Please excuse my ignorance,

I want to fit a genuine Freelander 2 Bike rack to my Freelander. What sort of tow bar do I need? Electrics? Light board...

Really not sure about all this.

Any advice would be mega.

Thanks

Ben

worth noting that Landrover just rebadge Thule bike carriers - the sales rep at Landrover told me this when i enquired about buying one (decent bloke!). Then bought one on ebay for a great price.

Bought mine with tow bar and electrics fitted and the Thule just connected up and worked a treat

I had a Thule 3 bike carrier and a Land Rover detachable Towbar with single 7 pin electrics, the rack came with all lights fitted just needed a number plate. FL2 SD4 Metropolis Auto Santorini Black / ivory completely stock.

It's true that light travels faster than sound, some people look quite intelligent until you hear them speak.


Stop global winging.

+1

For the to bar I reccomend the Witter author a detatchable swanneck its a quick fit fit with no cutting or drilling , DIY very easy.
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For electrics go for aftermarket by pass relay with 7 pin black socket.
This will allow bike rack with trailer board and all fog lights reverse sensors fully operational.
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The dedicated LR electrics is for towing vans where it will disable the park sensors and fog lights, might also disable the reverse lights. These special functions operate only when the trailer plug is inserted. For autos it also changes the gear change points - as you only want to fit a bike rack you are best to avoid the LR option.
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If you want to tow then the LR electrics comes into its own.
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Re the bike rack makers I have no idea.
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Hope this helps
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Kind regards from Fred
. 2010GS Auto ex Celeb, Santorini Black, 2011 facelift , spoiler, spats, mudflaps, LED footwell lamps, Witter detach,
Other cars:-
1958 & 1959 Austin J40 Pedal Cars under restoration (I make many J40 parts)
If you have an Austin J40 or Pathfinder Pedal Car looking for a new home pls PM me.
2009 Meriva

Ben

I have just fitted a Witter detachable swan neck tow bar to my FL. This is my second FL and the second time I have fitted the Witter - no bumper cut required and the Witter can be had with either a detachable swan neck or flange fitting.

I have Thule bike rack that is tow bar fitting and carries 3 bikes - not sure how close this is to the Land Rover one.

Couple of photos below.

HTH

Andrew

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Winslet,

I’m also thinking about how best to fit a bike carrier. The post was very interesting.

Could you help me:-

Which wiring harness did you buy from P.F. Jones and did you have to re-wire the tow ball socket?

Does the Thule come with a 7 pin plug and if so I presume you need an adaptor?

Thanks

John Gone: S1 TNB 664
Gone: S2
Gone: 110 Defender
Gone: TD5 Disco

Or consider a roof mounted carrier if you don't need the tow bar for other reasons. No need for a tow bar or light board, you can still open the tailgate with the bikes in situ, and the car still fits in a normal parking space with the reversing sensors working (just watch out for height restrictions). Cheaper too. Although I guess it does help if you're reasonably tall and/or carry something to stand on.

Thanks for the suggestion - trouble is I take the bikes on Brittany Ferries twice a year and they charge an extra £80 height supplement each time. Gone: S1 TNB 664
Gone: S2
Gone: 110 Defender
Gone: TD5 Disco

Yes, that would rather add up, wouldn't it!

To both the new posters above - it's a good idea to update your details so that we can see which car model you have (wave a mouse over the little FR2 on the left of this post and you'll see which model I have). With towbars it does make a difference, as MY13 cars have plug and play electrics, but on earlier cars the electrics have to be enabled by a LR dealer (at a price).
Edit - sorry JohnD, I see you've done that!

I just fitted a PCT towbar from pfjones - very helpful they were too...
I have a'13 model, and the plug and play electrics work (13 pin with a 7 pin adaptor)- you only need dealer intervention to change the programming if you want the rear sensors to go off when you have something plugged in/attached - seeing as its more often a bike rack than the trailer I can live with that....If only I can turn down the rear parking sensor volume...
Oh and need to work out where to put the socket as its not going to live very long if I head into some ruts... 2000 Xei 1.8 gone
2004 HSE Td4 Auto, MT's, sump guard, sliderz - gone
2014 GS Man - AT's, Mantec Sump guard and tank guard, split charger in boot, towbar, work in progress...

pab wrote:

you can still open the tailgate with the bikes in situ

That's the type I had very usefull. FL2 SD4 Metropolis Auto Santorini Black / ivory completely stock.

It's true that light travels faster than sound, some people look quite intelligent until you hear them speak.


Stop global winging.

The genuine LR cycle carrier (Pre thule), attaches to the Fixed towbar - there should be a pic in my gallery

I may have one for sale this week......
Depends if it will fit on the Witter Towbar I am having installed tomorrow.