Member Since: 05 Apr 2013
Location: milton keynes
Posts: 51
silly newbie questions
I'm looking at getting my wife a D3 to tow her horse trailer and also maybe a caravan. I went to look at one last night and it didn't have a tow bar, so my question is how much does it cost to fit one and is there any advantage to getting one of the height adjustable ones???
Our last disco 2 had a factory fit one.
Last edited by cejsmith on 15th Jun 2013 8:53 am. Edited 1 time in total
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15th Jun 2013 8:51 am
cejsmith
Member Since: 05 Apr 2013
Location: milton keynes
Posts: 51
NJSS wrote:
House trailer - how many rooms?
NJSS
No rooms but it does have a stable
15th Jun 2013 8:54 am
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Did you check in the rear NS cubby hole, some have removable ones stored in there, did you look under the plate on the rear bumer to see if the electrics are fitted? I tow a twin axle caravan with a removable tow hook and have had no issues. However some who tow everyday have opted for the fixed multi height tow bar, horses for courses sorry for the pun.
As for costs you seem to be able to pick a second hand tow bar up for around £150 both removable and fixed, electrics seem to be about £70, these are second hand prices on e bay but they do come up on here search the for sale section as I am sure there was one for sale recently.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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15th Jun 2013 9:00 am
cejsmith
Member Since: 05 Apr 2013
Location: milton keynes
Posts: 51
Russell wrote:
Did you check in the rear NS cubby hole, some have removable ones stored in there, did you look under the plate on the rear bumer to see if the electrics are fitted? I tow a twin axle caravan with a removable tow hook and have had no issues. However some who tow everyday have opted for the fixed multi height tow bar, horses for courses sorry for the pun.
As for costs you seem to be able to pick a second hand tow bar up for around £150 both removable and fixed, electrics seem to be about £70, these are second hand prices on e bay but they do come up on here search the for sale section as I am sure there was one for sale recently.
I did look behind the flap and there was no electrics.
15th Jun 2013 12:46 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10360
Your old D2 wouldn't have had a factory fit one - it would have been a dealer fit when first brought.
I would suggest going with the fixed towbar for your horse trailer, as its a bit sturdier for sideways movement.
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15th Jun 2013 3:15 pm
cejsmith
Member Since: 05 Apr 2013
Location: milton keynes
Posts: 51
al cope wrote:
Your old D2 wouldn't have had a factory fit one - it would have been a dealer fit when first brought.
I would suggest going with the fixed towbar for your horse trailer, as its a bit sturdier for sideways movement.
Al
Fair enough, the tow bar may have been dealer fit. I just know I paid for it and it came on the car as new.
Al's advice of a fixed tow-bar is good advice if your towing horses as the quick fit ones do tend to move from side to a little bit when they get worn..
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15th Jun 2013 3:43 pm
d3mad
Member Since: 11 Oct 2012
Location: Tenbury Wells
Posts: 369
Definitely get the fixed not the removable
I found the height of the removable tow-bar is the problem for four wheel trailers. It is too high.
Personally I did not feel comfortable with the removable either, it did not look man enough for the horse trailer, but probably is.
The fixed towbar is a solid piece of kit and has adjustable height (Fixed / adjustable - is that a contradiction?). I got a LR one from TLO at Yeovil LR who you will find on the forum.
It is perfect for towing the Ifor Williams 510 horse trailer. The D3 is an incredible vehicle for towing as well. We live in a hilly area and the vehicle copes brilliantly.2 x D3's (Twins)
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I am using the detachable towbar with my D3 and an Ifor Williams 510 and it is absolutely fine. My local tow shop have also endorsed the set up.
My bigger problem is my horse doesn't like the trailer. In 3 short trips he's dented the floor, wrecked the plastic panelling, bent the partition, cut his foot, hurt his back and his hip. I may have to get a lorry, which he is fine in!
Which side of the trailer do you normally carry him on We had a horse that was a nightmare to travel on the right hand side but was fine on the left, or if he is on his own take the partitions out, ours was no problem when travelling on his own with the patitions removed.I'm not as good as I once was........but I'm as good once as I ever was.
15th Jun 2013 10:07 pm
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 06 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4197
I can agree and concur with the last comment....recently upgraded daughters horse for a bigger faster model and horse went gerraty when loaded resulting in shoes off blood everywhere and utter nightmare. Was looking at then the huge expense of a lorry and with one last trip we removed central partition and put full width breech bars in. Result: Horse travelled without a squeak, absolutely perfect ....it just gives him more room to stand and splay his legs for balance....
Now to return to subject..D3 brilliant horse box towing vehicle...we put a fixed plate tow bar on just from that little more resilience..... Perfect!
Good luck xx
15th Jun 2013 11:07 pm
JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2486
..... and if you want a removable tow bar whilst thinking about a fixed one - I have one available for £125 delivered.
It's in good condition and with 2 orange keys.
Which side of the trailer do you normally carry him on We had a horse that was a nightmare to travel on the right hand side but was fine on the left, or if he is on his own take the partitions out, ours was no problem when travelling on his own with the partitions removed.
We tried the right side. I am a bit dubious about trying the left because if he damages that side, I'll have more repairs and maybe more injuries. However I have bought two full width breast/breech bars, so we are going to try without the partition when he is recovered.
16th Jun 2013 7:28 am
Farmer Chalk
Member Since: 06 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4197
Sorry to go off topic and not teaching you to suck eggs with it but when you put the horse in without the partition make sure you tie his head via the head collar to both sides of the trailer with enough slack so he can eat and see etc but not turn around.... That's when you'll have more problems... It really does work and ours now travels perfectly in the middle of the trailer albeit with splayed legs ....... You won't believe the difference... Daft question is your horse of Irish descent? They seem to trailer them without bars and this maybe is where he picked up his weird habit?.
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We had a horse that was a nightmare to travel on the right hand side but was fine on the left, or if he is on his own take the partitions out, ours was no problem when travelling on his own with the patitions removed.
