously but I was surprised to find the Discovery 1 with the 200 Tdi deisel engine appeared to be my best option.

I bought a 1992 Jreg 3 door with 114,000 miles and a main dealer service history up to 90,000 miles, 10 months MOT for £1,250.

It rolled a bit so I knew the shock absorbers were likely to need changing but at a cost of £8 each that was easy. I should mention that I can do most repair work myself, but I cannot weld. It had a new gearbox and clutch and reconditioned steering box 1 year before I bought it, the tyres had only done 4,000 miles.

I replaced the nearside rear wheel bearing and seals (£20), fitted new clutch slave cylinder (£20), changed all the oils (£50), filters(£20), new drivers seat cushion (£50), new rear brake pads (£20). The oil warning light started to show and after much diagnostic work I fitted an oil pressure guage which showed the oil pressure was fine and the fault was on the wiring circuit for the warning light.

The 300Tdi is a more complicated engine and the car has more electronics. Avoid the 300 Auto as they had an electronic accelerator which was/is prone to failure.

Watch out for rusted body mountings as they are very difficult to repair (almost impossible?). The boot floors do corrode and they cost about £100 to repair yourself and about £350 to get done by others. The 3 door is cheaper and has less to go wrong than the 5 door as the rear door openings corrode if the sunroof leaks (and they do!). It is a more rigid structure.

Avoid air conditioning as it is something else to go wrong.

Have a look at the Landrover Owners forum, the link takes you to the Discovery section.

http://forum.landrovernet.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70

I did my 1,000 mile round trip into France and 100 miles short onf my boatyard a stone came up from the raod and burst my radiator which cost £140 for a new radiator core. The Discovery is brilliant to drive and you don't want to do your trip in a Defender as it is uncomfortable. Had the Disco for 7 months now and love it.

Good Luck

 

[MrCramp]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

Forgot to mention, my boat plus trailer weighed around 3,250kg. Don't really understand the comment about the brakes as mine are excellant, and I am used to Volvo brakes that are top class. My brakes are in good condition.

There is no more to go wrong on an early Disco that on a Defender. You need a Turbo on any of the Landrovers (or any other 4X4) and the one on the 200Tdi is more reliable than the one on both previos Landrover engine and the 300 series.

The V8 petrol engine are very thirsty and no more reliable.

The 200 engine is a bit more agricultural that the 300 which is smoother but I would always go for the 200.

 

[Seanick]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

For an easy tow its important to get the hitch weight right. Its worth getting a hitch weight gauge or use an old set of bathroom scales and an axle stand. Discos like between 120 and 150 kgs. I ignored this advice for years, but when I finally followed it my towing was tranformed. Stable, balanced adn stress free. If you get stopped by Police when towing one of the first things they do is check your hitch weight, as too much or too little is the main cause of towing accidents........

 

[Shuggy]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

You will absolutely never get a 110 for the kind of money you're looking at spending without it being a total basket case (from a chassis and bodywork point of view). Stick to the Discovery route; they're miles cheaper. And I'm a Defender nut!

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

If possible get the older 2.5tdi with the 200tdi engine not the 3oo.
I had one of the above and drove it to Denmark from Glasgow via Harwich, never had one thing going wrong and it was excellent on fuel.
As someone else said, make there is a new timing belt in it, as the 200tdi bend the push rods if the belt goes.
Fit a steel wire snatch cable to some where on the chassis other than the tow hitch, and ensure it is well able to take your towed weight 3 or 4 fold.
I sold mine for £400, it was a 92 and in quite good nick.
Good luck.

 

[TrailerSailer]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

I tow a 3t rig with an M plate Dsco. Fine as long as you are sensible about keeping the speed down - lot of weight to get out of control. As your rig is lighted it should not be a problem. Best bit of advice I had when looking was to go for an auto. Makes the whole experience much nicer and on the slipway it is just a doddle.

 

[uforea]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

For a total hassle free boring journey get yourself one of the Jap models,e.g. Nissan Patrol, Isuzu Trooper or a Mitsubishi Shogun different league altogether to a Disco. which is just a load of unreliable rubbish and no comparison to the above, I bet the Pro. is not using a Disco??

Ted.

 

[hlb]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

Agreed, Trooper is twice the machine and built like a brick shithouse.

Not sure I'd want an auto for towing though.

Dont know, how any of us could guarentee, a car for a grand or two, being ultra reliable. But most are. Hardly think the chassis or tow hook are going to fail though.

 

[MrCramp]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

He is unlikely to geta Jap 4X4 for £1,500 and if he buys one more than 10 years old he will be taking a gamble. If a Jap 4X4 needs major parts replacement/spares then the cost will be significant. Land Rover spares are easily come by and cheap.

The pro was going to use a New Defender.

Be sure to check carefully the manufacturers towing weight specs for the Jap vehicles. Certainly the Shogun cannot tow 3,500 kg as the Land Rover can.

 

[Rob_Webb]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

Unless you've fallen in love with the idea of a Disco I'd recommend going Jap. Toyotas are pretty bulletproof (see the Top Gear thing about the Landcruiser-based Hilux that they couldn't kill)? Here in NZ they are trailer-sailor nutters and you can't go past a beach without seeing a queue of 4x4s waiting to drop-off or recover a trailer boat. And the vast majority are Japs with a high proportion of Toyotas as the beach workhorse. The Hilux 'Surf' model that I use (pictured below) doesn't get it's name from living around shopping malls.

 

[GrowingLad]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

Morning,

Sorry, fell asleep on the sofa last night so missed a few postings.

Firstly, thanks for all the comments, very useful.

I must admit, I've been checking out the Isuzu's and for the price they seem pretty fair and the Hilux's don't look bad either....although old cars and auto gear boxes give me a little concern.

Main reason for looking at Disco's is the price and amount of them.

Thing is, my Dad used to have a J reg that he bought when it was a couple of years old and the problems he had and the money he spent getting it sorted still sticks in my mind.

Thanks again, lots of info to take on board.

 

[Chris_d]

Re: Advice on Old Discovery\'s and Towing

I'd say a 50/50 chance a Discovery for 1.5K would make it, timing chain or headgasket most likely, a Trooper for 1.5K if bought wisely will do it with no fuss.