Member Since: 05 Nov 2016
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 128
Tow bar advice please
What tow bar do people recommend to put on a disco 4 to tow a caravan detachable or fixed
Thanks
28th May 2018 4:34 pm
nigel207
Member Since: 26 Mar 2009
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1344
I have used a detachable tow bar for the past nine years, both on a D3 and latterly a D4. No issues whatsoever. Just make sure that you take it off when not using it (easy to steal) as the clue is in the name, and keep the mating/moving parts lubricated and clean.
28th May 2018 4:43 pm
Ted Newman
Member Since: 09 Oct 2010
Location: SE London
Posts: 840
I have towed our Airstream all over Europe on a detachable towbar, just remember to remove it when not in use.
LR Discovery 4 XS pulling an Airstream 532 Caravan also own (since new) a 1996 MGF
28th May 2018 4:43 pm
Brian_DL13
Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: Teesdale
Posts: 1418
This has been a subject of some debate in the past, not least because some have had problems (loosening of the shoe) with detachable towbars that JLR in the end (after much to-ing and fro-ing) accepted responsibility for.
A lot depends on what annual mileage you anticipate doing whilst towing.
FWIW I tow a 1600kg tintent around 2k miles pa with a removable and have had no problems over 4.5 years. I call this fairly light usage, others may differ.
28th May 2018 4:47 pm
philm
Member Since: 02 Oct 2016
Location: Manchester
Posts: 732
Changed mine to fixed after chat with dealer, fitted my
self.L633 Defender
Range Rover Velar-gone
Discovery 4 Landmark-gone
Gap IID Tool
28th May 2018 5:00 pm
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7438
Whereas I find a detachable towbar an oddity on a Land Rover
If you fit a proper fixed towbar then there’s a brilliant and nicely designed, three point fixed, towbar available, which can be bought direct from the OEM for a lot less than LR charge It will always be there when you need it, they don’t get stolen, it means that anyone who parks behind you is never going nudge your back bumper (without them coming off very badly!) and they are much, much, much (!) tougher than the removable ones.
Speaking as someone who lost a friend, a couple of years ago, when a trailer became detached from the back of a Land Rover, I have no interest in compromising towbar strength to fit something that looks a bit daft, considering the nature of the car it’s fitted to
Even Land Rover state that these detachable tow bars are “for occasional use only”, without defining what that even means. You can imagine the insurance claim “yes, your twin axle, £30,000, caravan fell off at 60mph on the M5, but Land Rover clearly stated that the ‘bar was for occasional use only”.
Why risk it, or even have to buy again if you ever need to tow with the car as Land Rover intended?!2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: FL2 as a second car
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
Last edited by Red Merle on 28th May 2018 5:29 pm. Edited 2 times in total
28th May 2018 5:09 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4400
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
28th May 2018 5:13 pm
Houghta
Member Since: 05 Nov 2016
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 128
Can you point me in the direction of the OEM please Red Merle
Thanks
28th May 2018 5:14 pm
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7438
No problem, I shall need to go and look it up....2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: FL2 as a second car
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
28th May 2018 5:18 pm
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7438
The part is manufactured by Brink and the part reference on my original invoice was 377000 or VSK: 29190507RC
I paid £395.84, including Fitting, ex VAT in October 2015.
You will find that Whitter make something that looks similar, but it isn’t!2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: FL2 as a second car
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
28th May 2018 5:27 pm
philm
Member Since: 02 Oct 2016
Location: Manchester
Posts: 732
Houghta wrote:
Can you point me in the direction of the OEM please Red Merle
Thanks
Just to avoid misunderstanding, this one is very different to the one I’m talking about:
Click image to enlarge
(Please disregard the Dixon Bate ball and pin hitch bit)2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: FL2 as a second car
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
28th May 2018 6:07 pm
Peakwayfarer
Member Since: 25 Apr 2016
Location: Uk
Posts: 434
Yours is the same one that I have fitted, OEM as supplied by Dan at Duckworth's, even came with LR fitting instructions
28th May 2018 6:36 pm
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7438
Looks like a bargain from Dan 2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: FL2 as a second car
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
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It will always be there when you need it, they don’t get stolen, it means that anyone who parks behind you is never going nudge your back bumper (without them coming off very badly!) and they are much, much, much (!) tougher than the removable ones.
