Sorry about your predicament.

What about an Unimog? I've never driven one, but have seen them in action towing big trailers of straw etc and going over grouse moors to take stone for rebuilding of butts. I have never been able to justify one, but you could..,

Subject to that I think the 4.4 TDV8 would be much better able to cope with regular 3t loads, given 700 Nm rather than the 390 of the TD6, and I would think a stronger transmission to cope with the extra too. As you say the Toyota LC V8 has inferior brakes (and isn't remotely as good to drive) and the new supply stopped last year, even if it is a good tower. Only Range Rovers since 1988

LFW, that was the lines that the conversation went with the gearbox specialists, they felt that the TCC was engaging partially, as it isn't enough to stall the engine, but it's enough to get the Turbo to spool up, on tick over
And recon that the converter is the most likely cause as all was good before, however they haven't ruled out the valve block, so they are going to look in to that first, as you don't have to pull the box to do so.... they thought that they had another block to try..... so it could be that. Failing that it's the converter, maybe the new clutch has swelled up and it's dragging..... all I know is it's a pig to drive, especially as it doesn't let the turbo get to full power before it tries to pull off...... nothing..... nothing.... chug chug off we go !

CS, a Unimog is slight overkill, scrub that, it's total overkill, they are capable of pulling 24 tons in standard trim, before you start with the specials.... and then there is the slight matter of the fuel consumption.... the reason that you don't see they towing on the roads all the time is the 6lt + engines are returning single figures and flatout they will only do 55, that could make for a very long day

And are right about a TDV8 it would be my preferred choise , but I fear that the Bank manager can come up with 30,000 reasons as to why I can't have one  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

With regards to fuel consumption on the TDV8 I towed my 110 from Surrey to Wales. The 110 had a sofabed and armchair in the back. The RR had two chests of drawers and two 8ftish by 4ft tables in the back. I'd guess there was over 3 tonnes on the back. Sat at about 50 to 55 because it was windy and the bonnet of the 110 was level with the roof of the RR I averaged 26 on the run with a slight headwind (mostly cross wind) which made the drive entertaining.

It is a phenomenal tow car, took my SIII to Middlesbrough behind it and hardly noticed it. Oodles of torque on that trip sat in 6th with the trailer where my 110 would be struggling to maintain its speed.

I can imagine the 4.4 is even better but to be honest a well maintained (if not prestine aesthetically) 3.6 would be well under the 20k mark. I bought mine 3 years ago from Gary at the 100k mark for £16k. I will always cherish Craig's comment when I picked it up after he sorted the transfer box after a week laning around Wales. He was dreading it when he saw it with scratches all over, mucky outside and a bit inside. But he was astonished at how well it drove for a 140k that wasn't as shiny as most of his examples. Ed

Paul,

Having found this post and reading all the problems you are having trying to sort your car out.
My friend, regarding the alignment tool, for your own wellbeing I wish you hadnt agreed to make me a set.
This is far more important that you get it resolved. You seem to have enough problems at the moment that need resolving without me adding to your workload.

Take care and good fortune Buddy
Peter

seems strange to see so many toilets, and no queueing women!

almost looks like a greyhound racing start line

sorry cant offer any diesel gearbox advice, but have had the (petrol) 5hp24 out... twice!

if I have a big load to pull with my Range, I nearly always put the box into manual mode, and hold a decent gear and cruise it.... this way, I have a little more pedal 'feel', and, a little off-pedal braking, -and, the TC is almost locked, and the box is not wearing/slipping. (torque converter lock-up) etc.
I fitted the paddle shifters to help me.

Are well that's because it's the day before the London to Brighton Cycle Race, it's 7 am, and they are at the top of Ditchling Beacon

The best gig for ques is the Epsom Derby, can get to 300 deep to every door

And the most impressive line up that I been involved in was the London Marathon start, just inside the park where everyone piles out the gates, we had a row of units nose to tail and it was over a quarter of a mile long

As far as manual mode goes, I tried it several times, and it was a total disaster, only had to think about touching the throttle and the revs would shoot up I found the best way was to use cruise control, for some strange reason it tries to lock the box at the drop of a feather But by far the best method is to keep it around 55 Which is easier said than done  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Next time you're at the London to Brighton or down Surrey / south London way with one of those give me a holler and I'll nip out in the TDV8 and you can compare the two  Ed

Oh I know that The TDV8 is way better, for a kickoff they have 50% more power

I'm actually looking at a Disco, because they seam to have dropped in price recently, and the engine appears to take a bit more abuse that the TDV8..... probably due to one less turbo, and they actually do more to the gallon than the TD6

I didn't need a Range Rover, it was the only car that met my needs without being stupidly over priced at the time.... Landcruisers are still stupidly over priced, but the Disco's have dropped to Range Rover levels If mine had lasted another season then I would be looking at a TDV8, but at the moment they are just out of reach  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

At the risk of going (read that as gone) off topic... Would the D3 cope better than the RR? D4 sure but the 2.7? I thought they were comparable weights to the FF given the double chassis.

When I was looking for alternatives to the Defender the FF was about £10k cheaper than a D4. I haven't actually driven the 3 but did test drive the 4 prelaunch at Gaydon, unfortunately it meant I discounted the 3 given gearbox, handbrake issues etc. Ed

Random thought, can you make enough off the RR in parts that you could drag it out another year? I might be tempted in trying to fit the seats in the Defender for example

Stupid idea really... Ed

D3's can easily be remapped to 240 hp, the gearbox ... providing it doesn't shudder going up hills and has a regular oil change should last, and what is a handbrake I have park on the gearbox

I've used Defenders for towing loo's before.... your lucky if you can get 12 months out of a clutch and I can't walk after an hour in one let alone a day..... and then we get to the most important bit you are hard pushed to get over 40 mph, safely, not enough power and too much axle flex...... out of 7 rollover accidents that I know of involving mobile loo's 4 were Defenders, 1 Classic, 1 Patrol and 1 80 Series Landcruiser It don't bode well.... Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

I wasn't suggesting using a Defender. More that I could take your seats into my 110

I towed the RR with the 110 across some very steep hills near my parents. 2.7 tonnes of RR and basically a tonne of trailer and a 1.2 transfer box made low range a necessity at some points...

What about one of the Cummins 6BT conversions... Seen it done on plenty of Defenders, you could be the first FF  Ed

I can tweak my engine to 220 hp but the gearbox isn't handling the 177 at the moment, what hope with an extra 43 horses ?

All I need to do is remove all traces of GM  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

A D3 wouldn't have any problems with completing the job - they've been used by the Highways Agency to tow 40-ton artics off the hard shoulder (albeit in low range).

240hp might be a tad optimistic for a remap, but 225-230hp is a very reasonable expectation - and more importantly, you can expect an increase to around 530Nm of torque. A big IC and decat helps a lot too.

Don't worry about the park brake - they just need periodic adjustment and frequent use (so it's by far best that you do use it). One thing though, please be very wary of cheap D3s...it can really end in tears.

Anyway, back on topic, sort of, I'll be interested to hear what's up with the box. Funnily enough, only the other day my father and I were discussing the GM box issues and we speculated about a friend's 02 FF; the very next day, no less, it was being collected by TES with transmission problems... Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver