Thread: Disappointed with Towbar

I feel for you.
I built my own trailer from scratch,all I needed to do was apply for a vin no to licence it.Its not a basic garden trailer either,licenced to 2 tonnes with electric brakes on a single axle.
Boat trailers are simple.
Andrew

Originally Posted by Walruslike

... I still need to attach an additional two bulb indicators so the computer recognises there is a trailer attached.

As mentioned earlier, you don't need to add extra bulbs (although that will fix the issue), just add load restistors in parallel across the indicator circuit.

There's lots of info in the D3/D4 forum on the various things people have done depending on whether they tow trailers with either bulbs and LEDs or just LEDs. Some intall the reistors permantly on the trailer others put them in the car with a switch to disbale them when towing a trailer with bulbs. Anyway lots of options.

These are what you would be after:
12v 21w resistor - Google Search

I thought I would put bulbs because I don't get any benefit from a resistor but do get some from additional side mounted indicators.

After exhausting other options I'm going to replace the LR Towbar with a Hayman Reece. It will cost $990 plus difference between standard tongue and a longer and higher one.

So this is going to have cost $2700 tow install a towbar. Plus a couple of bulbs and a bunch of phone calls and visits.

Don't buy the Landrover towbar. I will have one for sale soon.

Hey, can anyone tell me whether the new bulbs should be in parallel or series to the LED lights?

I believe from my reading that the cpu tests the indicator circuit when the drivers door is opened. So the bulbs need to be indicators not tail lights or stop lights. That's my understanding anyway.

Also someone said if you didn't have trailer detected you can just turn off the reversing beep by a button. Did they mean on the screen by touching off the various options on right side when reversing or something else?

Which brings up... if I got a codes tool would I be able to enable on the move navigation entry? Disable the bloody annoying door open beep?

Originally Posted by Walruslike

Hey, can anyone tell me whether the new bulbs should be in parallel or series to the LED lights?

Parallel

Thanks Aaron. Will do that.

Wooohoooo!!! Took Tombies'good suggestion of replacing the towbar. Speedy Towbars at Slacks Creek swapped out he Land Rover one and put in a 50mm with extended out and up tongue. $990.

Probably could have got cheaper but he is only one who could do it on two days notice.

All rated past what I'm doing.... So now it's peace of mind. The LR European ugly white plug is hidden away and the whole thing looks and works heaps better now. I still have to sell the OEM bar... cost $644 but not sure what it's worth on Gumtree.

Still need to install bulbs to get the cpu detecting the trailer... that's next.

Weird thing happened while I was slowly creaking my way up the driveway and on to road looking at clearances etc. I don't think I touched it but the vehicle went into a different terrain setting... a ghost image of vehicle with blue front wheels to indicate steering direction came on. It was indicating Grass Gravel Snow setting on the centre console. Will read up on whether it can switch in itself...

Does anyone know if you can shut the damn distance detector tone off while reversing? It makes the noise even when no overlays like wheel lines etc are on the screen.

Although chastened by cost, I am so happy the vehicle can now tow the boat.

I just wish I had live readings of temps etc so that I would know if the vehicle is under excess strain while towing a big trip.

Anyway here is a piccie with clearance indicated by regulation workboot.

Great stuff.

My towbar arrived a couple of weeks ago and I'm yet to fit it.

However, I noticed something interesting.

Max towing 2000kg.
Ball weight 250kg!



Surely a mistake? To allow more than 10% of total weight as ball weight limit would be highly unusual.