Better motorway drive

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S

Sphene

New Member
Posts
43
Location
Worcester
I am looking for some advise as currently not sure on which way to go.

I currently have a td5 defender crew cab with uprated intercooler, chip and larger charger turbo. It's a lovely drive running 235/85 tyres and I use it as a land rover is bult, towing once a week or more a Ivor with maybe a ton on and sometimes a trailer up to it's limit. I however also do a fair amount of motorway miles (around 30%) and would like to improve the drive (it's a family car as well) I don't do huge miles around 10-15k a year.

I have been looking at a disco transfer box however read that this makes defenders running 235s underpowered especially when towing and I don't want to lose the nippiness (and boy racer eating performance) of my current set up. I don't want to have to use low box all the time towing occasionally when fully loaded is fine just not on my weekly drive.

I have also looked at over drives however these are very expensive and the rover drives look agricultural and difficult to use for short runs, I beleve gkn don't make there's any more.

I was wondering what your thoughts were out there and if anyone else has gone with one of these set ups.
 
quit bitchin or buy a car for the motorways ;) its never going to be as refined, quiet, fast or comfortable as the likes of a pajero on the motorway , but with the setup you have there isnt much left to change in order to optimise motorway performance, you bought a landy for god sake, not a Mercedes! :D
 
Yes but a car won't tow the digger around, or a pajero for that matter! And shows I take it to are not local (fogot to say it's a demo car for the snow ploughs I sell) hence the motorway miles. I am not aftercare refinement just don't want to have to wear ear defenders when travelling to Scotland. I did buy a disco which nearly did everything I wanted apart from I needed a pickup.
 
Whatever vehicle you want is going to be a compromise. If you are towing 3.5 tons, and need a pick up, then a Defender is pretty much your only choice, apart from a Transit or something similar. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Roverdrives. Even though they are expensive, they are a quality pice of kit and would be ideal for you, as they are strong enough to be used as a splitter box, effectively giving you 10 driving gears without using the low box.
 
Stop whining ffs man, love it or flog but dont come here bitching about a set up many of us would kill for in the first place.
 
as above disco t box

its worth it

youd only need to use low box to get a real heavy load moving then switch to high box

once rolling
 
I know it's a compromise and I love the set up I have got, just wondering if I can improve it? That is one reason I am not sure on the disco box as don't want to destroy a great motor, and going toward a over drive at the moment.
 
Believe me a disco transfer is the way to go!!

With a chipped TD5 you will NOT have to use low range to pull 3.5t
If you do something is wrong
 
disco t box

its not a compomise

try it ya can change back

bet ya dont

cheaper aswell

same low box

my mate has 285 tyres tows loads on farm only has to use low box when starting to move tractor trallers fully loaded on fields mud
 
sible88 said:
Putting a disco transfer box on dont make much difference to the acceleration. Go for it you won't be disappointed.
Click to expand...

gas said:
as above disco t box

its worth it

youd only need to use low box to get a real heavy load moving then switch to high box

once rolling
Click to expand...

What they said ^^^^^^.

My previous landy (300tdi 110) was used for tugging diggers fo a plant equipment hire co. It was great on the motorway and also great for towing brokendown vehicles. If I was towing a heavy trailer or big van I would pull away in first low range and then move on to first high range. Worked fine for me.
 
sible88 said:
Oh ok lol might give it a try
Click to expand...

Advanced method
​
Changing from high to low on the move:​
With the vehicle slowing to a stop and
travelling NO FASTER THAN 5 km/h (3 mph),
depress the clutch and push the transfer lever
into neutral. Just before the road wheels stop
turning (and with the clutch still depressed)
push the lever fully forward into ’L’ (low).​
NOTE:​
Use positive and confident moves, but
do not rush the gear change.​
Changing from low to high on the move:​
Changing from ’L’ (low) to ’H’ (high) can be
achieved without stopping the vehicle, as
follows:​
1.​
Apply slight backward pressure to the
transfer gear lever in preparation for
changing.​
2.​
Then, in three simultaneous moves,
depress the clutch, release the accelerator
and pull the transfer lever into neutral.​
3.​
Release the clutch pedal for approximately
3 seconds before depressing it again and
moving the transfer lever firmly into the
high position.​
4.​
Finally, select a suitable main gear, release
the clutch and continue driving in the
normal way.​
NOTE:​
After a little practice, this operation
can be carried out smoothly and quickly by
using firm, positive moves.
​
 
ratty said:
Advanced method
​
Changing from high to low on the move:​
With the vehicle slowing to a stop and
travelling NO FASTER THAN 5 km/h (3 mph),
depress the clutch and push the transfer lever
into neutral. Just before the road wheels stop
turning (and with the clutch still depressed)
push the lever fully forward into ’L’ (low).​
NOTE:​
Use positive and confident moves, but
do not rush the gear change.​
Changing from low to high on the move:​
Changing from ’L’ (low) to ’H’ (high) can be
achieved without stopping the vehicle, as
follows:​
1.​
Apply slight backward pressure to the
transfer gear lever in preparation for
changing.​
2.​
Then, in three simultaneous moves,
depress the clutch, release the accelerator
and pull the transfer lever into neutral.​
3.​
Release the clutch pedal for approximately
3 seconds before depressing it again and
moving the transfer lever firmly into the
high position.​
4.​
Finally, select a suitable main gear, release
the clutch and continue driving in the
normal way.​
NOTE:​
After a little practice, this operation
can be carried out smoothly and quickly by
using firm, positive moves.
​
Click to expand...

Very good ;-)
 
I use to use low to start on my 200tdi as I use to store the digger was on a steep hill, then moved up to high worked fine just takes some getting use to as when I first started doing it I would lose to much momentum changing.

It appears the people who have told me I would be doing this at every junction can't drive! I would have thought a disco box would help on fuel on long journeys! I like the disco box idea as it also leaves the truck looking standard.
 
Sphene said:
I am looking for some advise as currently not sure on which way to go.

I currently have a td5 defender crew cab with uprated intercooler, chip and larger charger turbo. It's a lovely drive running 235/85 tyres and I use it as a land rover is bult, towing once a week or more a Ivor with maybe a ton on and sometimes a trailer up to it's limit. I however also do a fair amount of motorway miles (around 30%) and would like to improve the drive (it's a family car as well) I don't do huge miles around 10-15k a year.

I have been looking at a disco transfer box however read that this makes defenders running 235s underpowered especially when towing and I don't want to lose the nippiness (and boy racer eating performance) of my current set up. I don't want to have to use low box all the time towing occasionally when fully loaded is fine just not on my weekly drive.

I have also looked at over drives however these are very expensive and the rover drives look agricultural and difficult to use for short runs, I beleve gkn don't make there's any more.

I was wondering what your thoughts were out there and if anyone else has gone with one of these set ups.
Click to expand...

I cant understand why you would want to change the setup you have if your happy with it. You do have to remember it is a defender you have, they tow well,do offroad really well but they are not racing cars or motorway cruisers. I guess you will have to make a compromise somewhere as others have said.
 
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