RRS towbar attachment falling out - twice!

[jwhampson]

A friend of mine has a 2009 RRS where the towbar attachment has disconnected from the car twice. In both cases he was towing a boat (well under the towbar rating) anf fortunately there was no damage, but you can appreciate how dangerous this failure can be.

The small pin was in the extended position and the green handle was indicating locked (no red showing) and the key was removed. He took it to Land Rover immediately after the first incident but they could find nothing wrong, and commented that is the first time they have heard of a disconnection.

Has anyone heard of a similar problem? I think the towbar attachment is the same as on the D3.

Has anyone replaced the Land Rover plug-in towbar attachment with a fixed towbar on a RRS, such as the Mitchell hitch?

[101RRS]

I recently read where it has happened in Aust a few times - including towing a large van where to lot ended crashed. Another the trailer was held by the chains and the car was able to stop but with a lot of damage to the back of the car where the A frame bashed against the rear of the car.

I have a Mitch hitch on my RRS and it works fine.

Garry

[jwhampson]

Thanks for your info, Gary. Do you recall wherer you read of these disconnections?
John

[brad72]

It sounds very much like the pin on the attachment didn't fire all the way into the receptacle on the car. This could be caused by dirt build up inside the top of the receptacle holding the male part down a bit, a sticky pin or just getting caught on the lead of the pin, thereby enabling the pin to slowly retract.

Perhaps we should all get into the habit of cleaning the towbar receptacle and greasing the pin every now and then.

Regarding the key and locking, regardless of how far the pin has fired out or the position of the green handle the key can be locked and removed.

This is on the D4 so i would assume the D3 would be the same

[101RRS]

Thanks for your info, Gary. Do you recall wherer you read of these disconnections?
John

Sorry no - but was only in the past month. Clearly these issues are happening and I would have thought it should be a safety recall.

Garry

[Tote]

Might be a good practice to leave the red blanking cover in when not in use although it dosent have the most secure attachment either.....

Regards,
Tote

[NavyDiver]

A friend of mine has a 2009 RRS where the towbar attachment has disconnected from the car twice. In both cases he was towing a boat (well under the towbar rating) anf fortunately there was no damage, but you can appreciate how dangerous this failure can be.

The small pin was in the extended position and the green handle was indicating locked (no red showing) and the key was removed. He took it to Land Rover immediately after the first incident but they could find nothing wrong, and commented that is the first time they have heard of a disconnection.

Has anyone heard of a similar problem? I think the towbar attachment is the same as on the D3.

Has anyone replaced the Land Rover plug-in towbar attachment with a fixed towbar on a RRS, such as the Mitchell hitch?
Put a Mitchell Brothers hitch on my D3- love it. You might like to call or have a look at the site which says if is for a RSS (http://store.mitchellbros.com.au/discovery-3-4-and-rrs/discovery-3-tow-hitch) as well as a D3

[stig0000]

never herd of such a thing, normaly were allways getting complants the other way around of they cant get the towbar out;)

im with the other guy saying there must of been somthing in the hole that the locking bar gose into, or some how not fitted correct, witch is easy done,

[buz01]

I met a D4 owner which had his tow tongue fall out with a 2.5 t van in tow, needless to say he was not happy!

I can recommend the "Mitch hitch" it wont fall off!!

[mowog]

I raised this issue with my Dealer (Austral Brisbane) they are aware of one case or so they say. Their take on it is a casting issue where there might be some casting sections that block full engagement of the locking pin.

My D4 is in today getting this checked. I have van that can weigh up to 3.5 ton so I don't really want any surprises.