redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
  
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B16 KJR wrote:I see, the first bolt is only to hold the sprung pin back, so you can push the fitting into place then it is removed to allow the pin to locate in the hole, then a larger bolt is fitted which pushes the tapered pin in further and will also prevent it moving back.
The height of my towball now, is 395mm from ground to centre, just wondered if you could measure yours and then the distance from the bottom bolt hole centre, to the top bolt hole centre, that way I can get both heights.
Thats interesting about the spacer not being fitted. The first ALKO hitch I fitted, I did not put a spacer in and despite having the correct ALKO towball, I destroyed the hitch because it hit the drop plate everytime I went around a corner, a very costly mistake 
Do you have the contact details for this Tom Miller and is he happy to supply for the £150 delivered ?
Yes, you got it exactly. I was worried about the sprung method after my LR one, but once I figured out how this one worked I was very happy with it, and once fitted even more happy.
Handbook says the removable ball centre height should be 400mm, and mine was approx that give or take a few mm. I guess you have to account for suspension calibration and imperfect ground levels etc between different vehicles. The new height on the lower setting is approx 428mm so just over an inch higher. You must remember that this is an Al-Ko equivalent ball though so slightly higher than std ball would be. I forgot to measure the difference between the 2 height settings, but I'll post this in the morning for you.
Witter told me that an Alko ball is not rated to 3.5t, and that I'd have to change my ball each time I used my big trailer, but Tow Trust assured me that their Alko equivalent ball is rated to the vehicles 3.5t maximum so no need to ever change it, plus it's included, so may as well use it.
Dunno about the spacer. You can see mine has plenty of room. I've used it on two weekend trips now and been fine. There isn't one supplied, and I don't think you'll need one.
I just rang Tom using the number on their web site. I have pasted links in earlier to that site. Whether or not he will honour the same price I can't say, but I did tell him I was spreading the word on here, so he's expecting enquiries. If he won't, I found the best online price for this bar is only about £154 anyway, but plus carriage. D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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 6th Jul 2012 12:07 am |
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redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
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RTW wrote:That looks pretty good 
Some tow ball height measurements would be great, as when I rang them last week they couldn't give me any heights at all...
Will probably end up with this fixed set up, and the height adjustable attachment on it, but again, they couldn't give me accurate measurements of the height adjuster accessory...
There does look like there is scope to remove the towball mount bit and bolt in a block of steel, like this -
http://www.arbil4x4.co.uk/Catalogue/Produc...0000000000
Obviously, that Warn part probably won't fit, but you get the idea
I'm surprised they didn't help you. Tom is the designer and also director of the company and said he was happy to supply me with any dimensions or specifications I wanted any time. Was it Tom you spoke to? D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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| 6th Jul 2012 12:12 am |
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redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
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Received this email from him earlier aft I emailed him to thank him for his help and compliment him on the product. It also contains all contact details if you want to email him direct.
Hi David
Â
I am so pleased that you are happy with the product, as the designer and director of the company it is a passion of mine to create the best product and provide the best service.
Thank you very much for the photos and feedback online.
Â
If there’s anything at all you need from me or Tow-Trust don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Many Thanks
Tom Miller                                                                                                Â
 Director of design and production
Â
Tow-Trust Towbars Ltd                                                 Â
  '01827 717412| 7 01827 720414
 Email: [email protected]
 Web: www.tow-trust.co.uk
 Address: Unit 8-11, Carlyon Road Ind. Est.
                   Atherstone, Warwickshire.
                   CV9 1JE D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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| 6th Jul 2012 12:15 am |
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redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
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| Re: URGENT - CHECK YER TOW BARS THIS WEEKEND!! |
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character wrote:
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.
Says otherwise in the handbook! D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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| 6th Jul 2012 12:21 am |
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character
Member Since: 01 Jan 2008
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
 
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agreed, but now they are failing I would imagine that VOSA and JLR have reached an "agreement" in order that it does not turn in to a "world wide recall".
Doubt if yer see that written in any future handbooks that way 
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| 6th Jul 2012 12:26 am |
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redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
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 D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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| 6th Jul 2012 12:34 am |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26744
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Can someone define 'occasional' use? Does towing a very heavy load once a year, or a light caravan every weekend pose the greatest risk?
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| 6th Jul 2012 9:06 am |
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redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
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Good question. In the handbook in implies that both are rated to the full weight and use, and I thought the only benefit of the fixed LR one was adjustable height. Not so now apparently.
I regularly put 3.5t on my removable bar over 4 years, and only when I started caravanning this year did I notice the problem. I'm sure the big trailer started the wear, but I think the length of my 27' caravan was the main contributing factor, not its 1.5t weight. More to do with leverage, left right up and down than actual weight being towed, ie forward backward movement. The looseness and rattle on mine was certainly more left right than back forward, and it moved almost centimetre in each direction. D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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| 6th Jul 2012 9:49 am |
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B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
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I have just come off the phone with Tom Miller and he is certainly a very knowledgeable and helpful guy. I went ahead and ordered the TL1 @ £310 - 60% + vat + delivery = £157.80.
The towball height is a bit higher than I would have liked but will check it when it arrives. He also confirmed NO spacer is needed if using an ALKO stabiliser hitch.
After reading all this and checking my own, I have no confidence in my removable towbar now. I will be speaking to the dealership where I bought it and asking for my money back as I did not buy the towbar for "occasional light use" and when I bought it it was rated at 3500kg.
Thanks for the heads up on this 
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| 6th Jul 2012 12:09 pm |
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redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
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Excellent. You're welcome. Glad it helped. Feed back on your thoughts after you get it fitted. Let us know what you think so it's not just my opinion on here! D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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| 6th Jul 2012 10:18 pm |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50967
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Don't forget to tell your insurer that you are using a non OEM towing bracket 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
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| 6th Jul 2012 10:28 pm |
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redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
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Really?? I have had a tow bar on every car I ever owned, and never had an OEM bar until the LR and never declared any of them.. D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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| 6th Jul 2012 11:08 pm |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50967
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Well LRI for example will only cover OEM accessories .....as this is classed as a modification then it would be wise just confirm it is covered with yours to be on the safe side 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
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| 6th Jul 2012 11:28 pm |
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B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
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Quote:Don't forget to tell your insurer that you are using a non OEM towing bracket
I will and I am sure they will be delighted that I have fitted it and eliminated the risk of the LR one falling off causing untold damage.
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| 7th Jul 2012 11:41 am |
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redjelly5000
Member Since: 18 Jul 2008
Location: Rugby
Posts: 473
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Don't forget to keep the Allen bolt safe, as you'll need it if ever you want to remove it, like for off road etc. Once the kit is assembled, the whole thing could be removed with 2 bolts and the Allen screw. Also, keep the spare bolts safe and then you can transfer the kit to your new D4 if ever you upgrade. D3 TDV6 HSE 2008 Buckingham Blue (current)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2009 Zermatt Silver (previous)
D3 TDV6 HSE 2005 Maya Gold (previous)
D2 TD5 ES 1999 (previous)
Defender TD5 swb hard top 2005 (previous)
Defender 300tdi swb hard top 1994 (previous)
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| 7th Jul 2012 12:54 pm |
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