ryetecman
Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Malton
Posts: 10
  
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Hi, just about to take my D3 for it's 2 year calibration, pre may 06 dilibrately so I could have analogue unit, didn't want anyone destroying the interior, so removed the cig ligter ash tray assembly and shoe horned it in there, looks very neat, but had to modify air blower vents behind dash that send air to the rear vents on centre console as they are just too narrow for tacho to fit between. bit of a mission but worth it. If you want more details let me know.
Am I aloud to say waht a ridiculous law this is ?!  but the fact that it is law and landrover sell a 3.2 tonne vehicle with a 3.5 tonne towing limit (any towing vehicle over 3.5 tonne gross train weight (max car weight + max trailer weight including any potential load) must be fitted with a tacho (with a few exceptions, like farmer going to nearest local market only !). Some one at Landrover ought to have thought this one out !  [/code] Love landrovers despite all the've thrown at me !
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 31st Jan 2010 10:49 am |
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hensoni
Member Since: 01 Oct 2007
Location: Sleepy Somerset
Posts: 576
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It's only going to get worse.
Currently, we have some exemptions to the Euro Norm legislation. As us old fogies start dropping off the employment radar, there will be fewer people left who will be able to tow anything greater weight than the kerbweight of the tow vehicle. This has already been enforced for those 'youngsters' who have earn't their licence since 1997.
FWIW, I don't think that anyone should be able to tow anything greater than a 'toy' trailer without undergoing additional training. The number of slugs that we see in the ditches next to the A303 / M5 every summer as the whole nation descends on Cornwall is horrifying. It's usually down to one of four things:
1) slug too heavy for the tow vehicle
2) noseweight
3) tyres on the slug
4) Going too fast downhill
All are easily covered in a day's training course
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| 31st Jan 2010 12:57 pm |
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Kentuckykid69
Member Since: 15 Mar 2007
Location: Tenby
Posts: 92
 
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Hi ryetecman
Good reading your artical,
Can you tell me where you got yours fitted and how much, we have a D3 also - its a March 2006 and dont really tow anything at present but it might be an idea to have a techo fitted ready.
Many thanks
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| 11th May 2010 1:44 pm |
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Kentuckykid69
Member Since: 15 Mar 2007
Location: Tenby
Posts: 92
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Just forgot to say:
We have a D4 & D3, - the D3 is the work horse and hence why I am thinking of having one fitted in it.
I am shopping around for costings at present and value your comments & prices
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| 11th May 2010 1:46 pm |
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hensoni
Member Since: 01 Oct 2007
Location: Sleepy Somerset
Posts: 576
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Kentuckykid69, if you are towing for leisure purposes, you don't need provisions for a tacho. The simplest way to think of this is that you only need it if you are towing a trailer and its load "for hire or reward" and the overall train weight (vehicle + trailer + load) exceeds 3.5tonne. Club missing my D3
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| 11th May 2010 2:03 pm |
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Kentuckykid69
Member Since: 15 Mar 2007
Location: Tenby
Posts: 92
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Quote:and the overall train weight (vehicle + trailer + load) exceeds 3.5tonne.
Hi hensoni
Yes I think we would tow over the 3.5 tonnes weight, I am thinking of buying a large boat.
The car weights 2.7tonnes...... trailer 1 tonne ........ boat 2 tonnes ????????
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| 11th May 2010 2:08 pm |
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hensoni
Member Since: 01 Oct 2007
Location: Sleepy Somerset
Posts: 576
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Appreciate that, but will you be dragging your boat around the countryside for business? Club missing my D3
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| 11th May 2010 2:16 pm |
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Kentuckykid69
Member Since: 15 Mar 2007
Location: Tenby
Posts: 92
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Quote:Appreciate that, but will you be dragging your boat around the countryside for business?
Hello Mate
Yes very funny......... 
I know what you mean but I am thinking whats the point having a DS3 and not been able to tow anything larger than a Halfords micky mouse trailer - might as well go the whole hog.....
Do you know anyone whos fitted it to a DS3 - and how much did they pay?
Appricate any news 
Cheers
kk69
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| 11th May 2010 5:24 pm |
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4-Tech
Member Since: 08 Dec 2009
Location: None
Posts: 108
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I have a Tacho fitted and can advise or fit one for you. IMHO the best place for it is to sacrifice the next to useless upper glove box and fit it there.
Pretty easy to fit once you have the correct interface etc.
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| 11th May 2010 7:06 pm |
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dantheman
Member Since: 12 Mar 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 1722
 
