Hi all, which would you say is the best/strongest tow bar setup?
as a member of SE 4X4 Response, occasions arise when we're deployed to tow various trailers or in bad weather assist stranded vehicles, I would also need to fit a ball/pin setup for this.

Dave DAVE.

All tow bars are built to perform to the cars manufactured specifications, there will be no information for exceeding them, I would suggest 2000Kg is the absolute limit as the car is capable of towing that load and the worst condition is the depart angle, though your transmission is more at risk than your tow bar my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

Thank you Dartman, I'm aware of Manufacturing specifications and use, also the vehicle legal towing limits,
none adherence to these would render our group insurance null and void.
But what I have seen are an assortment of fitted tow bars and wondered if any where better than others. DAVE.

I've a fixed tow bar
I had the misfortune of having to be winched out, attached to the tow bar bracket not the ball
Tow bar did not bend


 2008 xs
Snorkel
raised axle/gearbox breathers
Mantec tank guard
Cb radio
Blanked EGR
Sump guard
Scratches
Snolkle

Is any particular make better than others? I've seen setups with single bar and with two bars (triangular)
and is the fitting to vehicle the same on all?
Dave DAVE.

All tow bars fit to the same mounting points my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

Cheers Dartman and CQR I see on the forum Witter is very popular brand, but I also need to make sure it doesn't interfere with the reversing sensors.
Dave DAVE.

Should you use the dedicated electrics it won't, if you are not going to fit electrics then it will depend on the distance the tow is from the bumper, the rear sensors only operate in reverse. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

So OK, for the electrics the dedicated programmed setup is a must. Dave DAVE.

On the Freelander 2, the rear parking sensors are not affected by the presence of the tow ball, of whatever make. Dedicated wiring disables the sensor when a connected trailer is detected.

My car has a fixed Witter flange tow bar. AFAIK it is the only brand to have two plates mounted triangle fashion to which the tow ball flange is mounted. Most other fixed flange bars seem to have a single square tube arm only. Although all bars are made to meet the same specs, IMO the Witter bar is the stronger if subjected to excess lateral forces, which the single square tube bars have no real defence against. None appear as strong as those fitted to Discos or Defenders though! As said before, your limit is only 2 tons of course! Remember, all fixed bars will limit your departure angle.

Strictly speaking, the tow bar is designed for towing only. For recovery work, the towing eye is considered to be your stronger option.

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

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

We have a LR standard fit removable tow ball - OK not much good if you need a ball and pin.

I have on occasion towed a fully laded VW transporter out of a ditch - think laden Transit.
Towed a laden 110 and 3 passengers off a tree stump, and then across a badly rutted field to hard ground - passengers didn't want to get out as they didn't like the look of the mud.

Or you could attach a climbing rope to a tree that was partially cut through with a short bar chain saw, this rope would have to be looped round several times. then drive away until the rear wheels lift off the ground, as the rear wheels lift you loose traction and the elastic climbing rope drags you back several meters. drive off again and repeat for an hour or so.
tree gave up in the end. Tow bar and mounting checked and nothing had come loose / bent / cracked.

The point is the standard bar and mounts are capable of a lot more than 2 tonnes, think about it, a 2 tonne trailer at 60-70mph can potentially exert a lot more force than 4 tonnes at 6-7mph, which is the speed at which I would suggest off road recovery takes place at. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

FL2's can tow 24 ton apparently, must have been an auto!?

ive bent a witter tow bar the type with the triangle bars,reversing a tractor trailer with 2 big bales on,the the towing ring on the trailer butted up against the bolt heads of the ball and pin,and the angle was such,45 degrees,it bent.It bent back ok by reversing the opposite way to bend it straight,no doubt its weakened,but lesson learned.i mentioned it to a pal in the trade and he has had this happen before.

Andy131 wrote:

We have a LR standard fit removable tow ball - OK not much good if you need a ball and pin.

I have on occasion towed a fully laded VW transporter out of a ditch - think laden Transit.
Towed a laden 110 and 3 passengers off a tree stump, and then across a badly rutted field to hard ground - passengers didn't want to get out as they didn't like the look of the mud.

Or you could attach a climbing rope to a tree that was partially cut through with a short bar chain saw, this rope would have to be looped round several times. then drive away until the rear wheels lift off the ground, as the rear wheels lift you loose traction and the elastic climbing rope drags you back several meters. drive off again and repeat for an hour or so.
tree gave up in the end. Tow bar and mounting checked and nothing had come loose / bent / cracked.

The point is the standard bar and mounts are capable of a lot more than 2 tonnes, think about it, a 2 tonne trailer at 60-70mph can potentially exert a lot more force than 4 tonnes at 6-7mph, which is the speed at which I would suggest off road recovery takes place at.

Steven.T wrote:

FL2's can tow 24 ton apparently, must have been an auto!?