Member Since: 23 Jun 2014
Location: Braintree
Posts: 10
Anyone used a Bulldog stabiliser with a detachable tow bar?
Hi,
I've just bought an old mid 80's caravan and it's come with a Bulldog 200Q stabiliser. It's got the fitting for the caravan - all attached, but the stabiliser fitting for the car is designed for a fixed towbar plate.
I've seen you can get a swan neck clamp / bracket, but not sure if this will fit the detachable tow bar. Anyone had any experience of these?
Thanks for any advice.
Gareth
8th Jul 2014 12:23 pm
nigel207
Member Since: 26 Mar 2009
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1359
I'd be very surprised if the attachment would fit the LR tow bar as they are designed to fit a swan neck type which has a round profile. The LR on is pretty much square.
8th Jul 2014 3:29 pm
LandRoverAnorak
Member Since: 06 Mar 2014
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1172
There is a note in the D3 handbook that says:
'Caution: An equalising or other form of weight distributing hitch should NOT be used with your vehicle.'
I'd guess it's something to do with competing demands on the air suspension.Darren
"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Member Since: 23 Jun 2014
Location: Braintree
Posts: 10
Thanks for the comments. I'm really not sure now! I ordered the clamp yesterday about 5 mins after posting the question - as we're going away with it this weekend! It's just turned up, and the short answer is: It doesn't fit straight out of the box.
Nigel207 - you're right about the square LR detachable and the Bulldog clamp being designed for a round towbar section, but it does look like it will grip well. The only snag being that the long bolts are about 3/4 inch short for the chunkiness of the LR bar. I reckon that with longer bolts it would actually fit really well and be rock solid. But....
LandRoverAnorak - your comment about equalising / weight distributing hitch have me worried! In theory, I'd have thought as far as the Landy is concerned, everything is still attached to the tow bar - just at two points on the bar rather than just the ball. It's still all connected to the car by the same single point where the detachable bar slots in, so weight and load would be no different? I wonder if the comment refers to systems that attach to a second point that isn't on the tow bar itself?
I really haven't got a clue! Feel free to shout at me and call me an idiot! The clamp was £50, and I'm sure they'll take it back - plus they're on ebay for £65 (which is odd when I bought it new for way less!), so I shouldn't be out of pocket.
I just don't know.....
Thanks for comments - plus any follow up!
9th Jul 2014 8:36 am
LandRoverAnorak
Member Since: 06 Mar 2014
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1172
The blade-type stabiliser is in contact, and exerting force, 2ft back along the a-frame of the 'van, which has the effect of increasing the vertical load on the tow bar and then trying to maintain or equalise that load as the car and 'van move.
This is definitely the type of stabiliser that the handbook is referring to.Darren
"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Member Since: 23 Jun 2014
Location: Braintree
Posts: 10
Thanks for that LandRoverAnorak - that's pretty well spelt it out to me! I shall see if I can get a refund. In light of that info I can see there's no point offering it for sale on the Disco3 forum...
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