Detachable tow bar Disco 4 - suitable for towing a horse box
Discussion
We have had our 59 plate Discovery 4 for many years and always successfully towed a horse box with it on its detachable tow bar. No issues at all.
But, my wife (who does the majority of the towing) keeps hearing and reading that the detachable tow bar isn't really suitable for heavy loads and wants a fixed one fitted.
I am reluctant to change it (more ££££), but is this just hearsay, from a few failures of not properly attached detachable tow bars or is there a genuine weakness?
We don't ever take it off (apart from when scrote stole it).
But, my wife (who does the majority of the towing) keeps hearing and reading that the detachable tow bar isn't really suitable for heavy loads and wants a fixed one fitted.
I am reluctant to change it (more ££££), but is this just hearsay, from a few failures of not properly attached detachable tow bars or is there a genuine weakness?
We don't ever take it off (apart from when scrote stole it).
I've had a detachable tow bar fall out on my D3. I bought the car from an independent Land Rover specialist. I asked if it came with a detachable tow bar and he said it did. When the car was delivered, there was no tow bar and I had to chase him for a bit to get it sent out. Eventually he got one sent out to me, and it appeared in good condition.
I checked it when it arrived, and it seemed solid. The first time I used it was to tow a boat trailer from my dive club to Anglesey. I fitted it, checked it was solid, and went for the boat. Hitched up the boat, checked it again, and drove off. I was a minute away when I turned left at a crossroads going uphill. I looked in my mirror and saw the boat disappearing. The breakaway chain had done its job and put the brakes on, but trailer brakes are less efficient in reverse. Fortunately it did not hit any cars, and a van driver had jumped out and managed to slow it before the engine hit some railings.
On looking at the tow bar, I found the lock had failed, and I was able to turn the green handle without a key. I have no idea how it failed.
After that, I bought a Witter tow bar. It fastens into the socket in the crossmember in a similar fashion, but has some differences. The retaining pin that is released by the green handle on the detachable model is held in by a screw. When you offer it up and remove the screw, a spring pushes it back. You can then put a punch in the same hole and check it is seated by knocking it with a hammer. The screw you remove then fits behind the pin so it cannot be pulled back out. In addition to that, there are two bars that brace it to the chassis on either side.
Instructions: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0274/4103/7384/f...
There are loads of accounts from people on the various forums and Facebook pages that have towed heavy trailers with the detachable tow bar without incident. Having experienced one come away, I would not trust one without at least fitting the retaining plate.
I checked it when it arrived, and it seemed solid. The first time I used it was to tow a boat trailer from my dive club to Anglesey. I fitted it, checked it was solid, and went for the boat. Hitched up the boat, checked it again, and drove off. I was a minute away when I turned left at a crossroads going uphill. I looked in my mirror and saw the boat disappearing. The breakaway chain had done its job and put the brakes on, but trailer brakes are less efficient in reverse. Fortunately it did not hit any cars, and a van driver had jumped out and managed to slow it before the engine hit some railings.
On looking at the tow bar, I found the lock had failed, and I was able to turn the green handle without a key. I have no idea how it failed.
After that, I bought a Witter tow bar. It fastens into the socket in the crossmember in a similar fashion, but has some differences. The retaining pin that is released by the green handle on the detachable model is held in by a screw. When you offer it up and remove the screw, a spring pushes it back. You can then put a punch in the same hole and check it is seated by knocking it with a hammer. The screw you remove then fits behind the pin so it cannot be pulled back out. In addition to that, there are two bars that brace it to the chassis on either side.
Instructions: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0274/4103/7384/f...
There are loads of accounts from people on the various forums and Facebook pages that have towed heavy trailers with the detachable tow bar without incident. Having experienced one come away, I would not trust one without at least fitting the retaining plate.
On a recent AutoAlex YT video, his JLR specialist mate said that the detachable ones are good for towing about 2 tonnes, but for more than that you'd need a fixed one.
I don't know where he got that info from, but given my detachable one has a slight bit of a 'wobble' without the stabilising plate, I don't think i'd want to go higher than that.
Just for general info for anyone looking for a detachable one, there does seem to be quite a lot of scammers on FB market place pretending to sell them for about £100, as opposed to them being nearly double that on Ebay etc. Clearly, scammers have cottoned-on to the high demand for them and are exploiting it.
