LLL may well be right about why that long tow bar is on there - something with a very short tow hitch but wide front (like a box trailer) might need extra clearance for turning, particularly with that spare wheel there. Or it might have been done to allow some access to the rear door with a trailer fitted???
For towing a long trailer though (like a car transporter) you would want as short a tow ball as possible. The longer the overhang at the back of the tow vehicle, the more moment there is from the trailer - I.e. more 'lift' and 'throw' from the trailer acting onto the rear of the tow vehicle. Basically as close to the rear axle as possible, is better.
That's another reason why, in hindsight, I actually don't like Disco's for towing. Nice and comfy and pulls like a train, but the back of the vehicle is high and has a large overhang, so any moment from the trailer has a big effect. In general I'm not actually sold on 4x4s for towing tbh. Too high and squashy.
Over the last year, I've towed my car transporter on more than one ocassion with each of the following;
- Disco (ok that wasn't with my actual car transporter, but no difference)
- Navarra
- LWB panel van
- Phil's Mrs' Passat.
And the best combo? The Passat, by an absolute country mile. Yes, it surprised me too! But that was by far and away the most stable and planted set up.
After that would come the Navarra (far more solid, stable and much lower centre of gravity than the disco), then the LWB van (absolute beast of an engine
) and then the Disco.
Admitedly the Passat couldn't legally have towed the cx (too heavy) so the Navarra would pip it on that ocassion.
My dad's 40 years of towing big heavy boats (think cabin cruiser size rather than mirror dinghy size...) says the same.
That's why it really would help if I had one of my CXs on the road
Particularly the diesel estate, which is just perfect
Looking at pics, the trooper has a shorter overhang than the disco but is probably higher than a navarra, so I guess it would sit somewhere between the 2, probably closer to the navarra (depending on how squashy the suspension is)?
EDIT: I didn't include the low loader I also drove, cause that doesn't count
but for the record, thirsty, less comfy, more noisy than any of the above and bum droppings to drive when empty - back bounces like a mo' fo' on the tiniest pimple!
it was fun driving a lorry again though, especially in a city centre
