Is removal of the rear bumper always necessary to fit a tow bar on a 59 plate FL2 (irrespective of towbar make/design)?

No I think some brands you can leave the bumper in place as the left hand reflector bumper insert can be removed to access the mounting bolt points for the left hand side. All other bolts can be accessed with bumper on

Hi
Space is right about leaving the bumper in situ

I fitted a witter detachable flange bar to my 63 plate Freelander, quite easy did not need to take bumper off, but not sure about other bars, The Witter is a good bar but it says only 120kg on the towball.

There was a new boxed bar on ebay for £180. I used genuine LR electrics (£90) and mine plugged straight in with no visit to LR for upgrade but I think older cars need a visit.

If I was fitting a new bar I would use a BRINK they manufacture the genuine LR bar but I think bumper needs to come of fand no reduction in nose weight.PF Jones on e bay a good place to look
Richard

I had to ask Google what a '59 plate' is. Apparently it means late 2010/early 2011? It really would make life easier for folks outside GB if the model year was used.

If it is a 2010/2011 car then the LR cable harness, if you can find one, is around £160, plus the trailer module needs switched on by a dealer or someone with a necessary equipment. I’ve just bought a Witter towbar and vehicle specific electrics from P F Jones and the towbar does not need a bumper cut, just two holes drilled behind the near side reflector as mentioned above. I haven’t checked the nose weight label but the P F Jones website says 150kg.

Richard Willetts wrote:

If I was fitting a new bar I would use a BRINK they manufacture the genuine LR bar

Thule bought Brink in 2006 and until 2016 used the Thule brand name. Since then they reverted to Brink.



I’ve just checked my Witter bar and it says 125kg in the sticker but on the Witter website they say 150kg. More investigation needed!

I contacted Witter about the 125kg load and although the website states 150kg they said the ball was restricted to the lower weight, this to me is misleading as I thought I was getting a nose weight limit of 150kg this was the main reason for a Freelander.

Thats why I would go Brink fixed, but not detachable as I have heard they clunk a bit.
With the Brink its 150kg
Richard

More than misleading, I would say. Dishonest is a better description! I wonder how they cope with the additional 100kg that Land Rover allow provided the Gross Maximum Weight is reduced by the same amount?

The Witter fitting instructions say “Please refer to the vehicle specification for the trailer weight and nose limits, which must be observed.” I can’t observe a Land Rover nose weight limit of 150kg if the towbar is apparently only Type Approved for 125kg.

Furthermore on the second page of the fitting instructions it states the S-value is 150kg.

Witter also state quite clearly in the technical specification on their website that the S value is 150kg.

Not worth the insurance risk

Today a genuine Land Rover bar fitted with correct S values 150kg bar and ball not as neat as a Witter with clean lines

Witter detachable for sale still a great bar and very capable bar and it will take the weight if needed if you dont need 150kg approved just 125kg S value

Agreed, Richard. Having not been able to make contact by telephone with anyone at the Vehicle Certification Agency I wrote (by recorded delivery or whatever it’s called these days) to the CEO, Mrs Pia Filkes, last week but as yet no response.

I shall not give up!

The Brink bar came Stamped as a Land Rover genuine bar very pleased. Weighed Caravan nose weight today 98kg and 2 bikes on the bar another 30kg all legal and worry free.

I worked in the insurance industry for 30 years and if there was a claim its a perfect get out clause for an insurance company, you need to disclose all material facts asked for or not, its no good being ignorant.

Insurance companies are quiet happy to meet there liabilities provided they know what risk they are taking on

The witter tow bar is not up to the job even though Witter say it is, (they are out of order), legally with a S value stamped on it at 125kg thats the limit.

It’s not an actual problem for me as my trailer nose weight is comfortably under 100kg (it depends how much fuel is in the tank of the car on/in the trailer) but it’s the principle. I paid for a towbar with a 150kg nose weight and that’s what I expect to have - not one with a 125kg limit.

Totally Agree
Simon

My MY2010 (OK Simon J ) HSE had a Thule/Brink LR branded detachable bar when I bought it. It clunked with the caravan fitted. I binned it and fitted a second hand Witter fixed bar with Alko bolt on Ball. On both the S value is 150kg.  10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

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

Thanks for the info re MY 2010

It would have been easy enough to have got a flange bar fitted as a 150kg ball is readily available but as I only expect to use the towbar a few times a year to tow my car trailer I opted for a detachable ball. And while I doubt I’ll ever exceed the 125kg on the ball it should be a 150kg ball. I’m still waiting for a reply from the Vehicle Certification Agency.