Quote:

Detachable tow bars on Discovery 3s become loose due to faulty design. There have been so many reports on various web sites about this issue but no one has done anything to solve the problem. Anyone who has had a failure should report it to VOSA via an online form on their website - this is the government agency that enforce manufacturer recalls. Land Rover are very aware of this fault & VOSA have asked them to solve the issue. So far Land Rover are doing all it can to cover-up the problem & the Customer Relations Manager has told me that he is 'unaware of a problem with this towbar' ever though VOSA acted on it more than a year ago. To fob customers off they have issued a 'wear gauge' to their dealers to measure the free play on the ball in it's mounting. They will regard any ball moving back & forth less than 30mm as 'within tolerance' & refuse any claim. Any ball moving this much would not stay attached to the cross member at all. If everyone with this problem had reported it to VOSA they would have to have issued a recall by now.

I have just read this on a caravan forum and thought I should pass this on as we share the same detachable tow bar. A quick search on google did indeed bring up numerous sites with this mentioned  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

30 mm ?!! some mistake surely 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE


Last edited by Paddi on Mon Oct 07 2013 6:24pm. Edited 1 time in total

I would of thought 3mm  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

This appears to be further evidence of the issue Disco_Mickey raised in another thread. Lots of use results in movement which results in wear. Wear will eventually allow the ball to drop from the housing in the cross member.

In fairness to LR (and I'm surprised to hear myself saying that) they do say in the manual that the quick release ball is not designed for regular use. Or rather they imply it by saying that owners wanting to tow regularly or who want to tow heavier trailers should use the heavy duty system.

If people are using a tow ball on a weekly basis when that ball isn't designed for that usage level and LR actively advise against it then I don't see that they have much to moan about. If you want to tow regularly (and most caravaners will do so presumably) then fit the appropriate tow ball.

I fail to see what LR can do about the QR ball system now. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

My feeling is that the wear is caused by abrasion between the parts - and the best way to arrest it is by covering the engagement mechanism with grease! It also makes it much easier to attach / detach!

Granted, you probably don't want an oily-greasy thing in your boot when not in use - but a simple zip-seal freezer bag solves that!

Si

As most current tow hitch uses a grease free stabilised hitch, introducing grease is not wise.
There have been many reports over the years including a high profile Evo mag editor who lost his £300000 supercar and trailer to a hedge when tow bar came off.
Mine used work loose but I learnt to check it every few hundred miles when towing caravan and was told by LR that the bar was limited to pulling 750kg and that I needed a reinforced version with additional brace to tow 1450kg caravan. Same with car trailer.
Have to same the genuine full fat neck is far better manufactured and secures with more conviction. 2x TDV6. SE and HSE. Both returned to sender with issues👀
TDV8 Sport HSE...... Gone. Loved it but it didn't love me!!
Now rolling in MY10 Fullfat TDV8 Vogue. Slammed it to go round corners🙈
Cruising daily #56 mph in a Volvo V8. 😱
Lots of other toys in the cupboard...😜

Simple1 - your post has just scared the out of me

Are you saying according to LR the detachable below is unsuitable to tow my 1850kg twin axle because that is totally at odds with the description on LR website

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Quote:

Part No: LR040247
Lockable for security. Easily removed. For leisure use only. 50mm Tow ball, height 400mm from ground. 3,500kg trailer maximum payload (150kg trailer nose load).

The fixed version would then be necessary and although I think it looks quite at home on a Disco it looks awfull on a sport IMHO

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Quote:

Part No: LR043271
50mm Tow Ball. Three different towing heights. Lowest tow ball height 350mm from ground. Highest tow ball height 500mm from ground. 3,500kg trailer load capacity (150kg trailer nose load). Required for commercial and constant use only.

It looks a lot better than seeing your £20k (or whatever they cost) caravan veering off in to a hedge on its own...

...although to my eye, the "proper" tow bar looks pretty good and gives the RRS a purposeful look (which is rather contrary to the look most want with their big wheels etc. I suppose ) 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Paul
The bottom one is the one I believe you need but agree they look terrible. The neck is removable if you want to crawl about undoing bolts but defeats the purpose. My concern that the tow neck actually can come off even when locked on was a worry.
Having checked I believed the original neck was ok but seems LR get out clause is 750kg or maximum of 50kg nose weight which a well loaded caravan should not exceed yea right. That's why you have self levelling suspension I thought  2x TDV6. SE and HSE. Both returned to sender with issues👀
TDV8 Sport HSE...... Gone. Loved it but it didn't love me!!
Now rolling in MY10 Fullfat TDV8 Vogue. Slammed it to go round corners🙈
Cruising daily #56 mph in a Volvo V8. 😱
Lots of other toys in the cupboard...😜

RRSTDV8 wrote:

It looks a lot better than seeing your £20k (or whatever they cost) caravan veering off in to a hedge on its own...

...although to my eye, the "proper" tow bar looks pretty good and gives the RRS a purposeful look (which is rather contrary to the look most want with their big wheels etc. I suppose )

My 2 previous D2's had the heavy duty tow bar and apart from my bruised shins I felt it complemented the beasts

Until Simon posted is comment I wasn't worried being well within the 150kg/3500kg limit posted on the LR website

I hate big wheels and bling on a RRS but like the idea of hiding the tow bar when not using it - sport styling and a dirty big girder strapped on the back just looks wrong to me

Simon - if you are correct - trading standards may be interested in this I feel - you can not claim 150/3500kg then say 50/750 afterwards  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

simple1 wrote:

As most current tow hitch uses a grease free stabilised hitch, introducing grease is not wise.

Lots about this on DISCO3  Like this site? Buy some RRSPORT goodies to show your support!

Considering grease is likely to transfer by its nature I have also avoided greasing the detachable components to protect my caravan stabiliser

Presumably if inserted correctly then it can be locked and the key can be removed - if not the key can not be locked and removed - therefore if the key is removed it is fully engaged so should not work loose

If you need a hammer to fit then you have a problem and should not be towing with it - hammer is only for removing when left overnight or more  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

Mine came loose when locked and key was removed but never became detached but coming anything isn't good. Might be a case then that bod as LR didn't know what they were talking about but did continue using standard neck just checked it was fully engaged all the time. I know in evo's case LR claimed bar wasn't inserted fully even though key was removed. The stop strap did its job and stopped the trailer before it did any damage.
Like muddy, I would keep grease away from all of it as would end up on ball if you use stabiliser. 2x TDV6. SE and HSE. Both returned to sender with issues👀
TDV8 Sport HSE...... Gone. Loved it but it didn't love me!!
Now rolling in MY10 Fullfat TDV8 Vogue. Slammed it to go round corners🙈
Cruising daily #56 mph in a Volvo V8. 😱
Lots of other toys in the cupboard...😜

I tow a horse box every week and the towball does loosen over a journey, it also does not seem to lock solid at all like it used too so I am assuming it has worn over time. Towing a 6 berth Elddis in August caused it to loosen a worrying amount after a 200 mile journey. 2014 Nara Bronze SDV6
GONE TDV6 HSE RRS in Giverny green,Ebony interior, Side steps,Tints, PTI, Tow pack, mud flaps, Side strips and Dynamics pack.