Hi,

I've picked up a lot of information on here regarding towbar fitting. I just have one remaining query and wondered if anyone can help.

I'd like to fit a towbar to my 2009GS but only for carrying bikes (bike rack + lighting board). I'd like to use dedicated electrics to avoid any cutting into the car's wiring.

However, I don't want the dedicated electrics to trigger any special towing mode, for example anything that affects the stability control settings. I can see why that makes sense if you're towing a caravan, but with just a bike rack on the towbar, i.e. non-articulated, it probably doesn't.

Does anyone happen to know whether, if you have the dedicated towing electrics fitted, a towing mode is triggered when you have something plugged into the towbar electrics?

Mark

Hopefully someone can confirm this but my understanding is that if you use dedicated electrics you need a software update to activate special features so if you don't bother with that it will do what you want. The only issue you will have is rear sensors beeping with bikes on but you can manually cancel it with dash switch  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

It seems to be pot-luck whether the lights work when the module is plugged in before being enabled. I fitted a used module and nothing worked while others have reported that all lights and indicators work without enabling. The cost of enabling by a dealer is usually about £50 for half an hours work. I don't know whether it is possible to have the module enabled so that just the lights work without any other effects on stability etc. JLT should have a switch that allows selection between a loaded trailer and just a cycle rack light bar. - 2007(57) XS Auto, Rimini Red, Alpaca Leather.
- GCS Hawke - Sports, BRG, Vulcan 2.1 inj'. My toy - built it myself in 2001.

Thanks both for your information and help. It sounds like the best-bet might be to go ahead without programming and see what happens. If lights work then that's the main thing, I can put up with sensors going off in reverse, and if it's not being recoded then hopefully no settings affected.
I agree - if 'towbar connected mode' changes car characteristics then a switch to indicate what's on the towbar would be really useful!

Mark

Mark, TBH, if you are not planning to tow large trailers such as caravans, I would save my money and go the "by pass relay" route. My previous FL2 had this and it worked perfectly well.

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

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

I used the bypass relay method for garden trailer when I had mine and was just the job

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic2122.html?highlight=towbar Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

Thanks for passing on your experiences with the bypass relay, good to hear it hasn't caused problems so maybe I should be saving my money. I definitely wouldn't be towing anything large, certainly only bikes for the foreseeable future.
Mark

I would concurr with the other members above that for your application a bypass relay is 100% correct solution.
.
The two reasons to go the LR electrics route are:-
1/. If you Freelie is under LR warranty
2/. If you have an Auto of any year and wish to tow a large trailer or caravan due to the fact that the auto box chooses 'towing mode' when trailer electrics are plugged in.
.
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

Thanks Fred - ironically that 'towing mode' is exactly what I'm trying to avoid and a bypass would ensure that it doesn't trigger. I hadn't wanted to have main wiring loom spliced into, but sounds like many have done this without a problem.
Mark

Mark - in your case, "towing mode" won't happen, you have a manual transmission!

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

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