Towing with a Mercedes ML320 and removable tow bar

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AnitaStreet

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Hello, we've just sold our Discovery and are replacing it with a Mercedes ML320. One my husband has seen comes with a removable tow bar. Does anyone tow with one of these? Where do you put the brake cable from the trailer (which I used to loop around the tow bar arm on the Discovery)? Any help gratefully received! Anita
 
I think and have been told by my mechanic that removable tow bars are only suitable for lighter things than a horse trailer, like a caravan for instance. I certainly wouldn't want to trust my horse with something that by being removable would indicate wear, tear and friction on an important point. The same can be said about the long arm tow bars; a friend's new one snapped when he had to stop suddenly going down a hill with two horses in so would avoid them like the plague too.
 
If the towbar has nuts and bolts holding the two parts together then looping the breakaway cable around the towball will have no safety application because it is designed to hold the trailer if the bolts shear

On one piece towbars the only place to put the breakaway cable is often around the towball but has no safety benefit - vehicles with one piece towbars should consider having a loop welded onto the chassis as close to the towbar as possible
 
See if a good tow bar fitter can swap it? I certainly wouldn't trust one, and I think Jeep (maybe another company too) recalled them.
 
CrazyMare said:
See if a good tow bar fitter can swap it? I certainly wouldn't trust one, and I think Jeep (maybe another company too) recalled them.
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They are perfectly safe we used landrover ones for years with 3.5 ton trailers on with a lot of abuse. They all have to be type approved.
The Jeep recall was nothing to do with the removable part at all but the frame being close to the fuel tank.
 
Seems like ROG is the only one who read it all. Your local garage ,or fabrication engineer will weld you a bracket onto the chassis for your safety brake cable to connect to it will probabley only be about £30.
 
I used to drive an ML320 with removable towbar. I had it fitted and specifically asked for one suitable for towing a large horse trailer. I used it with no problems, it also had a spot to clip the trailer to as per a normal towbar.
 
We have an ML500 with a removable Mercedes tow bar and we tow a double trailer with 2 horses. Have no issues with using it at all. Don't listen to scare stories they are as safe as a fixed tow bar
 
Passtheshampoo said:
We have an ML500 with a removable Mercedes tow bar and we tow a double trailer with 2 horses. Have no issues with using it at all. Don't listen to scare stories they are as safe as a fixed tow bar
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Thank you everyone - I've spoken to three mechanics (being thorough!) and they all agree. I guess they wouldn't be legal if they weren't safe. Even if you weren't towing horses, you can't have caravans getting loose on the motorway!!
 
It was the landrover that had the big recall on the removable towballs.
Something about the towbar snapping off if used for heavy loads.
 
Maesfen said:
I think and have been told by my mechanic that removable tow bars are only suitable for lighter things than a horse trailer, like a caravan for instance. I certainly wouldn't want to trust my horse with something that by being removable would indicate wear, tear and friction on an important point. The same can be said about the long arm tow bars; a friend's new one snapped when he had to stop suddenly going down a hill with two horses in so would avoid them like the plague too.
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By law unless you are actually towing you must remove your tow bar in Switzerland, hence all towbars are removable there. Certainly my friend has never had any issues towing her Ifor 510 with two large ponies in it.
 
conniegirl said:
It was the landrover that had the big recall on the removable towballs.
Something about the towbar snapping off if used for heavy loads.
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They had one or two not correctly fitted by owners or when putting very excessive nose weights on a trailer so they had a voluntary check carried out . Landrover on the whole over engineer their towing equipment. They were not for towbars snapping as you describe!
 
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conniegirl said:
erm there were several cases reported of the towbar coming off whilst towing!
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/horse-trailer-detachable-towbars-452406
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?600140-Tow-bars-failing-on-landrover-discovery
http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic114609-30.html
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Theres a difference between a snapped towbar and one not fitted properly or dangerously over loaded. None of the towbars actually snapped! I can only imagine you did not read the responses on the Disco3 link. The biggest issue with LR dtachable towbars is people try to nick them and there integrity should be checked every time you hitch up.
 
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popsdosh said:
Theres a difference between a snapped towbar and one not fitted properly or dangerously over loaded. None of the towbars actually snapped! I can only imagine you did not read the responses on the Disco3 link. The biggest issue with LR dtachable towbars is people try to nick them and there integrity should be checked every time you hitch up.
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I read some of them. The biggest problem IMO is that they are difficult if not impossible for a non mechanic to put on and off correctly, they dont come with instructions oh and the fact that it appears that landrover wont check them in a normal service.
 
conniegirl said:
I read some of them. The biggest problem IMO is that they are difficult if not impossible for a non mechanic to put on and off correctly, they dont come with instructions oh and the fact that it appears that landrover wont check them in a normal service.
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They go on and come off very easily if they are kept free of corrosion and not left on all the time . If kept clean they adjust themselves ,its a bit like checking other things on your vehicle . Dont know if you are aware the landrover fixed towbar still uses that mechanism to lock into just has two extra stays .
 
popsdosh said:
They go on and come off very easily if they are kept free of corrosion and not left on all the time . If kept clean they adjust themselves ,its a bit like checking other things on your vehicle . Dont know if you are aware the landrover fixed towbar still uses that mechanism to lock into just has two extra stays .
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I dont have and never will own a landrover after an awful experience at one of thier dealerships, so it doesnt affect me personally but people should be aware, particularly as landrover are useless at telling you that the tow bar should not be left on.
 
AnitaStreet said:
So Popsdosh - in your opinion I should remove the tow bar each time I use it to keep it rust free etc? BTW it's a Merc one, not LR!
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Yes it also stops them being stolen ! although they lock they can be removed in about 30 seconds with a drill !

They were made by the same supplier not sure if thats still the case
 
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