Removeable Towbars.....are they safe to tow with?

[ElvisandTilly]

I am looking at using a temporary towbar for towing my horse in a trailer, either an ifor or equitrec. The towbar is the Range Rover sport one and does anyone tow with the Land Rover removeable tow bar? Are the strong, secure and safe enough? My husband really doesn’t like the look of a fixed towbar on his precious RRS! So removeable towbar is a compromise!

 

[Goldenstar]

Yup I have one on my Range Rover I have towed thousands of miles with it

 

[asmp]

Used to tow all over the country with one on a BMW X5

 

[ihatework]

They are safe if they are attached correctly!

 

[ihatework]

.

 

[SOS]

Just be aware a removable tow bar may have a different towing weight and you want to keep safely below that. I believe there was an incident in which one snapped whilst towing just over 3 tons, afterwards it was realised whilst the vehicle could tow this, the tow bar could actually only take 2 tons. I think the official Land Rover ones take 3.5 tons though...

This article says about it and a tip to put it on for MOTs as apparantly it will be checked.
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/horse-trailer-detachable-towbars-452406

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I swapped mine on purchase to a fixed one. The detachable I was warned could get slight play in it over time which I didn't fancy & I know my friends has a very slight movement - barely anything at all & not saying it isn't safe, but it just didn't sit well with me so switched it for my peace of mind. I'm a bit of a worrier though!

 

[Theocat]

My friend's broke, and the trailer ended up in a hedge - luckily at low speed. No idea of the cause but she went straight to fixed, understandably.

You also need to let your insurance know you have a towbar because it counts as a modification.

 

[ElvisandTilly]

Thank you everyone! I have heard about there being a problem with the old towbars of land rover and of them breaking but there is a recall on them and you can exchange the old one for a new one at LR and they will check your vehicle too. I have looked at the electric deployable one but at over £2k for one fitting at LR I think I’ll leave it!

 

[Lintel]

My dad has just had a towbar fitted to his new LR and all garages said NO to the detachable towbar if he was going to pull any weight. He went with static

 

[Minny]

Got a detachable on disco sport. It has quite a significant locking mechanism.

 

[ElvisandTilly]

Quite a mixed bag of experiences with the removable towbars. Not sure which way to go now!

 

[gina2201]

No issue with two I've had both on range rovers. Both towbars rated to tow 3.5t (Westphalia and towtrust) and I have done so towed but most of my towing is trailer and 1 horse so about 1.5 to 1.7t.

 

[JillA]

Mine has a significantly lower towing capacity with a removable towbar (less than 2 tonnes) while with a fixed one it is over 3. I would check the stats for your vehicle to see - presumably depends on the fixings for the removable one

 

[Tiddlypom]

Different tow balls fitted on the same towbar can have different ratings. We had a combined tow pin and ball on the old Shogun, and it was rated to only 2t instead of the 3.5t that the test of the tow bar/vehicle were capable of.

ETA These were permanently fitted tow balls, not detachable.

 

[tda]

We had one on our Merc ML, it was fine, I bit tricky to get the hang on attaching it .

 

[case895]

I had a Disco 3 and had the towbar and hook replaced as they fretted and worked loose. Eventually JLR admitted there was a problem with them and reimbursed me. I found out later that dealers check the cars whenever they are in for anything and swap parts out of there is any sign of fretting.

 

[Snoozy]

I have one on my RRS, no problems at all.