Land Rover Discovery Sport vs Adria Isonzo

Can you not specify ATC as an option ?  Mighty big and heavy van not to have ATC.

I agree re ATC, in my view should be manadatory on new vans. However as for the weight ratio, it is a) legal, b) the 85% ‘rule’ is totally arbitry that only here in the U.K. do caravaners get their underwear in a knot and c) Can you really tell the difference when towing between 85% and 88%?! In my view It is more important to have the correct/legal nose weight, balanced load distribution, tyre pressures correct on towcar and van...... so yes, I believe you are being over cautious however if you are not confident don’t do it. Your call. I tow at around 98% in all seasons and all over UK and mainland Europe and am perfectly happy with my set up. 

We were on a site in France recently and a couple were towing an Isonzo with a Volvo XC 60 D4  so similar your Disco Sport I guess and they managed ok - manouvering the van on the site was a different matter but that was nothing to do with the car.

The Isonzo's long "A" frame and the Disco Sport's short overhang are both positive features in respect to stability that a simple numerical weight comparison is "blind" to identifying.

ATC can be added as an after market fit, and I would certainly do so, with such a powerful safety tool available at a reasonable added cost, it is unwise IMO not to have it.

Once you start towing the Isonzo - you'll see why the manufacturers don't fit it as standard - they're as steady as a rock and all the owners will tell you the same. They're built on an Alko Delta chassis, unlike UK vans and the only addition I did to mine was to fit shock absorbers (red ones) to help deal with  the pot-holes! 

As an Isonzo owner for 4 years, I cannot recommend them enough and have towed mine to Croatia (3 times) plus thousands of miles in the UK. Not once has it misbehaved. Granted, it may not be as 'pretty' as the UK vans inside, but it is very practical, spacious and well built. At 1800kgs, like any other van of similar weight, it's not easy to manoeuvre, so I invested in a mover.

Have a look on Adria owner forums and see what they say.

Enjoy!

 

Hopefully no caravan maker or owner fits ATC because of the inherent lack of stability, it is only there to quell instability should that be encountered.

The van and its tow vehicle being strong on stability is not a surefire guarantee one will never encounter a situation that destabilises them. Whilst very strongly suggesting you don't try it out, consider how without ATC it could recover from a forced "Elk test".

Hopefully no caravan maker or owner fits ATC because of the inherent lack of stability, it is only there to quell instability should that be encountered.

Totally agree. However, most modern vehicles (the likes of which the OP mentions) are fitted with some type of 'Trailer Sway Control' or 'Mitigation' system, which detects any sway in the trailer and  when activated, then reduces torque, over-riding any drivers' decisions to increase/decrease speed. The outfit will automatically slow down until normal stability is regained.

Let's face it - all these electronic gizmos are only there to protect the driver, who, instead of concentrating, watching his speed and anticipating the road ahead - relies instead on technology (or good fortune)

 

 

ATC and its ilk though act directly on the caravan via its brakes. Directly at the bit of the mass initially going wrong and where the building up of sway energy is.

Vehicle trailer stability systems, as you point out work only on what they can, the vehicle's systems, indirectly trying to tame the caravans swaying.

It is useful to compliment the ATC, though can only act indirectly.

After two sets of rectification work done under warranty on the ATC unit of my caravan followed by a third failure later on I lost confidence in it and in exasperation I removed it altogether. I can’t say that I feel any unease with the way the caravan behaves now after the move, although I agree that in principle it is good idea and I may go for it again with my next caravan.

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