nigelc wrote:

I have an air suspension D3 without rear parking sensors. I want to self fit a removable tow bar, which are available on e-bay for a lot less than list. Is it easy to fit the electrics pack yourself and what type do I need? Probably use mainly for towing boat and cycle rack when I get too creaky to put them on the roof. Also is the polystyrene thing to stow it part of the towbar part?

Its very easy, I did mine Wednesday night.

The towbar itself just slides in a locks, nothing to fit really.

The wiring kit (instructions on the Land Rover Manual Site) is pretty easy, should take about an hour.

You basically get the loom in two parts. The first part with the socket bolts into existing captive nuts in the tow area after you feed the cable through. You then remove the rear left light (two screws and pull) and pop out a grommit thats not used, open the left side panel hatch inside the boot and do the same. Pull second half of loom through those holes, its pre-fitted with two grommits to seal the holes you just made. Plug into sockets inside the panel after removing the blank connectors, clip plugs and their clips holes already there, clip fusebox onto clip thats already there and your done inside the boot side.

You then need to drop spare wheel and then comes the only tricky bit is just feeding the cable from the socket just up over the wobble weight, once cable is in its easy but you just need to fiddle to feed the connectors over. My recommendations are wear eye protection (bits fall down, dirt stuff etc) when laying underneath, and roll your sleeves up as exhaust is a bit grubby and you need to get your hand up above the left side exhaust to feed cable up.

Once you have poked cable through the two parts of the loom just join inside the bumper through the gap where the light has been removed you can clip these together. You wrap them in sticky foam (supplied) to stop them rattling around.

Refit light, winch wheel back up into place, job done.

Cable from socket is pre-fitted at correct distance with clips to match holes in chassis, its all very tidy!

I went for 13 pin electrics as I have no trailer, and the thule bike rack (which should arrive today) came with a 13 pin, its also a better plug than the 7 pin from what I have read.

Got towbar and electrics from Nick, aka the large one. He does a nice discount to the forum that I found was around the same as ebay (new parts on ebay not used) and as I wanted to be sure our bikes were not going to disappear in the rear view mirror I was happy to pay for new part. There is a thread in general by the way on the recent part number change and a slight change to the lock I believe.

Got carried away there, but in summary - its an easy job

nigelc wrote:

Nick?

nigelc wrote:

Few follow up questions

1. I intend to use with a Pendle Bike rack and probably some time in the future to tow a dinghy. Are there any limitations on the removable tow bar.

2. Whats the point of the re. plastic bung thing when towbar not in use - does that mean if it hasn't had that fitte form new might be a problem getting the towbar in?

3. Is there more than one electrics kit - which is the right one?