Over the past week or so I have been on EBay quite a bit looking for/at various pieces of junk.

One thing I have noticed is the shear number of LR removable tow bars being auctioned off. Many appear to be used, and many do not have keys.

Over on the Disco 3 forum folk have had the clip in style tow bars stolen from their cars whilst parked up in various car parks.

Is the tow bar now the "new" item to steal now that most folk have a spare wheel protector?

Jim

Could be. The keys broken off mine so if I leave it attached I know I'm taking a risk that someone could just take it off. Thought they were quite secure if they were locked in though.

AFAIK, they've always been a popular theft. Indeed it's a nice two-in-one deal for them to get both...

Secure - no, they're far from it.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

They are "removable" ................ What do you expect if you leave it in place all the time? I used to use my tow hooks a lot but always took them off the back of the car because I think they look ugly. Now I have a permanent one on the back of my 1996 Defender 90 and that does all my towing duties, they will steal the whole vehicle as that would be easier than just removing the towbar!. BTW I suffered several "key snapped off in the barrel" occassions, the local dealership got very good at replacing the barrel under warranty. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

I have been following, trying to purchase one.

What I don't understand is how many people are buying them ????

Are they buying their own back I wonder ?

My thoughts too Andy....

Jim

Ours was stolen 2wks ago. Funny thing is we couldn't get the b-oody thing off. The dealer couldn't get it off to do the test and asked us to bring it back so they could have another go, we tried with a big homer, still no luck. Hated it being on permanently but would have preferred it being in the boot. How the hell has some scroat got the thing off. Just in the process of buying one off SI on here.

Could it have dropped off?

You can buy a tow bar key off eBay for 2.99. I know I did it when I bought my car without getting the key for it.

Within 3 days I had the key. All I needed to give them was the serial number from the lock which is easy to see if you take a photo of the lock face.

Perhaps that's how they do it so easily? Take quick photo, return with the key. Done. ££'s on eBay.

 2015 RRS AB SDV6, Fuji White, Ivory
2012 RRS HSE SDV6, Sumatra Black and Ivory
Audi A5, 3.0 TDI, Gone
Audi TT, 3.2 V6, Gone
BMW 5 series tourer, Gone

Bladeboy wrote:

Could it have dropped off?

Yeah you're probably right. I lost the key from my roof box and got a replacement one from e bay for about a pound!

fdhadi wrote:

Bladeboy wrote:

Could it have dropped off?

Don't think so, it was locked on.

Chris;

It was parked in a multi storey where the car had never been before. We have the keys in the boot.

Master key, or the thief hid under the car

Sorry! I know it's a a pain to have to buy one again  2015 RRS AB SDV6, Fuji White, Ivory
2012 RRS HSE SDV6, Sumatra Black and Ivory
Audi A5, 3.0 TDI, Gone
Audi TT, 3.2 V6, Gone
BMW 5 series tourer, Gone

I bet you any 'lock picker' thief type could get it off in seconds...for £100 quid in 1 min? Not traceable. Well probably not unless LR tie up every towbar to a VIN?

 2015 RRS AB SDV6, Fuji White, Ivory
2012 RRS HSE SDV6, Sumatra Black and Ivory
Audi A5, 3.0 TDI, Gone
Audi TT, 3.2 V6, Gone
BMW 5 series tourer, Gone

What are LR doing with all the ones that fail the inspection? Could they be passing them onto someone who is selling them on?

How many key variations are there?