Member Since: 07 May 2015
Location: London
Posts: 9
Tow Bar
Hello,
I'm new to the forum and I was wondering if someone could help me with a tow bar installation.
My first point of contact was a LR dealer, which quoted a price north of £900 to supply and install a detachable tow bar with a 13-pin electrical connector.
By looking around I noticed that the Thule/Brink tow bar is strikingly similar to the LR one (as shown in their website and other selling channels) so I called them and it looks as if I organise the installation through them, I can make it with £600 or so. I think I can shave some more money off the price, but I don't know enough about warranty conditions, regulation and insurance to make a wise decision.
Is there anyone in the forum who went through this experience and made a comparison between the LR genuine part and the Thule/Brink alternative? Are they the same product? Brink says on its website that it supplies all the major manufacturer, is this the case and what is your general opinion about their products (note that my next step will most likely be to buy a Thule bike carrier)?
I heard that the installer needs to do some programming in the car, is this the case and why do they need to do that?
Then another issue is the warranty of the vehicle: would installing the tow bar through a reputable supplier (e.g Thule/Brink itself via one of their official installers) have any repercussions on the warranty of my vehicle?
Last and most important: what do I have to do with the insurance and would they charge me more to insure the car if I install a tow bar? If I tow light trailers occasionally, would I need a separate insurance for the trailer?
My apologies if some of these questions are a bit silly but I never had a tow bar before.
Many thanks.
Raul
7th May 2015 8:25 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
if you do get it take it off when not in use...or else it WILL get stolen..usely plenty of them on here forsale...
7th May 2015 8:59 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Tow bars regularly feature on here for between £100 and £150. Electrics can be fitted DIY and the electronic enablement can be done by an independent garage, a forum sponsor or a forum member with the right electronic tool.
Welcome to the forum!
+ fill in your vehicle profile!!!
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 29 Jul 2011
Location: Ruralshire
Posts: 593
Whilst attached to the car the trailer will be covered by your car insurance for any third party damage that it causes. Edit: but you need to tell your insurer that you have fitted a tow bar - some will charge for this, others won't.
However, your car insurance will not cover the cost of any damage to the trailer itself, nor will it cover a situation where the trailer causes damage when not being towed, for example if it rolls off your drive into pavement/road - for this you will need to take out separate trailer insurance.MY12 D4 HSE Ipanema Sand
7th May 2015 11:36 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1923
Robbie wrote:
Tow bars regularly feature on here for between £100 and £150. Electrics can be fitted DIY and the electronic enablement can be done by an independent garage, a forum sponsor or a forum member with the right electronic tool.
Welcome to the forum!
+ fill in your vehicle profile!!!
Electrics dead easy to fit, as Robbie says. Nothing technical, just a bit of faffing. Comes with instructions.PAGODA
7th May 2015 11:43 pm
rddisco
Member Since: 07 May 2015
Location: London
Posts: 9
Thank you everyone!
I think I have a farily clear picture of what the options are. Meanwhile, I found that the dealer was not quoting for the correct installation kit I need. I found on the LR website the tow bar plus 13-pin electrics at £507 and £225 respectively, including VAT and fitting costs. They are checking for me however I don't think I will finally accept their offer as this is significantly more expensive than what Thule offers if you buy directly from them.
It is however worth noting that even at the price quoted on the LR website, the complete installation would be considerably cheaper than the £900+ they offered in first place. I know these guys are there to make money but...
I will explore the market a bit further to see what other options are there - I don't mind spending the money for a new piece + installation, but I'd like to find a price that is not that steep.
Raul
11th May 2015 2:25 pm
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
If you get the bits, I'd be happy to show you what to do. I'm in Hornchurch and can show you the electrics in no time at all. Very easy DIY job which can be done in under an hour. Don't spend all that money on something so simple. The tow hook is put in when required and removed when not. So fitting is something you'll do all the time as and when you need it. Or it'll get knicked!
All you have to do then is get it enabled. (My D3 didn't need enabling and worked correctly off the bat.) You could get one of the site boys to enable if it doesn't work.
Cheers
HuwFFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
D4 HSE 2012 Like a second wife, more expensive but goes better! I almost cried this time!
D3 HSE 2006 (Almost 8 years together, true love)
Land Cruiser VX 1994 11 years together, wife cried when I p/ex'd for my D3
11th May 2015 6:01 pm
rddisco
Member Since: 07 May 2015
Location: London
Posts: 9
Thanks Huw,
I truly appreciate your help and the insight you offered.
I thought I had to install some kind of metal socket (excuse my not-too-technical definition), requiring specialist work. I am glad to hear this is not the case. This makes a big difference on the cost - so far I found the tow bar at about £260 and the 13-pin electrics at about £120, but I will search further and check the group's sponsors to see what I can find. Basically I am looking for LR part number LR040247 and VPLAT0136 (the tow bar and electric connectors respectively).
I am located in Bromley, not too far from you, and keen to come to meet you. Let me find the parts and then I'll send you a private message if that's ok.
Thanks everyone for your help, I hope one day to be able to do something in return.
Raul
11th May 2015 7:41 pm
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
No problem mate. FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
D4 HSE 2012 Like a second wife, more expensive but goes better! I almost cried this time!
D3 HSE 2006 (Almost 8 years together, true love)
Land Cruiser VX 1994 11 years together, wife cried when I p/ex'd for my D3
11th May 2015 7:54 pm
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
Just been looking at the kit that rddisco has selected and it utilises power from each rear light as opposed to the sockets fitted in the NSR cubby.
http://www.pfjones.co.uk/land-rover-discov...507rc.html
Is this usual? Mine is nothing like this. Mine is one loom which is connected to the 13 pin socket and sealed in some form of rock type osmium hard gel stuff thingy.
The Disco would seem to be a MY13, will this not accept the VPLAT0135 wiring kit? These are available from the Bay of E for just over £50 for almost new and seem whole lot simpler.FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
D4 HSE 2012 Like a second wife, more expensive but goes better! I almost cried this time!
D3 HSE 2006 (Almost 8 years together, true love)
Land Cruiser VX 1994 11 years together, wife cried when I p/ex'd for my D3
12th May 2015 7:48 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
The link appears to be some randomly bad aftermarket kit. Only use the LR genuine electrics. This is not an area to use non-genuine accessories.
Plus the proper stuff is easy to fit.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
Nice one Robbie, as I suspected and responded to Raul. The bits and pieces I've picked up from having a browse seem to show the MY13 uses slightly different kit so the cheaper stuff (genuine LR) isn't compatible with this model. Any reason why that you know?FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
D4 HSE 2012 Like a second wife, more expensive but goes better! I almost cried this time!
D3 HSE 2006 (Almost 8 years together, true love)
Land Cruiser VX 1994 11 years together, wife cried when I p/ex'd for my D3
12th May 2015 8:02 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Not heard that and I have an MY13 too.Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 10 Jun 2014
Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 498
I'm about to fit my 13 pin electrics, it doesn't look that easy, bit worried about taking the bumper off but my local stealer wants £450 to do it - no way !!Velar MY18 D180 S Narvik
Discovery MY2015 3.0 SDV6 SE Corris - Gone
12th May 2015 8:07 am
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
Bumper off!
I didn't do anything like that on mine!!!
Just poked a cable through some holes, we'll be talking body off in a minute.FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
D4 HSE 2012 Like a second wife, more expensive but goes better! I almost cried this time!
D3 HSE 2006 (Almost 8 years together, true love)
Land Cruiser VX 1994 11 years together, wife cried when I p/ex'd for my D3
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