Trailer Hauling Questions

[ncburch22]

Moving down to Orlando in a few weeks. I will be towing a 6'x12' U-Haul trailer for the nearly 900 mile trip. The trailer is rated at 4,400ibs with a max load of 2,480ibs. I doubt I'll near the max load which would be a total of 6,880ibs, but for safe keeping what would the safest recommended towing limit for this trek be? Also, the tires on my LR3 are Kelly Safari TSR 275/65/18's with load range E. Are these tires sufficient enough? Last question, I promise! I do not have a wiring harness for trailer lighting. Are these hard to install and where can I find one?

 

[Golfer1659]

I had the stock wiring harness done when I bought my truck so I cant answer that but you do have to run it to the front of the truck, it doesnt plug into like a back tailight like some of the knock offs.

Inrelation to the towing, I trailer a 4000+lb bass boat, trailer is 24 feet long and 8.5feet wide with EASE. No issues.

Keep your speed at a MAX of 65 and the sweet zone with good control on the highway is around 55. You should be fine and if you feel swaying then slow down to 50 and keep it in the right lane.

 

[roverman]

I thought that was awfully heavy for a 6 x 12 trailer so I looked it up. The trailer's gross weight rating is 4400 - that's cargo AND trailer total.
The wiring harness installs in a snap, it's just awfully damned expensive. If you're only going to tow the one time, maybe Uhaul can set up something for you?
I don't know what golfer means about running it to the front of the truck? The standard Lr harness plugs in behind the left rear lamp, in that little cubby hole inside.

 

[bbyer]

Link to trailer wiring harness material

Others will disagree, but I suggest a factory wiring harness.

If you need it quickly, you will have to purchase one from the dealer. It is fairly easy to install yourself however.

As I said, others disagree, but if you home build a hookup, if your suspension drops to the stops when towing, then the problem will be solved by disconnecting your whatever.

I am wondering what you are using for a hitch? If it is the factory one which is OK, just make certain that you have it properly locked in. It is easy, but there is a kind of trick to doing it. Properly inserted, the key is easy to remove so do not force removal of the key as that is the sign of "pin" not engaged.

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I note that the links are not working - unfortunate, and blocked perhaps, so you will have to go to Disco3 and search for the material under gallery and bbyer.

 

[ryan-in-oregon]

The factory trailer wiring is super easy. If you open the access panel on the left had side (Trunk area) there are 2 plugs there. That is where the factory harness plugs in. You also have to bolt down a ground wire. The access panel is also the hitch storage area on the seven seat models (Empty on 5 seaters). It is pretty easy to do as I recall you have to drop the spare tire down and remove the left taillight but other then that it is all plug and play. As far as trailer weight goes you should be fine and go by u-hauls recommendation on speed for their trailer.

 

[bbyer]

Factory Wiring Harness

I purchased my wiring harness from the link below as the price was better than at the dealer. It was the factory harness with the Land Rover logos and part numbers etc. I think that matters as the tail light wiring is so fussy and can drop the suspension if it does not like what it sees.

http://www.bputah.com/

Since you are going cross country, now may also be the time to replace your brake light switch as well.

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If you insert "**************" into where the asterisks are, you should beable to access the link. Well you will have to guess how - hints are disco3 co uk with two periods inserted and the spaces deleted. I guess there is some blocking.

 

[CMGRover]

I towed the same trailer, total weight was around 2.5-3k 1500 miles. You'll be fine, the 4 pin connecter is what you'll use. Use a 2" rise in the hitch, worked great for me. Expect to get 13-14 MPG.

 

[ncburch22]

Thanks CMGRover. I'm averaging 11-13mpg without towing anything. Partly due to my 32.6" tires. I'll expect to get anywhere from 9-11mpg for the trip. :/

 

[joecool509]

Thanks CMGRover. I'm averaging 11-13mpg without towing anything. Partly due to my 32.6" tires. I'll expect to get anywhere from 9-11mpg for the trip. :/

Even for that size tire that seems low. I am running 31" tires and with towing a 2000# military trailer which is shaped like a brick I still get 14. You may want to check you air pressure. I had to go up 10# over factory with the larger tire. (my numbers are based on the computer which should under compute by 5% by tire diameter.)

 

[ncburch22]

I'll get it checked out. Thanks. As of right now I'm at 11.4 city. Stock CIA with filter at about 2.5k miles.