Overland Journal: Discovery I, 5-speed

[michaelgroves]

Maybe mine closes better than most, but I stand by my statement about my personal experience.

Mine was a very neat pintle too, that latched closed firmly with virtually no gap. It probably depends on the precise design whether it's a problem or not. It would be a pity to use a shackle - the big diameter pintle is much kinder to the strap than a shackle pin is.

 

[michaelgroves]

I dont trust those hitches for the rated tongue weight either, they just dont have enough meat in them for my taste.

If you don't trust them for towing, then I'm not suprised you're scared to use them as a recovery point! Chalk and cheese...!

 

[Antichrist]

Mine was a very neat pintle too, that latched closed firmly with virtually no gap. It probably depends on the precise design whether it's a problem or not.

Yeah, I'd agree. That's why I qualified my original statement to apply only to the Dixon-Bate pintles.
The pintle on my deuce and a half worked well too, but with that I was using a very thick 4" strap, something you wouldn't normally use on a Land Rover.

 

[muskyman]

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[revor]

well I still tow with it all the time, I just wouldent tow something with a real heavy tongue weight.

The trailer I pull most often these days is really light, this is it rolling out for a week of backcountry fishing.

Okay WHAT can you tow with a DisKo that can be heavy enough to have a heavy tongue weight?:Wow1:

I'd trust mine for a recovery point, except I don't have one having removed it long ago to shorten the frame and install a D/B 5 tonne tow jaw, Karen's has the factory reciever though as does the 110 in both we put the pintle in for the trailer.:drool:

 

[muskyman]

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[michaelgroves]

well I would say this is to much

Looks just about perfect for a Disco!

As a matter of interest, I assume that in terms of towbar failure, you're not really worried about the tongue-weight per se, but rather the total mass of the trailer? Even so, I never had any concerns about my standard Discovery 1 towbars being too flimsy for towing heavy trailers. As I say, though, I never felt comfortable using them as recovery points, even with a proper pintle instead of a ball.

 

[revor]

Looks just about perfect for a Disco!

As a matter of interest, I assume that in terms of towbar failure, you're not really worried about the tongue-weight per se, but rather the total mass of the trailer? Even so, I never had any concerns about my standard Discovery 1 towbars being too flimsy for towing heavy trailers. As I say, though, I never felt comfortable using them as recovery points, even with a proper pintle instead of a ball.

Thom you scare me sometimes!

It's not the hitch I worry about so much as the behaviour of the load with a short wheelbase.

As far as recovery goes I've not seen one fail and have used them but all my cars have better options so I use those.

 

[JSQ]

Scott,

Do yourself a favor when you upgrade your braking system and change your brake fluid to ATE Super Blue.

It seems overkill in a fourwheel drive application.

It's not.

 

[discotdi]

well I wish I had read this thread regarding the D90 brake upgrade before I replaced the rotors, pads, and calipers on my Disco! maybe next time.

 

[Mike_rupp]

Scott,

Do yourself a favor when you upgrade your braking system and change your brake fluid to ATE Super Blue.

It seems overkill in a fourwheel drive application.

It's not.

Jack, please explain the reasoning behind using ATE Super Blue. I've installed the D90 rotors and calipers, but I still need to bend and install the hard brake hose, so I'll need to bleed the system soon. If there is a good enough reason, I'll use the ATE Super Blue instead of the Castrol GTLMA.

 

[Antichrist]

Might want to check your state laws first. The Super Blue is illegal in Florida for street use.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I would think Super Blue would be overkill. If you put in a racing brake fluid, but then rarely change it, you're not much further ahead than just using a good quality fluid and changing it regularly. If you need enough performance out of your braking system that you need to be using racing fluid AND flushing it regularly, I think you should probably be upgrading your brakes more substantially than just a high dollar fluid.

 

[Antichrist]

I know that the blue also comes in a street version ATE 200 that is amber.

True, I neglected to mention that, though I don't think they are exactly the same formulation. I think the blue has a higher boiling point.

 

[Mike_rupp]

I would think Super Blue would be overkill. If you put in a racing brake fluid, but then rarely change it, you're not much further ahead than just using a good quality fluid and changing it regularly. If you need enough performance out of your braking system that you need to be using racing fluid AND flushing it regularly, I think you should probably be upgrading your brakes more substantially than just a high dollar fluid.

1. I am substantially upgrading my brakes. Did you miss that?
2. I regularly change my brake fluid
3. The cost of ATE vs Castrol GT LMA isn't enough to even discuss

That being said, I was wondering what practical evidence that Jack has with the ATE compared to other brake fluids, not a theoretical discussion of why I shouldn't use it.