redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
  
|
| Quick release towbar - loose and rattling |
|
Has anyone had any troubles with the quick release towbar rattling? Had my car 4 years now, and been towing with the removable towbar regularly, and it was never an amazingly tight fit, but it has become really quite loose now, and rattles when I'm towing if the road undulates. I can physically grab the thing and rattle it on the back of the car.
It seems as if the wear is in the chassis, not the towbar, I'm told by my specialist. He has seen this before on another customers car, who after going back to land rover was told that the removable towbar was just for occasional use, and the only solution was the fixed heavy duty bar. What worries me, is that the fixed bar still uses the quick release socket, and if that is now worn, is mine safe to add a fixed bar to? D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
|
 18th Jun 2012 8:57 pm |
|
|
character
Member Since: 01 Jan 2008
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
 
|
ok, first of all its an MOT failure if the tow bar moves more than 2mm each way (from what I'be been told) ie left to right.. and whilst on a routine safety check the LR tech tapped our supports of the FIXED TOW BAR only to find a different noise coming from one support than the other - result was it completely knocking left and right by nearly 0.75in 
Solution, NEW REAR CROSS MEMBER WELDED IN & NEW LR TOW BAR.... 
BTW if yer want the side supports for the left and right hand corners of the cross member (which are welded in), then pm me coz I have a brand new OEMLR set which we didnt use 
BBTW you'll find the old tow bar will still not fit snug in to the new cross member 
Your option might be to use an new tow bar set up but non OEM using the underside of the rear cross member but would mean that the bumper cover will need to be cut for the supporting brackets (but should not be noticeable as they will be from underneath).
Oh yea, the cost going down LR route...... an eye watering £1200 plus vat (but could be a bit cheaper as we had to VOR the parts for next day so had no discount on the parts).
|
| 18th Jun 2012 10:00 pm |
|
|
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
|
Ouch!!
So if you had the fixed type, how was it moving enough to create the wear? I thought that it would be solid, therefore no movement = no wear.
I never have the towbar installed when I go to MOT so it will never fail, but even still I feel it has gotten bad enough to worry about now, so I must do something about it. An aftermarket bar might be a good idea if it doesn't use the quick release hole. Wasn't that an option for you? D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
|
| 18th Jun 2012 10:10 pm |
|
|
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
|
I found this one from Witter, and it's an interesting video, but it still looks to be using the integral chassis mounting.
D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
|
| 18th Jun 2012 10:23 pm |
|
|
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
|
Crikey! I just found this too. Very scary. Don't think I'll be towing my 3.5t Ifor Williams trailer, or my 27' caravan on this hook again. Looks like I dodged a bullet.
http://landroverhell.com/article/4193/ D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
|
| 18th Jun 2012 10:33 pm |
|
|
character
Member Since: 01 Jan 2008
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
|
TBH, I would say that any experienced MOT tester knowing that tow bars have just come under the MOT test will simply remove the bumper cover, have a look at the pin eletrics and then look for paint wear around the chassis fixing and conclude that you do have a removable one but have forgotten to include it with the vehicle.
That said, the bigger picture is one of safety for other road users, your quick release tow bar fails when pulling something and yer on an A road, yer talking serious life changing injury to the oncoming vehicle or death to a pedestrian on a pavement..... me personally I wanted peace of mind - cost was not a factor.
BTW seems quite a few D3's have suffered from the same fatique, my dealership have done 4 so far but mine was the most serious - hence it needed to be done in a hurry. 
|
| 18th Jun 2012 10:36 pm |
|
|
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
|
Like I said above, now I know about it, I won't be using it again. I do have a small amount of responsibility. I was pointing out that it is always removed when not in use, therefore not installed at the time of MOT. if its not installed at the time of the MOT, then it can't be tested. Just like the rear seats if down at the time of MOT, will not be tested (seat belts etc). You may have a car that has previously towed with a former keeper, but no longer does, so it can't be included on the MOT. New keeper may not even own the part in question.
Anyway, as demonstrated above, this IS a serious issue, and I am looking for a way around it. I have found several aftermarket bars But so far they all use the central towing hole in some form. I have yet to find one that mounts in a different way.
I was also surprised to note that on Witters website they only rate their bar at 3230kg, which is of course too little for this vehicle. What is the point in that? I'm sure in their promo video (link above) they state that they are attaching a fully loaded 3500kg trailer...... D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
|
| 18th Jun 2012 11:10 pm |
|
|
character
Member Since: 01 Jan 2008
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
|
given my recent events last week and the cost of doing it the OEM LR route against the safety aspect of the job, going to have a word with LRCC tomorrow to see whether we can broker a "goodwill gesture" ahead of reporting it to VOSA
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/onlineservices/vehicledefects.htm
|
| 19th Jun 2012 11:09 pm |
|
|
klwinton
Member Since: 16 Nov 2010
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 83
|
I fitted the witter heavy duty bar after I discovered a rattle on my detachable one. The witter bar locks in with a locking bolt and when mine was in there was no movement at all. The steady bars to the chassis legs was additional strength and is now perfect. D3 SE 08 Zermat Silver (Now Sold)
D4 Grille Mod
D4 Rear Lights
Chrome side tubes
Supercharged badges
|
| 20th Jun 2012 8:31 pm |
|
|
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
|
Fit the loose towbar in place using some shims to take up the play and then get it welded in place, wont be removable though 
|
| 20th Jun 2012 8:35 pm |
|
|
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
|
Thanks klwinton. It was the Witter I was heading for, as I usually go for Witter on other vehicles I've had, and they're usually pretty good. I was just worried in case it still rattled now that the hole has opened up. If it cured your problem it should cure mine too. D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
|
| 20th Jun 2012 9:11 pm |
|
|
redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
|
B16 KJR wrote:Fit the loose towbar in place using some shims to take up the play and then get it welded in place, wont be removable though
I don't mind admitting it had crossed my mind. I was looking at it yesterday, and decided that theres no way it would have ever come out, but the rattling was annoying. Considered getting the welder out to see to it. It's kinda terminal for the rear crossmember though isn't it, so I think I will get the Witter for now. Not getting the LR heavy duty one for sure. Just need a call to Witter technical to check that it really is 3.5t and get their opinion on the problem. D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
|
| 20th Jun 2012 9:16 pm |
|
|
buckyblue
Member Since: 10 Sep 2011
Location: eire
Posts: 59
|
my 07 disco had a detachable towbar it got very loose went to local stealers he said they had loads of complaints about them he said landrover was aware of it and were sending them out a template to put over bar and if your bar went outside template they would change foc but as my disco was second hand i would have to get in touch with previous owners re what they were towing etc etc to much hassel so i bought witter one and fitted it so much better at my own expence i might add why landrover go on about their towing capability and then fit a s**t towbar i dont no there is clearly a problem with them
|
| 20th Jun 2012 9:17 pm |
|
|
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
|
I take it the Witter one still fits into the housing on the crossmember ? If there is wear already in there, its still going to be there even with a new towbar, or does the "locking bolt" take up any play ?
|
| 21st Jun 2012 1:14 pm |
|
|
buckyblue
Member Since: 10 Sep 2011
Location: eire
Posts: 59
|
the bolt takes up the slack plus when you put on the two out riggers it makes it really tight much better
|
| 21st Jun 2012 8:28 pm |
|
|
