HappyNomad wrote:

NA1959 wrote:

I read this with great interest as I have just bought a 2008 HSE auto and like you scribble live in NI! I have been a bit wary of contacts I have made with towbar fitters as none can explain how the electrics connect and how the sensor etc etc work after fitting!

I am toying with buying LR towbar and electrics and fitting my self

It is a really easy DIY job. The LR towbar (Brink) needs a small bumper cut but there is at least one other make that doesn't.

LR electrics are the way to go every time and again, a really easy plug and play job (remembering the module activation after installation by your local LR dealer or anybody else suitably equipped to do the job).

Worth the little extra cost to know the thing will do all it is supposed to without hacking into existing wiring.

Yelnats69 wrote:

I want to fit a tow bar to my 2008 HSE auto diesel .
I see plenty of post on the subject, but can find exactly what is required of the electrics.

Can any member suggest where to buy the items required and how much?

What's a good source of the electric kit,

Any members fitted bars themselves,

I am in Folkestone Kent any dealers that specialise in fitting tow bars,

Members seem to recommend the witter detachable?????

I would prefer to go the non main dealer route.

What do the main dealers charge to set up the software for towing,

My story is here http://www.freel2.com/forum/post279396.html#279396 complete with part numbers and where to buy etc
The wiring is an absolute doddle literally plug and play on MY13
I have a "spare" genuine LR 13 pin wire with all connectors that is used but servicable  No Longer the owner of a 2013MY Fuji White GS

"Fiat Lux" a philosophy not a car

Yelnats69 has an 08! Sadly not plug & play. Will need programming once fitted. 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

I know that I never said HIS was plug n play I was pointing out that MINE was

The point I was making is that the wiring is a doddle - activation may be needed - but no special skills are required to thread through a cable (existing hole in floor pan) secure the supplied grommet that is on the wire to weather proof it and then clip the connector into the existing socket. At the other end secure the 13 pin OR 7 pin socket (already attached to the wire) to the towbar - it literally takes minutes! No Longer the owner of a 2013MY Fuji White GS

"Fiat Lux" a philosophy not a car

Calm down now! Calm down! yelnats69 is a relatively new poster and can be confused by the different models. His is an 08 (similar to mine) which WILL need programming. I have already pointed him in the right direction for an appropriate electrics kit "Right Connection" or LR. PF Jones can offer several bars. Their web site makes it clear fitment is easy. Should be a walk in the park.

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

By way of update on this - and I'm not sure this will be the definitive answer for all 2008 model owners, but...

The car was taken back to the fitters to have the problem fixed - there were several excuses/reasons offered for what might have been the problem, but they had it sorted in less than 30 mins so couldn't have been too difficult.

So I now have tow bar electrics installed, the parking sensors work again and the trailers lights all work as expected. The dash does not indicate a trailer present, and the parking sensors do not automatically disable when the trailer is attached. However, that is not a major problem since the parking button does that easy enough. I also suspect the trailer stability program is not active. However, I did not need to take it to the dealer to have a software update done to enable the electrics or restore the parking sensors. I assume the missing functions would become active with the software update.

I will probably get the update done in due course but everything is functional enough at the moment.

Glad it's all working for you. Presumably the tow bar company have fitted an audible trailer indicator warning device (a warning device, either audible or visual is required by law).

What you have is the basic functions provided by non dedicated electrics. Sadly, no amount of programming will enable the the additional features provided by the dedicated kit. (OEM style plug in towing module rather than scotchlok'd kit).

scotchlok'd kit. Those were the days  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Yorky Bob wrote:

scotchlok'd kit. Those were the days

scribble wrote:

turboextreme wrote:

How did the tow bar fitter connect the electrics?

Out of interest, which wire is used to detect the presence of the new tow bar electrics that causes the Land Rover to fault? I can see they have scotch block connected into the reverse, indicators and break lights so presumably one or all of these?

It appears that those days are still with us based on scribble's installation.

Yelnats69 wrote:

Would your information apply to the Jan 2008 model? Do these have the plug in the trunk,

What's the approx price a dealer charges to update the software for towing.

HappyNomad wrote:

Glad it's all working for you. Presumably the tow bar company have fitted an audible trailer indicator warning device (a warning device, either audible or visual is required by law).

What you have is the basic functions provided by non dedicated electrics. Sadly, no amount of programming will enable the the additional features provided by the dedicated kit. (OEM style plug in towing module rather than scotchlok'd kit).