Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 36
Fixed Tow Bar
Hi All,
Looking to swap my detachable tow bar for a fixed one.
Would like some opinions on which version people prefer?
So far from this forum I guess the choices are;
1) LR own
2) Witter
3) Tow Trust TL1
I plan to tow a single axle Ifor Williams trailer, perhaps a few other things but no caravans.
Do I need to invest in adjustable height couplings and what are Alko balls for?
Thanks for any help in advance.
Alex
16th Jul 2020 9:25 am
Trailered Movements
Member Since: 16 Jan 2020
Location: East/West Sussex Coast Borders
Posts: 1198
I fitted a Witter to my D4, and it was very simple and straightforward.
They have been around since Boudica had one fitted to her chariot, have used them in the past, and was on offer somewhere on fleabay.
Dave2011 Discovery 4 Commercial SDV6 (Gone)
2010 RRS TDV8 (Gone)
1980 OBLIC 4.0ltr Range Rover (went a long time ago)
16th Jul 2020 9:34 am
AJL
Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 36
like the Boudica ref.
tks Dave
16th Jul 2020 10:38 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4399
Tow Trust Richard
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
16th Jul 2020 10:51 am
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2210
Re: Fixed Tow Bar
AJL wrote:
what are Alko balls for? Alex
tintents with the Alko hitch like to have a towball that stands further away from the mounting point of the ball to your towbar frame or the front of the Alko hitch can rub/foul so a Alko ball is just a bit longer from mounting face to centre of towball
if your buying a towball anyway there is not normally a lot of difference in the price or you can fit a spacer between the towbar and towball.Transit! 2019
Gone D3 HSE 2008
Another Porsche Cayenne 2022
Gone Porsche Cayenne 2020
Gone RRS HSE Dynamic 2016
Gone RRS HSE LUX 2011
Gone RRS HSE 2006
Gone D3 SE 2.7 2008
gone D2 Td5 1999
I plan on living forever and so far so good !
Club DG Mclaren stuff
.
16th Jul 2020 12:24 pm
AJL
Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 36
excellent - that now makes sense. sounds like an Alko will be more flexible so I'll go for one of them.
appreciate the clarification
16th Jul 2020 1:22 pm
Trailered Movements
Member Since: 16 Jan 2020
Location: East/West Sussex Coast Borders
Posts: 1198
ALKO ball is both longer and higher than a standard one.
Dave2011 Discovery 4 Commercial SDV6 (Gone)
2010 RRS TDV8 (Gone)
1980 OBLIC 4.0ltr Range Rover (went a long time ago)
16th Jul 2020 1:56 pm
AJL
Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 36
Tks Dave,
Longer sounds fine, higher however...significantly or small margin?
16th Jul 2020 9:52 pm
Trailered Movements
Member Since: 16 Jan 2020
Location: East/West Sussex Coast Borders
Posts: 1198
About 25mm, enough to make my trailer not run level, hence I went back to standard Witter.
Dave2011 Discovery 4 Commercial SDV6 (Gone)
2010 RRS TDV8 (Gone)
1980 OBLIC 4.0ltr Range Rover (went a long time ago)
16th Jul 2020 9:58 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2210
25mm 🤔
Don’t think ours was anywhere near That?
Think I have one of each type in the garage will have a measure tomorrow
If they have one of each compare them side by side
Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 36
Tks both.
I'll have a further look into it.
Alex
16th Jul 2020 10:45 pm
Sylvester19
Member Since: 18 Jul 2020
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 108
I fitted the Brink which is the same as the LR fixed one. Similar to the Witter has different towball heights to suit the trailer.
18th Jul 2020 12:26 am
AJL
Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 36
Tks Sylvester, hadn't heard of Brink
18th Jul 2020 8:15 am
SteveNorman
Member Since: 14 Oct 2005
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1144
+1 for the Towtrust TL1
Reference the balls themselves:
I've just measured them.
A standard ball is 100mm from the centre of the fixing holes to the very top of the ball.
An Alko one is 110mm
A standard ball, from the towbar plate (where the towball mounts) to the inside edge of the ball (therefore the gap) is 30mm. The Alko is 55mm
HTH Steve
18th Jul 2020 8:31 am
AJL
Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 36
Tks Steve, that is jolly kind of you to go to the effort to measure and post.
I have this afternoon fitted a Tow Trust TL1 with Alko Ball after obtaining a significant discount by quoting this forum. They couldn't have been more helpful so pulled the trigger. I'm sure Witter are just as good but I ran out of time to cross check costs.
Couple of tips if anyone reads this prior to fixing a TT TL1.
I found running part of a wire clothes hanger through the spacers and chassis prior to pushing the bolt through reduced the risk of dropping the spacer into the chassis.
Also I had to deflate my BFG Ko2 (265/60) spare on Compomotive 18" rim to get it back into the void. Whereas previously it fitted inflated.
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