Member Since: 10 Jun 2019
Location: Northants
Posts: 30
Removeable towbar - is there a fix?
Towing yesterday and the trailer was clonking so thought it was the trailer damper, but no, turns out the removable hitch is wandering back and forth by several mm! Searched the Forum and found it's common and used to be fixed by Land Rover (if it was a full moon and the wind was blowing in the right direction).
Does anyone know what they did? It doesn't look like a new ball will make any difference it's (I think) wear in the slot in the subframe?
If its a new subframe I guess its cheaper to fit a fixed ball but these seem to use the removable hitch location anyway.
Anyone any wisdom on this subject?
1st Mar 2020 11:33 am
deanslandy
Member Since: 17 Jan 2015
Location: nuneaton
Posts: 646
Hi, Theres been a few posts on here and wonder if a tow bar security plate would clamp the tow bar in place? I'm sure others will commentBelts, oil pump casing and water pump by Flack
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1st Mar 2020 12:05 pm
eightfoot
Member Since: 12 Apr 2015
Location: sunny essex
Posts: 762
Re: Removeable towbar - is there a fix?
Voyageofdiscovery wrote:
Towing yesterday and the trailer was clonking so thought it was the trailer damper, but no, turns out the removable hitch is wandering back and forth by several mm! Searched the Forum and found it's common and used to be fixed by Land Rover (if it was a full moon and the wind was blowing in the right direction).
Does anyone know what they did? It doesn't look like a new ball will make any difference it's (I think) wear in the slot in the subframe?
If its a new subframe I guess its cheaper to fit a fixed ball but these seem to use the removable hitch location anyway.
Anyone any wisdom on this subject?
only real solution if you tow a lot is to fit a fixed one or you could spend all the time when towing with one eye in the rear view mirror waiting for your trailer to come unhitched
loads on ebay there was a almost new one the other day for a good price think i paid under £200 for my new genuine kit and sold the removable one for £100 so not much expense for piece of mind (mind you they either fit straight on or the spacers through the chassis are an )please excuse any grammer/punctuation mistakes,i'm thick,thankyou
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1st Mar 2020 1:07 pm
DG Site Moderator
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I have a genuine LR fixed tow bar you can have for £200. It does need a new locking mechanism which are £25 or use the one off your detachable one. Easy job to fit.m New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
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1st Mar 2020 3:36 pm
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2080
Some vehicles had new rear cross members on the chassis during the recall , but the recommendation is a fixed set up.
1st Mar 2020 6:13 pm
geoffsnook
Member Since: 13 Jun 2014
Location: south wales
Posts: 3169
With the fixed tow bar it still uses the original hole but the bolts either side are supposed to stop the hitch falling out but what about welding the hitch in that would seem to be a cheaper option not sure about legal side and i'm sure someone will post a reason why you should not Discovery 3 se gone
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1st Mar 2020 7:18 pm
darrind
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2863
As there was an official Landrover process for this it may be worth checking with your local LR dealer if they can provide any assistance.
For the cost of a phone call you may get somewhereMust stop buying shiny toys....
1st Mar 2020 7:32 pm
Bardley
Member Since: 02 May 2018
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 441
This is a locking plate that many use with success..
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2742672032852011 MY D4 HSE
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1st Mar 2020 8:17 pm
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
If the wear is in the socket on the cross member then that's what is going to need replaced unfortunately. Fitting a locking plate that was basically designed to be an anti-theft device isn't going to solve the problem I'm afraid, otherwise that is what JLR would have done rather than replacing the whole rear cross member at considerable expense.
It may be acceptable to weld the towball in place, but you would have to confirm that with the relevant authorities or perhaps an MOT garage would be able to advise ?
3rd Mar 2020 12:21 pm
Asbestross
Member Since: 18 Apr 2019
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3rd Mar 2020 5:06 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
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That's very nice and I got excited when I saw it, but if by vertical load they mean nose weight, 75kg seems very low? It wouldn't be enough for my caravan.D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
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please correct me if I've misinterpreted this but ... looking at the Tow-Trust fitting instructions, although the kit makes use of the car-mounted receiver, it doesn't look to rely on it for anything other than position.
3rd Mar 2020 5:26 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
The tow trust one looks the nicer than the snow plough LR fixed tooDS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
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3rd Mar 2020 5:53 pm
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
The Tow trust one still relies on the receiver socket as do all D3/4 towbars. No matter how good the towbar is, no manufacturer will ever advise you to fit one of their products to a worn receiver socket, you really need to get that checked out first
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but these seem to use the removable hitch location anyway.
(mind you they either fit straight on or the spacers through the chassis are an 
)
