Miesmacher
Member Since: 21 Oct 2009
Location: Lucerne
Posts: 73
  
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| Tow bar confusion - can you help? |
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Looking for luggage carrying options I just discarded roof racks because they are too high up (my poor back) and I will surely at some point damage everything by forgetting the thing above. So I found these towball boxes (from Thule or Bak-Rak) and they look a sensible alternative. (Would only use them to haul holiday gear, not on a daily basis.)
But now my Disco needs a tow bar and having read everything in here and elsewhere, I am confused:
1. The easiest option is to mortgage the house and have the thing is installed at the dealer. I'd like to avoid that.
2. Then I could get the original tow bar from e..y or from someone in here.
3. Or get a third party tow bar from Witter or Thule, even non-detachable ones are out there.
Then, for options 2 and 3, I'd need an electric kit to make sure lights are working properly. In addition, it seems the dealer has to do some setup to make everything work correctly.
Now I don't know what to buy. The original one somewhere (but where will I get the electrics installed and set up?) A third party one (same problem)? And wouldn't a fixed cheap tow bar (Witter) be an easy solution (same problem again)?
Is the difference between a "detachable" and a "fixed" tow bar that the detachable is taken off in a minute while the fixed one needs two screws opened and will take 15 minutes to take off?
Any advice is highly welcome,
thanks and cheers,
Thorsten
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 7th Aug 2012 11:14 pm |
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Miesmacher
Member Since: 21 Oct 2009
Location: Lucerne
Posts: 73
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And of course I forgot the 7-pin vs. 13-pin confusion - I think that being on the continent, I'd need 13 pin. Right?
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| 7th Aug 2012 11:30 pm |
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JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2486
  
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If you want to go for option 2 or 3 I have a removeableone in very good condition for sale that I will courier at actual cost to you.
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| 8th Aug 2012 5:44 am |
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maplecottage
Member Since: 01 Feb 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3171
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You need 13 pin electrics - just get an original LR kit (not a 3rd party equivalent) and it's a simple 'plug n play' do it yourself job, will take you less than 30 mins to fit.
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| 8th Aug 2012 8:10 am |
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Miesmacher
Member Since: 21 Oct 2009
Location: Lucerne
Posts: 73
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Thanks for your answers!
@JDB - I'll send you a PM
@maplecottage - But even with the orginal kit (price?), I'd need to have the software changed/updated - is that correct?
If so, does this need an official dealer or is it something those Faultmate things can do, too? From some posts in here this seemed to be the case...
Thanks,
Thorsten
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| 8th Aug 2012 9:08 am |
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Martin
Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18506
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On the D3, the tow kit will work fine without enabling. 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
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| 8th Aug 2012 10:19 am |
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B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
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I don't think you will be able to fit one of these boxes onto a removeable towbar, they look as though they will need to be fixed in place with the towball bolts on a fixed towbar. You can get a TowTrust fixed towbar for £158 delivered
Regarding the electrics, you will only need a 7 pin 12n socket on the car if that's all you plan to use it for.
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| 8th Aug 2012 10:48 am |
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maplecottage
Member Since: 01 Feb 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3171
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As Martin has already stated, the LR kit doesn't need enabling - just plug n play. Just to confirm the electrics - I think you'll find that as you are one of our continental cousins, you'll need 13 pin regardless of what you intend to tow but happy to concede if others know better.
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| 8th Aug 2012 8:48 pm |
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Miesmacher
Member Since: 21 Oct 2009
Location: Lucerne
Posts: 73
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Martin wrote:On the D3, the tow kit will work fine without enabling.
Ok, that was really new to me. This makes it a lot easier. Thanks! And yes, I do't see me buying a trailer any time soon. (I said that about a tow bar as well, once, though....)
Cheers,
Thorsten
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| 8th Aug 2012 10:06 pm |
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Miesmacher
Member Since: 21 Oct 2009
Location: Lucerne
Posts: 73
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@Disco-Mikey - thanks, that thing seems huge and is of course less sleek than the detachable option. I'd prefer detachable, but if B16 KJR is right and the bak-rak doesn't fit to detachables, I'll be in for your gear.
However, I'd assume that B16 KJR is wrong as Thule offers IMO a luggage rack for the Disco3. And I think this is supposed to go on the standard detachable tow bar.
Does anyone know more about this? Quite important...
Cheers and thanks,
Thorsten
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| 8th Aug 2012 10:15 pm |
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wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
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Bak-rak fits on a detachable tow ball G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
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| 9th Aug 2012 8:01 am |
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maplecottage
Member Since: 01 Feb 2011
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3171
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Thule also fits on a detachable tow ball
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| 9th Aug 2012 9:00 am |
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B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
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| 9th Aug 2012 11:58 am |
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