Member Since: 28 Jan 2018
Location: Pembrokeshire
Posts: 308
Hitch horror
Found this on twitter recently,there was a cow on the trailer but fortunately not injured.In another post it was confirmed that it was a Land Rover.This makes me very nervous as I have often towed my trailer with a pallet of bricks or a couple of bulk bags of sand.
Now with the aging vehicle and hitch it’s time to eliminate this risk. I’m open to suggestions.
Click image to enlarge
5th Sep 2023 6:35 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2227
Hi,
maintain and service the towball and receiver hitch, how many do you see rusted in place, its removable for a reason, like any other mechanical part on the car if its not in good repair it can fail
Member Since: 28 Jan 2018
Location: Pembrokeshire
Posts: 308
Mine is in good condition and well maintained but I have lost confidence in it after seeing this.
It would be interesting to see how it actually failed and why.
5th Sep 2023 6:45 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4527
Possibly because it was not installed properly, or as suggested above, not maintained properly.
I've towed many things comfortably with my removable hitch. But if you really want peace of mind, get a Tow Trust TL1 and you can leave it on all the time.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
5th Sep 2023 7:18 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2227
Hi,
looking at the pictures, the A frame of the trailer is not showing in the pic and it looks like it is still in place on the Ball of the towball in the other pic, suggesting it is the Trailer that has failed anyway
as per many other posts on this subject, if you a lot get a fixed, if you tow now and again the removable is fine, your choice personally I would happily use either (if it was in good order )
Last edited by riverblanche on 7th Sep 2023 3:21 pm. Edited 1 time in total
5th Sep 2023 7:59 pm
popsdosh
Member Since: 09 Nov 2009
Location: cambs
Posts: 442
Had a cattle trailer overturn on a D3 with removable hitch in the past . The actual hitch was the only intact bit at the end of it . The trailer had eventually detached but only by putting a vey deep score in the ball and pulling off or the vehicle would have gone over as well. Ifors had a bad reputation for wheels shearing off on livestock trailers they used to go around the studs on the brake drum. only thing positive was the trailer stayed intact even though it rolled twice with about 2000kg of cattle on board. They took a bit of persuasion to get on another trailer.
7th Sep 2023 6:41 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14439
I've only ever used fixed. I've just never trusted detachable tow bars.D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
7th Sep 2023 9:21 am
tanters
Member Since: 24 Oct 2007
Location: Oireland
Posts: 4287
Wasn't there a tech bulletin years ago that swapped removeable ones for fixed ones? I know I got mine swapped over for free
They're only going to be that generous for a very good reason .... Like that one, I suspect A happy childhood ... is the worst possible preparation for life.
7th Sep 2023 11:59 am
DaveJLBI
Member Since: 07 Mar 2014
Location: Clare
Posts: 685
Anyone have any idea if that is technical bulletin / recall option is still open?
8th Sep 2023 7:59 am
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 06 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4195
I think the bulletin was a recall to inspect the rear cross member where the hitch clipped in for excessive wear..
8th Sep 2023 11:41 am
tanters
Member Since: 24 Oct 2007
Location: Oireland
Posts: 4287
DaveJLBI wrote:
Anyone have any idea if that is technical bulletin / recall option is still open?
Member Since: 05 Feb 2012
Location: Itinerant !! (Scotland/Donegal)
Posts: 189
The two main weaknesses with the removeable tow-hook are (1) fracture or failure of the hook and (2) incorrect insertion/retention of the hook.
I've only heard of a few fractures, no personal experience; but horrendous of course, given the potential consequences.
Re. incorrect insertion, I went to fit a new towplate to my D4 (which in this case formed part of a complete "A" assembly with rigid bars angled forward left and right; the fitting up into the recessed slot in the vehicle is the same as with the removeable hook.
I had difficulty getting the casting with spring peg to sit fully up into the recess in the D4 - at times it SEEMED secure, but upon vigorous shaking it would drop out. I even tried forcing the casting upwards with my bottle jack and hoping it would "click" - made no difference.
After a while I discovered the green twist-lever which draws back the spring peg has TWO settings, I was only twisting back to the FIRST setting, and this was not withdrawing the peg sufficiently for the casting to sit fully up into the recess. As soon as I twisted the green lever further (needs to be pushed inwards against a spring to enable that), the casting clicked nicely home, and has remained firm and reliable ever since. (And yes, I did pack a LOT of grease into the recess !!)
So, I've often wondered how many removeable tow hooks out there are not being fully and correctly inserted ? The design is "not bad" in that once the spring peg has clicked into it's final correct position, the towhook is indeed very well retained - however the design is not IDEAL 'cos it's possible to insert the towhook incorrectly and to walk away BELIEVING it's all firm and strong and reliable when it's NOT !!
8th Sep 2023 12:55 pm
thisandy
Member Since: 28 Jan 2018
Location: Pembrokeshire
Posts: 308
Does the Range Rover have a different system for the detachable tow hook
8th Sep 2023 3:48 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23833
^What year FFRR?
My 2017 had the choice of a powered deployable tow hook or a fixed unit.
I never had any qualms about using the detachable bar on my D3/4. I always removed it asap after use. Kept the red plug in the receiver and also ensured it was always clean.
Click image to enlarge
2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
8th Sep 2023 4:10 pm
thisandy
Member Since: 28 Jan 2018
Location: Pembrokeshire
Posts: 308
My son has a 2007 Range Rover Vogue L322,the hitch receiver looks different from my D4.
I must have a closer look.
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personally I would happily use either (if it was in good order 