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Kentucky,
As others have said you dont need one to tow yr boat unless that is yr business. If its not then dont go to the trouble of a tacho just for the sack of it.
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| 11th May 2010 10:06 pm |
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hensoni
Member Since: 01 Oct 2007
Location: Sleepy Somerset
Posts: 576
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Tens of thousands of D3s, D2s, D1s and Defenders as well as another 100s of thousands other 'proper' 4WD motors tow heavy trailers with horses, vehicles, boats, garden rubbish, furniture, children (not really - running out of examples...) around the countryside every day of the week WITHOUT A TACHOGRAPH
Because....
It ain't business use.
If you don't tow for business, spend your money somewhere else Club missing my D3
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| 12th May 2010 2:30 pm |
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Kentuckykid69
Member Since: 15 Mar 2007
Location: Tenby
Posts: 92
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Hi dantheman
Just had a Tacho fiited - its amazing - Had to spend the money some how - makes to much interest !!!
At least I can tow the boat now to Tenby, saves the choppy seas !!!!
I must say thou on a serious note - the fitters I used really did know what they were doing and its like a factory job - didnt want any monkeys near - but they were 100% great.
Thanks all for writing about this artical really useful info - I would not have known.
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| 27th May 2010 2:02 pm |
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character
Member Since: 01 Jan 2008
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
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sorry have I missed something, did you say the boat IS for business and not for pleasure 
So assuming your D3 and boat is for business purposes and that you use the tacho when towing the boat:
1) What records are you now keeping for when the vehicle is not towing to comply with the Working Time Directive and UK Drivers Tacho Rules - remember if you have a tacho you have to keep records for the past 28 days in the vehicle (me I manually fill in an empty tacho when working in the office/days off)?
2) What are you doing to ensure that the tachographs are being read to ensure you have'nt broken any of the above
3)What due diligence are you doing to ensure you keep the tacho/downloaded records for 1 or 2 years depending on whether you are "self employed" or an employee and that where there may be infringements that some kind of internal system of re-dress is operational within your organisation?
4) Have you checked your driving licence to confirm you've got B+E entitlement (you'll be amazed the amount of drivers who past their tests later only to find they've not got the ability to drive a D3 with a trailer over 750kg up to 3500kg)
5) Have you considered going on the Drivers CPC course regards the training on a digital and analogue tachos/working time directive/uk drivers hours?
6) Have you ordered your "drivers" digital tacho card (regardless of whether its an analogue one fitted) so if you are unable to drive that vehicle due to it being accident damaged or broken down, you can use a vehicle with a digital tacho (by the way you must keep your digital tacho card with you at all times)
7) Have your employers ordered a "company" digital tacho card?
So you thought fitting a tacho was all you needed to do 
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| 27th May 2010 11:14 pm |
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Commerspec
Member Since: 21 Apr 2008
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 21
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I have had a tacho fitted and it is quite neatly attached to the rear of the central cubby. Very neat job has been carried out however there is a light that when I drive out of scope still seems to light. Its too bright for night time so as the evenings draw in I will need to sort this (marker pen on order)
Appreciate that this may not be exactly as per rules but was fitted by a very reputable firm and has cal stickers in door and somewhere else.
As a bussiness we have an operating licence and associated software so I have the card and car downloaded every month. Biggest problem is trying to remember that in order to comply with Working Time Directive I need to switch to rest and off rest throughout the working day when using trailer, not Ideal when I am working some distance from the vehicle.
Character - Thanks for all the info all very detailed, realise that my machine may not be ideally placed but this is the only failing and I carry a nice bottle of scotlands finest in case pleading does not get me round VOSA.
Kentuckykid - I would have to assume that you sell fish that you catch. You may like your tachco but I dispise every square micron mine, but at least I have a Discovery once again. The rules state "towing for reward and or profit" this includes demos and stuff but interestingly:
If Doris tows her nag around in the back of a box to events for competition ends up out jumping all other nags and susequently wins sterling for this. Doris will then fall under tacho law. D4 Commercial June 2010
VW Golf GTI Mk 2
Audi V8 (3.6)
Ransomes Marquis 18" (Briggs)
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| 14th Sep 2010 3:00 pm |
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mantamad
Member Since: 13 Sep 2010
Location: Harrogate
Posts: 24
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Ok I just want to be certain, I am going to be buying a Disco3 to tow my rally car to and from events. I am not running a business but my friend who will be also using it now and again to collect cars runs a rally prep firm so do we need to fit a tacho for either use???
Many thanks
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| 16th Sep 2010 1:45 am |
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