Very. Obvious. Stupid. Answer..... [/b] It is what it is and I am what I am....

The sprung type is the better one for the few pennies more.

having towed and been a tower a few times and recovered a few times as well i can say its the better one to go for as a softer strain on each vehicles tow point.

Also while at Machine mart get the 5tonne recovery strap and the correct D links for it rated to 6+ tonnes so the snatch gives up before them. They fit just nice over a tow ball and are strong enough to pull a stuck D3/4/SSRR/FFRR from being bellied in mud without snapping and have a little give in them as well. Plus if they do snap they flail a lot so the energy dissipates very quick, kinda like plasma rope though maybe not as good but still dam good.

Also IIRC on the SSRR you can take the towing electrics cover off and there is a loop there that can be used for the recovery straps if needs must(ie your tow ball is deep in there or isnt fitted before going into a situation...) FFRR Owner, SSRR engine destroyer!(*2) & Creator of SSRR

A word of cautioin

You should never tow someone with a strop (or even a shackle tightly over a tow ball) on the tow ball .

Its not designed for it - ive seen them pop off, break, bend and do some serious damage. Caravan and trailer hitches are totally different in forces etc that towing like this on a towball.

Off road its even worse

Use a fixed RATED anchor point - your spoilt on the sport and disco, there is one on the front and rear and even better nicely in the centre for a direct pull. Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

I've used the stropp once in an emergency as a mother and child were in a very bad spot of the m18 as it was perfect for the job.

The disco and rrs centre rear point is there to help prevent chassis twist

A properly fitted tow ball is incredibly strong! Not like the sorry excuse LR class as fixed or removable on the disco or sports. The l322 one is much much better strangely! FFRR Owner, SSRR engine destroyer!(*2) & Creator of SSRR

kp wrote:

I've used the stropp once in an emergency as a mother and child were in a very bad spot of the m18 as it was perfect for the job.

The disco and rrs centre rear point is there to help prevent chassis twist

A properly fitted tow ball is incredibly strong! Not like the sorry excuse LR class as fixed or removable on the disco or sports. The l322 one is much much better strangely!

The centre point tow ring (front and rear) is perfectly fine (i referenced that in my post) using a stop on a tow ball is dangerous

A strop on a tow ball, especially when just slotted on it, will at the very least walk off with ease and use - seen that

Whilst a braced drop plate may give the impression of being "incredibly strong" and you might think with a tow rating of 5t it is, its actually not - ive seen one bend and bent post recovery off road - they are not designed for it - very different forces etc. It might get you by on a short road rescue - but i would use extreme caution Mike

2014 Facelift Discovery

I've seen what the l322 ones are capable of and they wouldn't break before the strap

The shackle ALWAYS needs I out rate the strop and the shackle should never ever be slotted on to the tow ball as that is stupid and asking for big trouble. When mine is on it will not come off as its a snug fit.

I guess the l322 has the advantage with the fixed tow bar that it dissipates any shock load through the whole of the rear and not just a single point on the chassis as Long as the towball and its mount can hold which I know mine can  FFRR Owner, SSRR engine destroyer!(*2) & Creator of SSRR

Many thanks for the responses chaps, really appreciate it

I shall purchase the sprung bar and the strops are a good idea in case the other car doesn't have a proper towing eye (as per the gf's Matiz). I have and will only use the anchor point as it's pretty damn solid

Thanks again guys

kp wrote:

I've seen what the l322 ones are capable of and they wouldn't break before the strap

The shackle ALWAYS needs I out rate the strop and the shackle should never ever be slotted on to the tow ball as that is stupid and asking for big trouble. When mine is on it will not come off as its a snug fit.

I guess the l322 has the advantage with the fixed tow bar that it dissipates any shock load through the whole of the rear and not just a single point on the chassis as Long as the towball and its mount can hold which I know mine can