character wrote:

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

watchman wrote:

Has everybody been informed that the demountable tow bar on disco 3 is now officially downgraded to light duty use only following many instances of locking mechanism failures. Land Rover should be contacting all owners to inform them of this following instructions from VOSA. If you have not been contacted check with your dealer at once. You need the multi-height (fixed type) for towing large or multi-axle trailers. Your dealer will replace yours for you.

Quote:

QUICK RELEASE TOW BALL FOR
RANGE ROVER SPORT, DISCOVERY
3 AND DISCOVERY 4

Applicability
This information is applicable to all model
years for the following vehicles:
• Range Rover Sport - All models.
• Discovery 3 - All models.
• Discovery 4 - All models.
1. Vehicle mounted receiver.
2. Quick release tow ball.
The tow ball unit locks into the vehicle
mounting when required for towing.
This quick release tow ball should be used only
for nose loads up to a maximum of 150Kg
(330lb).

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
• DO NOT exceed the revised nose weight
limit of 150kg (330lb).
• When the quick release tow ball is not
required for immediate use, it should be
removed and stowed in the appropriate
place.

HEAVY DUTY MULTI-HEIGHT TOW
BAR SYSTEM
If there is a requirement for towing with a
greater nose weight, for example, commercial
or constant use towing, Land Rover
Accessories have available a suitable tow bar
system.