I don't know where he got that info from, but given my detachable one has a slight bit of a 'wobble' without the stabilising plate, I don't think i'd want to go higher than that.
Just for general info for anyone looking for a detachable one, there does seem to be quite a lot of scammers on FB market place pretending to sell them for about £100, as opposed to them being nearly double that on Ebay etc. Clearly, scammers have cottoned-on to the high demand for them and are exploiting it.
I would fit a TowTrust bar and be done with it myself or one of the Ebay brackets. For the sake of £200 for option 1 and £30 for option 2 Vs the insurance nightmare or worse outcome of it breaking, its a no brainer really.
I'm certqainly not going to be the one who says 'it will be fine', because is a Land Rover and usually it isn't.
I'm certqainly not going to be the one who says 'it will be fine', because is a Land Rover and usually it isn't.
I’ve towed more than 2 tons with the detachable before I got the securing plate.
Got the plate for extra peace of mind.
I didn’t tow frequently enough to justify a fixed and they also become a plough when off which I did more frequently.
If you need to tow, but don’t do off roading then 100% get a fixed bar.
If you do off roading then detachable and securing plate.
That’s what I’ve went with.
Got the plate for extra peace of mind.
I didn’t tow frequently enough to justify a fixed and they also become a plough when off which I did more frequently.
If you need to tow, but don’t do off roading then 100% get a fixed bar.
If you do off roading then detachable and securing plate.
That’s what I’ve went with.
A.J.M said:
I’ve towed more than 2 tons with the detachable before I got the securing plate.
Got the plate for extra peace of mind.
I didn’t tow frequently enough to justify a fixed and they also become a plough when off which I did more frequently.
If you need to tow, but don’t do off roading then 100% get a fixed bar.
If you do off roading then detachable and securing plate.
That’s what I’ve went with.
Got the plate for extra peace of mind.
I didn’t tow frequently enough to justify a fixed and they also become a plough when off which I did more frequently.
If you need to tow, but don’t do off roading then 100% get a fixed bar.
If you do off roading then detachable and securing plate.
That’s what I’ve went with.
Granted, the tow bars can turn into a plow when off roading, but the D3/4 one isnt as bad as the god awful one they fitted to the L322 for the detachable
DO miss my D3. My L322 is nice, but will be worth peanuts very soon when expanded ULEZ kicks in.
I’ve towed plenty of big trailers with L322’s on detachable tow bars and I’ve never heard of one failing on any other model except the Disco. A pal had a fully loaded trailer come off the back of his D4 after it fell out.
The breakaway was attached to the tow ball so it carried on through someone’s front wall and took the side out of the Scenic that was parked on the driveway.
I definitely wouldn’t risk it with a horse onboard, doesn’t bear thinking about
The breakaway was attached to the tow ball so it carried on through someone’s front wall and took the side out of the Scenic that was parked on the driveway.
I definitely wouldn’t risk it with a horse onboard, doesn’t bear thinking about
When I saw the AutoAlex film I thought, keep the detachable tow bar "just bolt the plate on".
That's what I did and I regularly tow 3.5 tonnes, no problem. I also substituted the spring loaded gubbins for an M16 bolt with nylon nut.
The only way my "detatchable" tow bar is coming off is if the cross member comes with it too.
That's what I did and I regularly tow 3.5 tonnes, no problem. I also substituted the spring loaded gubbins for an M16 bolt with nylon nut.
The only way my "detatchable" tow bar is coming off is if the cross member comes with it too.
I researched this a bit more, and in the end I bought a fixed tow bar:
https://maltings4x4store.co.uk/tow-bars/witter-ran...
Very easy to fit, and feels very substantial.
Sold the detachable tow bar for £200 so not too painful financially.
The thing that worried me, was that our detachable towbar was a little loose in the socket, and it appears that the socket on the rear cross member can wear over time (it is a 59 plate Disco and towed for 150k miles).
I can certainly sleep easier when my wife is out towing the horse box now.
https://maltings4x4store.co.uk/tow-bars/witter-ran...
Very easy to fit, and feels very substantial.
Sold the detachable tow bar for £200 so not too painful financially.
The thing that worried me, was that our detachable towbar was a little loose in the socket, and it appears that the socket on the rear cross member can wear over time (it is a 59 plate Disco and towed for 150k miles).
I can certainly sleep easier when my wife is out towing the horse box now.
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