Member Since: 15 Jan 2013
Location: Devon
Posts: 2037
Kelvo wrote:
I’m unsure what the worry is with using the detachable tow hitch is in the UK.
Australian D4s only came with the detachable (receiver) tow hitch. My camper trailer is 1500Kg, caravans are a lot heavier than the Euro ones, and these are being towed on unsealed gravel/mud/sand roads for hundreds of Km at a time without issue.
Some informed reading for you https://www.disco4.com/forum/q393-detachab...21876.html.
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14th Mar 2019 12:59 pm
nigel207
Member Since: 26 Mar 2009
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1359
As others have said, if your tow bar has been checked and found to be in good condition (as I suspect it will be if you haven’t towed heavy loads with it before) I’d stick with the detachable one. It’s pretty obvious when they’re located properly as they won’t move or rattle about. I often check ours by standing on it (even I don’t weigh 150kg - yet!! ).
Considering that we’d towed thousands of miles with our previous D4, when I took it in for the check it was fine. Just make sure that it’s properly seated when you put it on and you’ll be absolutely fine.
14th Mar 2019 4:56 pm
geoffsnook
Member Since: 13 Jun 2014
Location: south wales
Posts: 3170
I had my sport checked by landrover and they gave the detacable ball the all clear my hitch reciever was clean and the ball was never left in and last may we took our twin axle away and got 40 miles before the ball came out and my van was trashed and that was after i stopped twice one as normal to check all good and no brakes binding all good.Stopped a few miles futher down for a roll and coffee again all good stood on it and jumped up and down as i always do, but the van still came off with the ball still in the caravan hitch we were so lucky as the van just went off into the armco and stopped Discovery 3 se gone
Range rover sport supercharged here:)
Whether you swap to a fixed or just use the removable properly, there is an area of concern in one of your posts.
Your caravan has an anti-sway device built into the hitch. It is called a stabiliser and works through very small friction pads that rub on the surface of the tow ball. Grease, or oil from your oily rag, will stop the pads gripping and allow the caravan undue liberty to sway from side to side. The ball should be cleaned with something similar to brake cleaner and kept clean and dry. Not at all easy with a fixed one without resorting to large spanners each trip.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
15th Mar 2019 4:41 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10360
^^ why do you say that. I have had the fixed towbar on 2 x D3's and 2 x D4's and the ball is dead easy to keep clean. You dont need to do the "full clean" with brake cleaner every time before use. I would clean mine once a year with brake cleaner and a light sandpapering. I had a cover on it all the time, and just prior to hitching would wipe the ball over with a clean dry cloth. Never had any issues with any 'van swaying
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I have a fixed tow bar, just makes me feel safer when towing.
Never been a great fan of the detachable tow bar whichever car it is fitted to, to be honest.
Regards
Ray
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15th Mar 2019 7:18 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
MG wrote:
So should I discard the removeable tow ball and get a fixed one fitted?
What is the best solution I guess is what I am eager to understand.
Is there anyone from LRCS reading this thread to give the official view/recommendation?
I towed a large twin axle Swift with the removable one and did the same with previous D4's and D3 and had no issues.
If you are worried there is someone on here who makes a securing bracket that takes a couple of minutes to bolt into place that gives belt and braces for the removable tow bar.
I wouldnt worry to be honest but it is your choice.
As for caravans, I have had several diffrent ones and my current one is a Swift Elegance and am very very pleased with it so much so that it is up for sale and a new one on order MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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Hi All,
Everyone will have their take on this here is my experience.
We to a Bailey Senator, with our 57 D3.
The towbar would install firmly with no play, but after towing was loose side to side and fore and aft.
Called at a local Dealer on an unrelated matter and was told I should have received a letter to submit it for checking,.
Booked it in, it passed the recall or customer satisfaction whatever.
Next time I took the towbar out it had a plastic label attached, reducing the working load among other things.
Next trip, got to north wales approx 150 miles the towbar appeared worse than previous trips rocking nearly 6mm fore and aft.
Got home same problem, replaced with towshure fixed bar, easy fit, no trim cutting, no more problems.
Hope this helps
Bob
14th Apr 2019 9:33 am
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2083
One D3 I purchased at 150K miles had I believe been used for towing a lot of its life and the detachable tow bar locking pin would retract out in use ,only stopped by the locking part of the lever. The later redesigned hitch has a ratchet on the release knob which stops the pin retracting so far. I stopped mine retracting in use by dismantling it and rebuilding the pinion part. That of course would not be as type approved so could give insurance issues if it failed.
14th Apr 2019 1:46 pm
KenR
Member Since: 17 Jan 2010
Location: Argyll Scotland
Posts: 331
I agree with Mogwyth, if you have any concerns, get a retaining plate, it is fitted and removed in minutes and will remove all your worries.
14th Apr 2019 2:00 pm
Bazalab
Member Since: 08 Jul 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 81
Detachable Tow Ball or Fixed One!!
I will try to keep this short!
During the recall on my (then) RR Sport detachable tow ball the dealership said okay as "all within acceptable tolerances"! They love those words.
I then pointed out that I tow a twin axle caravan regularly and the member of staff told me that the detachable tow ball was designed for lightweight towing only such as garden trailers and not designed for heavy work such as large caravans.
I then pointed out that the reason I bought the Sport was for its towing credentials and then showed him the vehicle users handbook in which the Sport was pictured towing a large twin axle trailer with a large boat on it!!
His answer was to give me a telephone number for Customer Care at Head Office and suggested I speak to them.
To cut it short, LR agreed to fit a fixed towbar to my vehicle at their expense and within 24 hours I had received an appointment for this to be carried out.
I have since sold that car and now tow with a 2015 Disco 4 to which I had a fixed towbar fitted at my expense as this makes me feel so much safer when towing, both for my family's sake and that of other road users.
My case rests!
2nd Jun 2019 2:27 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
there should be detail of a remaining plate if you search...simple two bolts to fix
2nd Jun 2019 9:34 pm
Gibbo01
Member Since: 28 Feb 2015
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 62
Discovery 3 removable towbar
I had after market towbar fitted to 2007 discovery 3 and it constantly was clonking when towing
It felt like it was about to fall off
Then had towtrust latest towbar fitted .no more noise it uses a bolt instead of a sprung pin
2nd Jun 2019 10:13 pm
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Tow Trust one is excellent - wish I’d fitted mine years ago!2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
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4th Jun 2019 9:29 pm
D4mation
Member Since: 29 Jul 2011
Location: Ruralshire
Posts: 593
I found that when unhitching the caravan after towing that the removeable towbar would waggle about a bit. So I bought one of those tow hook retaining plates off here but found it wasn't a good fit on the D4 so gave it to my son, who has a D3.
Eventually I took the D4 in for the "service action" and LR replaced the detachable with a fixed towbar FOC.
A couple of observations about LR tow bars
1. The Al-Ko stabiliser will try and twist the tow hook and thereby introduce more fretting between the receiver and the tongue when towing - this accelerates wear IMHO.
2. The fixed tow bar has the same receiver/tongue arrangement as the detachable but the twisting action is resisted by the reinforcement of the side bars.MY12 D4 HSE Ipanema Sand
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