Hi, is it/should it be possible to remove an OEM tow bar cleanly without any cuts to wiring, or other damage, leaving it in a condition for resale as a complete unit?

Is there any mandatory coding required post removal?

Thanks

It should be possible to remove it all without damage to the towbar, towing electrics and your car.

Regarding the electrics, I dont think removing it will affect your car.

There are 3 versions of the OEM tow electrics. I've had all three over the years. The first version had an extra loom, junction box, extra fuses and required coding to work. The middle one was a half way house and only required coding to cancel the reversing sensors - I never bothered with that. The last version was entirely plug-n-play.

IIRC the OEM tow bars required the bumper to come off.

Mine is a Witter and didnt require anything to be removed. I just transferred it to new new FL2s. Jules

Probably best to remove all the tow electrics and then remove the towbar.

I had my towbar stripped as the original coating never lasts on these things and then I painted Hammerite on it. Jules

What sort of money will you be looking for and what year is yours?

Thanks Jules

Woodwizzard, not sure at this point. I need to see how much it will cost to get removed, and what value it might add to the trade in, if any, which is why I am looking to see if it is worth getting it removed and selling separately. It was fitted new Nov 2016 as part of accident damage repairs. It's the detachable type.

Hi,
dont think it will add anything to a trade in price

pvt sale it may help with the sale if the new owner needs a towbar but you can always offer it to then be re-fitted if needed
and if you do trade it in, do so without the towbar.

 .
my first ever FL2 and I did keep it longer than most other cars!
But its now gone way up Norf

The other way of looking at this issue, is to know how to fit a tow bar.

YouTube short video of the 'Krankies' doing just that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa-zrS27XI

Good Luck

Perhaps Tow Bar brand dependent but my LR (Brink??) branded one needed a small cut out in the bottom edge of the bumper.

If it is removed I imagine the bumper cut will be evident but if not, anything more than a cursory inspection would give the game away re tow bar removal.

SimonB wrote:

Hi, is it/should it be possible to remove an OEM tow bar cleanly without any cuts to wiring, or other damage, leaving it in a condition for resale as a complete unit?

Is there any mandatory coding required post removal? a tow bar.(plus it was an hse)!

Thanks

A belated thanks for everyone's feedback.

Just to close this one out, particularly for woodwizzard, I will be leaving the towbar on. I was worried about the effect of the cut bumper on any PX offer, and in the end I got a higher PX offer than I was expecting so I consider that made up for the loss of any profit on a private sale of the towbar.

I did remove the spare and jack for the valuation, but suprisingly the salesmen showed very little interest in the interior and didn't even open the boot.

It's always a bonus if your used car comes with a oem towbar but dealers won't give you anything extra on a trade in just because it has one. I'd still be inclined to remove it, assuming it hasn't left you yet. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)