Message Forums

We came up the A14/A1 yesterday and we were all over the road in some places, the ruts were so bad.

               Jim

How old is the Discovery?

MW

Well, thanks for the replies and advice. I am concluding it is the model of car above anything else. Some have mentioned that their towcar sits between the ruts/tramlines well the Disco is too wide for this so I think this is the most obvious issue. I guess I will have to reluctantly live with it, even more reluctantly change our tow car or just hog the middle lane!

Seriously though still a real concern, a 640 mile round trip last week gripping the steering wheel for dear life in case a new stretch of ruts was approaching was not my idea of a holiday.

mike whiskey - it is a 2001 Discovery 2.

Once again, many thanks.

we get that solo in our mondeo on the M62 between Goole and Cas.

its all those overweight east european trucks that wreck our roads and take our drivers jobs

we used to have the same problem with a classic range rover on the m5

p38 range rover no problem,shogun,explorer,maverick all ok

i think its the track width on disco`s and early r/rovers

I would disagree to a point about it being the car at fault - although it may have something to do with it.

I have the same issue every year when I drive down to Portsmouth - the van wanders around a bit on the back of the car so I stop and check things out - no problems - when I get to France and get on the better quality auto-routes the problem disappears completely.

The car and van feel far more stable than on the UK roads so I can only assume that it is something to do with the poor maintenance our roads get and the rutting already mentioned.

Hi,

We tow with a 110 defender and have encounted the same problem with ruts which seem worse on certain parts of the motorway network..... nothing you can do just travel at 55.  We have a stabliser fitted so nothing to do with that..... Now we are in a Land Rover Club and plenty of the member have encounted the same as us in Series motors.... Disco's....Freelanders.... 90's.....110's....Range Rovers and Sports so it is a common problem......it just means you have to keep your wits about you when towing.

I notice the ridges a lot more with my Zafira with 17" wheels (225/45 tyres) and a 7' 6" wide Pageant S7 compared to my previous outfit a Civic with 16" wheels (205/55 tyres) and a 7' 2" wide Ranger S5.  I will state that they are only noticable, it has not caused any heart in mouth moments.

As with the new car I only towed the Ranger empty to the dealers for trade in, I am not sure which item (or the combination of both) is the culprit.

On non ridged roads the outfit is really stable even in cross winds so it is not the outfit matching that is the issue.

I Love the ruts on the motorways

set the cruise control And I can make a cup of coffee on the move

Hav'nt dared climb into the bunk behind the seat in my cab yet though !