GrahamH
Member Since: 28 Dec 2011
Location: Kent
Posts: 15
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| Which Disco 3 is best for Towing - Auto or Manual |
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As the title suggest i am wondering which will be better for towing my caravan. I currently tow it with a manual TD5 but am unsure which to go for on the disco 3's. Ive had mixed reports, some say manual is better and others say auto is better.
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This is the beast i tow. she's 26ft and 1700kg. Any help greatfully received.
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 Fri Feb 17 2012 2:55pm |
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Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 1372
  
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If you have a look at this thread there was some discussion on it lately. Cheers Ian
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 3:03pm |
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GrahamH
Member Since: 28 Dec 2011
Location: Kent
Posts: 15
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cheers for that.. missed that one while searching... many thanks
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 3:06pm |
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DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 10543
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never driven a manual D3/D4 but the auto is perfect. I tow a 2000kg twin axle caravan and have towed 3500kg trailer through wales up and down some steep hills.
its just effortless in an auto. you can always switch to Command Shift if you want a maunal like feel at certain time, ie selecting a gear before a hill or holding the gear up the hill - but I rarely use it. Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
D3 HSE 2006 (For Sale), Locking Rear Diff, 4 x LF140s, 4 x Bosch Roof Lights, Frontrunner rack, RLD Rock sliders, Winch, RAI, Twisted Exhaust, Cooper STs, GSM FBH, Painted in a proper colour !, limo Tint SupaGlass
2010 D4 HSE (sold)
MY12 D4 XS (on order for June/July)
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 3:58pm |
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IBBO
Member Since: 09 Feb 2011
Location: Hinckley, Leics
Posts: 89
 
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Manual every time for me. You are supposed to be 'driving' not point & press!
Tend to be more votes for auto though on here! 
Pay yer money, take yer choice!
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 7:47pm |
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gsr341
Member Since: 30 Sep 2010
Location: north wales
Posts: 69
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ive got an manual D3 tow my tri axel ivor with challenge landrover on around , around 3.2 ton all up , and i wiash id bought a auto to be honest 
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 9:54pm |
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haroosh
Member Since: 16 Nov 2010
Location: Perth & Kinross
Posts: 229
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I have manual and towing a 3 tons of boat and trailer I am convinced auto is best. Any clunky gear changes on manual are exagarated with trailer. Never happens on auto....
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 10:08pm |
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Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 617
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A few years ago I'd have done anything to avoid owning and towing with an Auto, but I've been converted and it's Auto every time for me now.
Nasher.
 | | Click image to enlarge | Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
55plate D3 HSE in Silver.
Ocean 6.5m RIB with DT200EFI Suzi Wong.
Bombard Aerotec 380 SIB with 9.9HP Suzi for the Smaller Nashers.
Kawasaki Z1000H, Big Bore, monoshock, Upside down front end etc.
1940's military Canoe - Currently loaned to the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth.
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| Fri Feb 17 2012 10:18pm |
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anglefire
Member Since: 09 Mar 2010
Location: In the Club House
Posts: 1082
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I've just towed my Bailey Twin back from Devon today - and auto is just so much easier.
Yes it does take the fun away from driving at times - but its a long time since I was a boy racer - and these things aint really for the red light GP. Mind you, they can surprise a few  Mark.
2006, D3 SE Auto Zermatt Silver. GNVP Sump Guard, RAI, Chrome Side Tubes,GNVP Sliders,Heated seats F&R, Heated screen, 4x4 Sat Nav enabled. ATR's (Thanks Ken)
Trailer called "Tilly"; Caravan called "The Van"
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Disco Picture Website Here
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| Sat Feb 18 2012 12:33am |
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Splitpin
Member Since: 30 Dec 2010
Location: Worcester
Posts: 297
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Manual here and I think I'm right in saying cheaper to fix? D3 for daily driver, towing, mud and snow
380bhp mini cooper S for speed
Rover John Cooper LE MINI for the restoration "project"
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| Sat Feb 18 2012 6:45am |
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comedyharvey
Member Since: 04 Jul 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 99
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There's a reason that the largest heavy haulage tractors, tank transporters and the like, have auto gearboxes, they impose much less stress on the drive train. Auto every time for towing.
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| Sat Feb 18 2012 2:03pm |
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stew 46
Member Since: 01 Dec 2011
Location: cornwall
Posts: 729
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manual for me every time  D3 05 se ,
110 s wagon 300 tdi
h top transit
crew cab transit
transit connect
volvo v 70 d5
ausa dumper
peljob 2.5 digger
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| Sat Feb 18 2012 2:06pm |
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NIDisco3
Member Since: 29 Apr 2005
Location: Derry City
Posts: 386
 
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I have had both in the D3, and would go for the Auto everytime now
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| Sat Feb 18 2012 2:44pm |
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stephenw46
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: westmidlands
Posts: 83
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I tow with a manual all around europe will only go too a auto when the d3 is replaced for a d4 as no choice
hope it helps
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| Sat Feb 18 2012 7:15pm |
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Woodster
Member Since: 29 Jan 2010
Location: Manchester
Posts: 13
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I work for a company who run a fleet of D3's we tow trailers ranging from 2.2kg to 3.5kg daily up and down the country (my 07 has just hit 142k miles). All the D3's are manual's, clutches range from 25k to one that's just hit 90k even the dealer who does all the servicing thinks we have had the clutch replaced since they last did it!
The reason for the difference is some people will drive them properly and use low range to pull off if starting on a hill sometimes even pulling out of junctions, others don't bother, personally I find first gear too long to be able to pull off without too much slipping, hence using the low box - low 2nd, low 4th, high 2nd then through the box normally, I'm upto 65k doing this so far. The previous driver of my D3 was averaging 25k a clutch.
We have 3 new D4's coming in auto so it will be interesting to see how different they tow the trailers.
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| Sat Feb 18 2012 7:32pm |
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