Towbar storage

[irondoc]

New D4! Just some minor questions;

The towbar doesn't seem to go into its compartment very well - it looks like it was designed for the UK "J" towbar and seems to bulge the panel out a bit.

Anyone have a photo of how it is supposed to be stored?

cheers
lucas

[Graeme]

Mine came with a bag that clips to a hold-down loop. I store it in a 3rd row footwell if it might be needed but usually its not carried.

[irondoc]

i've got that too, but what about the actual removable towbar receiver? it doesn't seem to have a moulded space for it to fit into

[Graeme]

Ah, mine stays fitted as its used often.

[101RRS]

I store mine in a cloth shopping bag under the second row seats.

[roamer]

If ya mean fitting it into the styrene moulded section in the LHR panel,
The moulded bit seems to be for the old D3 plough , bit of an oversite on LR behalf.

Cheers Ken

[Graeme]

I determined that the holder was useless so removed the bracket to obtain quite a useful storage area. Also a weight reduction!

[Beamin]

My D4 was delivered without this tow attachment or the styrofoam carrier. After much consternation about how on earth I could fit a bike carrier on the back, I was helpfully informed by another dealer that some of these had been left out of vehicles delivered to customers. Quickly fixed under warranty, but once fitted, the job of fitting the tow attachment back into the styrofoam carrier arose soon after and tested my grasp of 7-dimensional physics.

Many sessions of trial and error with equal measures of dumb luck have demonstrated that the said implement does in fact fit back into the cubby hole neatly and snugly without bending or breaking anything, but I still have absolutely no idea how and there's no chance of reproducing the required choreography or trying to explain it to anyone. It just sometimes works perfectly for no rhyme or reason. Some might call this "magic". I normally say "huh?"

However, I did notice in the fitting instructions on the warranty sheet that the styrofoam must be cut from its original cast form to fit the implement we get here in Oz, so if there is no sign of rough hacking out of bits from various parts of the styrofoam carrier, chances are the job is incomplete and the tow thingy won't fit no matter which dimensions you put it through.

Enjoy the magic.

[trif]

Perhaps my car is a bit of an aberration but the tow adaptor seems to fit nice and neatly in its cubby hole. I can't see any styrofoam adjustments. I've taken it out a couple of times and it seems to return easily each time.

[irondoc]

ahhh thanks heaps for that photo - it makes sense now - i tried a few different ways, but there were wires and other stuff in the way, but seeing your photo and wiggling the wires a bit means that it fits and the panel latches on smoothly

cheers
lucas

[jonesfam]

A little off topic but what is the round black thingy in the back of that space?
Jonesfam

[gedaso]

Perhaps my car is a bit of an aberration but the tow adaptor seems to fit nice and neatly in its cubby hole. I can't see any styrofoam adjustments. I've taken it out a couple of times and it seems to return easily each time.
What you have nicely stowed away is just the "plough" that locks into the back of the vehicle. Where do you store the actual tow bar and ball though (i.e. the 2 inch square piece of steel and the ball) ???

[trif]

What you have nicely stowed away is just the "plough" that locks into the back of the vehicle. Where do you store the actual tow bar and ball though (i.e. the 2 inch square piece of steel and the ball) ???

Hi Gedaso,

Yes, that's true. The photo indicates the tow adaptor stowed away in its correct location. I was answering Irondoc's original question.

For now l have the tow hitch itself (and ancillary pieces) stowed in its vinyl carry bag just above that cubby hole. It depends how often you tow though l guess. It could be kept in the garage until needed.

Regards Trif.

[bbyer]

A little off topic but what is the round black thingy in the back of that space? Jonesfam Would you be referring to the heater and air conditioner fan that is an optional upgrade related to the third row of seats?

[jonesfam]

That would be the thingy I was enquiring about. I have it but didn't know what it was. I suppose you worked it out from my use of the correct technical terms.
Thanks bbyer.
Jonesfam

[bbyer]

That would be the thingy I was enquiring about. I have it but didn't know what it was. I suppose you worked it out from my use of the correct technical terms. Thanks bbyer. Jonesfam Below is a jpg of the water drain tube that drips water down on top of the left side muffler heat shield or thereabouts, and hence is why one rarely sees any water dripping from the rear when the AC is working.

Also included is a cut thru drawing of the heater air conditioner assembly. The hot water hose path parallels the right side near the door sills and the air conditioner pipes, similarly , but on the left side from the engine compartment. All the hoses and pipes enter thru the same opening in the sheet metal that the water drain exits thru.

I have often wondered on vehicles that do not have the rear fan assembly, if the opening thru the lower sheet metal for the pipes is still there, but plugged with a solid rubber grommet. If so, that strikes me as an alternative exit or entry for power cables and the like.

[barracudaJB]

I have mine in a Pelican Tool Box strapped down on the Luggage hitch loops. I keep my tow bar, tools, straps for roof racks and ropes etc inside also. Easy access when I need it in my D3 TDV6.

Cheers

[Brewshack]

It is clearly moulded for the GB tow bar so I pulled the polystyrene out and reshaped it a bit with a wood saw and bread knife. Fits much better now.

[GBD4]

Thanks for this....very helpful photograph!

Gary