character
Member Since: 31 Dec 2007
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
  
|
| CHECK YER TOW BARS THIS WEEKEND.... VOSA ARE ON TO IT!!! |
|
as posted the other week soon after having had my complete rear cross member and fixed tow bar replaced at a cost of ovr £1200
Having had failure of our fixed LR towbar I took the opportunity at the weekend to write off to VOSA using their online safety reporting (which you open up as a word doc and then print off and send to them via RM).
Anyhow two working days later I got a call from VOSA this morning to confirm that they had my report moreover they have been working with JLR Group due to the concerns relating to the "removable " towbars that had failed.
Having examined a number of them JLR appear to be soon to issue formal instructions to both the sales and service dept of the dealership network to educate them regards the use of the "removable" tow bar and more importantly its use for "occassional" towing ONLY.
Beyond this it is my understanding that JLR have been agreed to write to all existing owners of a vehicle that left the factory with a tow bar, to point out that this tow bar is for "light towing/occasional use" ONLY and not to be used as an alternative to a normal fixed one 
JLR are also to send out a gague tool for the service dept to use to check existing removable tow bars for play although the VOSA man wwas unable to comment on what action is to be taken if the current one fitted has/or about to fail (ie whether they will pay for its replacement).
Naturally the VOSA man was on me first thing as our is the first instance of a fixed tow bar failing that has been reported to them (but in the same way as a removable one) and wanted to know whether we had the old cross member/tow bar , which unfortunately we did not
That said, he is now asking JLR for their views on fixed tow bars and seem to be suggesting that these too should fall in to the catagory of needing improvement.
Bearing in mind we did not know it failed until the side supports were undone, might I suggest you guys get a braker bar and spanner and see if yer current fixed bar has gone pete tong by undoing the side supports and then see if there is any play with the hitch insitu.
IF YOU DO FIND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YER FIXED LR TOW BAR, PLEAE CONTACT ME ASAP AS VOSA WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE and who knows, JLR might pay for its replacement to use the old one 
BTW. The fixed tow bar cannot be undone by an MOT centre to check for play as the law does not allow them to tamper with a vehicle, it has to be looked at in its presented condition which means without undoing the supports you'll never know whether its knackered till its too late 
Last edited by character on 7th Jul 2012 10:44 pm. Edited 2 times in total
|
 5th Jul 2012 11:02 pm |
|
|
mcsimmo
Member Since: 08 Aug 2011
Location: North of the south
Posts: 1795
|
Quote:
Beyond this JLR have been agreed to write to all existing owners of a vehicle that left the factory with a tow bar to point out that this tow bar is for "light towing/occasional use" ONLY and not to be used as an alternative to a normal fixed one
I wonder if they will tell use exactly what the definition of this phrase is in regard to removable tow bars. Thanks for this character, I have a feeling its the start of a long post. Man with no D3 anymore, but cant leave the forum....how sad.
|
| 6th Jul 2012 7:00 am |
|
|
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
  
|
how long / miles of towing did you do before the tow bar failed Character.
I suspect the problem is only experienced by a very small minority of people and vehicles.
what did they define as "occasional use" ?
"the light towing" statement is ambigious - is that light as in weight (as the tow bar is rated at 3500Kgs) or light use as in occasional use ? Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
|
| 6th Jul 2012 7:10 am |
|
|
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
|
Was yours an ex HA vehicle? If so, has the tow hitch been used to remove stranded Lorries, buses etc? 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
|
| 6th Jul 2012 8:45 am |
|
|
DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50979
|
What are the numbers in terms of failures ...what are the circumstances of failures ?....very few, if any reported on here over the last 7 years ...this all sounds a bit alarmist to me  21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
|
| 6th Jul 2012 8:50 am |
|
|
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
|
J@mes wrote:Was yours an ex HA vehicle? If so, has the tow hitch been used to remove stranded Lorries, buses etc?
I think characters is an exeption, 500k miles after almost constant heavy load towing the tow socket has started to fail. hardly suprising really 
would be interesting to see what other makes tow sockets are like after the same use.  Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
|
| 6th Jul 2012 9:02 am |
|
|
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
|
Having a search on the web, there appears to be quite a few instances of the removable towbar detaching itself from the crossmember whilst towing. If Landrover are now saying the removable towbar is only suitable for "occasional" towing and "light towing" and is not rated at 3500kg, then I feel mine is not fit for purpose and they should refund me the money I paid.
I bought mine because it was rated to 3500kg and no mention was made of "occasional towing". The implications of this could be horrendous.
|
| 6th Jul 2012 9:56 am |
|
|
Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18573
|
Out of all the people on here who tow, I can only recall a tiny number who have had problems with the tow equipment.
As I said before, I'm not surprised at your towbar requiring replacement after 500k miles of continuous use. 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
|
| 6th Jul 2012 10:01 am |
|
|
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
|
im just pleased he had it fixed before he picked up my D3
if you want to see a tow bar that moves a lot, take a look at mine after the accident, it was a fixed version and it moves about 15mm !!, itis stuck in the receiver and I cant remove it !! Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
|
| 6th Jul 2012 10:05 am |
|
|
DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50979
|
B16 KJR wrote: there appears to be quite a few instances
...what is quite a few ?  3, 10, 20, 1000 ? There are around 450,000 D3\4's on the road. Not all will tow granted but what is the hard recorded evidence and the circumstance of each failure. All of this is hot air without facts 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
|
| 6th Jul 2012 10:09 am |
|
|
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
|
well i'm off tonight to tow the caravan with the new D4 and a removeable tow bar - wish me luck !!! Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
|
| 6th Jul 2012 10:14 am |
|
|
devonchilliman
Member Since: 03 Nov 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 5224
|
When I bought my 07 D3 it had a removable tow bar on it,I noticed straight away that there was movement in it ,went back to the dealer and was told this is normal ,I sold it and bought the multi height fixed one!which is now on the D4 and now don't have any issues Www.devonchilliman.co.uk
Last edited by devonchilliman on 6th Jul 2012 10:17 am. Edited 1 time in total
|
| 6th Jul 2012 10:14 am |
|
|
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
|
my D3 towbar wobbled a bit, but only a couple of mm Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
|
| 6th Jul 2012 10:16 am |
|
|
devonchilliman
Member Since: 03 Nov 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 5224
|
It wobbled more than a couple of mm on your last adventure Www.devonchilliman.co.uk
|
| 6th Jul 2012 10:20 am |
|
|
DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50979
|
Who says that there shouldn't be any movement at all ?  21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
Last edited by DG on 6th Jul 2012 10:35 am. Edited 2 times in total
|
| 6th Jul 2012 10:20 am |
|
|
