I used to tow my vans with Jaguars which had detachable tow bars and they never wore out or rattled and I covered thousands of miles towing the same size van as I tow with my FR2.

This thread has got me thinking...

We collect our 2010 F2 next week, and one of the deciding factors for this vehicle, over others we looked at. Was the original LR detachable towing bracket was already fitted, thus saving the cost of fitting our own towbar, as we tow a caravan.

IF this is not stamped 215, will the LR warrenty still cover the upgrade after a change in ownership? We are buying from a LR main dealer.

Hi Si,

If you are buying from a main dealer, they really should be supplying the upgrade to comply with service bulletin SM40971. I had no problem getting mine sorted (well actually I did as LR initially supplied the wrong one with the upgrade). LR can't deny there was a problem with a '311' as it was raised at at least regional manager level and Thule certainly informed me that a '215' was the correct fit. However, I have been informed that the very helpful 'Andy' at Thule is no longer there so I'm not sure how easy it will be to circumnavigate LR for an upgrade. It is only the swan-neck and receiver that is replaced so should not be too onerous a task.

The LR warranty will only cover the Towbar if it was fitted at the time or very soon after the vehicle was registered, if it was fitted later only a one year warranty applies. If you have a problem like I did you will need to harass Thule but as it has been mentioned Andy has since left Thule and the guy who has taken over his duties is less charitable, hence the reason I changed the Thule one on mine to a Westfalia Towbar.

Thank's chaps. I'll have to wait and see whether the swan is a 215 or a 311, when we collect the F2 next week. The way my luck works, I don't think I even need look....

It makes no difference if you have 311 or 215 they both fail, I've had a pair of each.

You know, you an go off people....

It's a 215, so fingers crossed it'll be OK.....

Both 215's I had failed

picked my new car up 12 days ago, tow bar fitted is 311 just called dealer with all the info of previous posts, service bulletin etc, and he asures me that i got latest version, however he has ordered onother to check and said he,s happy to change it over if it,s a 215.

Hello all - just popped over from Martin's other forum, Disco 3 as I'm negotiating on a FL2.

This thread interests me as I've had the detachable clonk for 4 years on my D3. I never thought of speaking to the Stealer about it, mainly lack of trust but now I reckon I should have done.....

I agree with the comment that removable/ detachable bars, by their very nature wear out, and you're lucky if you get more than a couple of years normal use. If you think about it, the forces involved in hauling a ton and a half - or more - about the place, are huge. It takes a monstrous piece of Clyde engineering to achieve it. It seems entirely likely that the redesigned receiver and bar mechanism WILL wear out in time, and result in a clonk again.

I'm not sure that ignoring the clonk would lead to failure. Look at the materials used in the kit, and you'll see that they're so heavily built, they're likely to go on clonking for a long time before they get to the point where they simply either won't mate up, or won't separate. That's the failure notice. Ignore that by using a sledgehammer to fit it, and then you'd be endangering those around you.

Tuppence worth said  .
.
....if you wait for it to go wrong , it's sure to oblige.

just been reading this thread on Disco3

http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic80952.html

apparently VOSA are involved with the JLR on removable tow-bar issues, and they are writing to owers [i assume D3 owners] to state that the removable tow-bars are for occasional use only

What make of Towbar do LR fit to the Disco
Also from what I've seen of the FFRR they look very similar to the Westfalia on mine, the reciever and the plastic dust cap is just about identical, anyone know

If you need a towbar fit a Whitter (removeable or fixed) had great service from them for 30+ years.
Chester Towbars fitted a Whitter removeable to my 57 plate at 6 months old and just had it swopped to my 09
in March my Williams LR in Manchester as part of the deal. Guy said it was in good order and 13 pin electrics still
in A1 condition.

Just been out to car and checked-no play and lock as good as the day it was fitted.

Bill T. Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

Is this the towbar that is being discussed here?



If so, could someone tell me where the numbers which identify the correct/incorrect type fitted are please.

Also, I don't have the key for mine. Just wondering if anyone can tell me where I might get a replacement please?


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