2008RR Sport tow bar as fitted...? Reliable

[silverback mike]

Probably sounds a bit odd but my RR Sport has the plumbing and removable tow bar. I'll be towing a 900kg ish race car with twin wheel trailer.
I'm just wondering probably unnecessarily.....if the tow bar is 'removeable' then that says to me 'weakness' and in effect would there be a potential of the trailer separating?
Or... as a collective do you think maybe I'll be better off in getting a permanent tow bar put on?
Any ideas / horror stories / reassurances gratefully received folks

[240Cup]

The earlier RR Sport used the same back end chassis as the Disco (with the same detachable tow bar) and there are all sorts of horror stories on these. I tow a boat and a Caravan and when i was looking to buy one the LR Dealer advised detachable bar definitely not up to the job.

[silverback mike]

Thanks 240. My thoughts too.

[bakerstreet]

I agree. Ditch the removable and sell it on eBay. You will get £100-150 for it. The fixed ones are pretty cheap. I have a fixed on mine.

[240Cup]

It is strange that Landrover had this weakness on their removable towbars. Conversely the removable bars I have had on 2 XC90s have been more than up to the job,towing the boat / twin axle caravan and a BJ A Max trailer with car loaded on a 2,000 mile round trip to Southern Spain and back, not a sniff of a problem. I don't think it is removable bars in general that are iffy, just the Landrover ones - which again is odd considering why many people buy them - particularly the Disco.

[bakerstreet]

240Cup said:

It is strange that Landrover had this weakness on their removable towbars. Conversely the removable bars I have had on 2 XC90s have been more than up to the job,towing the boat / twin axle caravan and a BJ A Max trailer with car loaded on a 2,000 mile round trip to Southern Spain and back, not a sniff of a problem. I don't think it is removable bars in general that are iffy, just the Landrover ones - which again is odd considering why many people buy them - particularly the Disco.

There are actually companies out there, that make a small c-shaped brace to stop the removable falling out when towing. It annoys me that LR f&%ked up one of their biggest USPs

[numtumfutunch]

They were subject to a recall in 2014 and owners were bullied into getting a fixed one fitted for free, or a removable one involving more work and expense for them if you were gobby and persistent

Details via Google on D3, prob on RRSport.co.uk too but I CBA

http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/q393-detachable-towb...

[silverback mike]

Permanent one it is for me chaps. Getting it sorted next week.

[A.J.M]

I’ve got the detachable on mine.
I got the recall done and the bar inspected and they said it was fine.

The biggest issue is people leave the detachable one in permanently and that can cause issue.

I’ve dug it out the boot cubby box as it hasn’t been used in over 2 years and apart from applying copper slip to the tow bar channel to help it up and slide into place.
It’s went in fine and is solid with no play at all.

I’m towing my 80” trials car with it on Sunday.

For your use, I would go heavy duty bar though.

[240Cup]

YEE GADS look at some of the posts on that thread, caravans coming adrift and all sorts!

I imagine LR had to pay off some lawsuits somewhere, strange we didn't hear more about it at the time..!! Lucky no-one was injured or worse.

[Watchman]

That LR site isn't very mobile phone friendly and I'm away from my laptop for a while. Can anyone explain the issue? I have a Westfalia detachable towbar. I've had them on several different cars over the years and there are occasions when I leave them attached for extended periods. I've never had any issues and I have towed trailers and a caravan weighing in excess of 2 tonnes.

Is it just an issue with the LR branded towbar?

[Cold]

Watchman said:

Is it just an issue with the LR branded towbar?

I believe the issue is with the user.

[bogie]

Cold said:

Watchman said:

Is it just an issue with the LR branded towbar?

I believe the issue is with the user.

Yeah, arse covering for user error never had a problem with the removable towbar myself. The recall was in 2015 - read about it here

https://www.lro.com/blog/news/land-rover/1509/faul...