tow hitch problem

Here's my WDH tow set up fitted to a 2006 coiler. The vehicle has 2 inch lift King Spring Coils, Heavy duty in the rear.

I fitted the D4 coupling (thanks to Redback for supplying) This cast steel coupling with its stronger shorter profile (unlike the older unavailable style plough) and the coil lift gives me all the clearance I require. Most of the issue with air suspension vehicles was clearance and obtainable ball height hence the very good solution in the Mitch Hitch. My tow ball is very close to the rear of the vehicle (Mitch Hitch protrude further) and is 520 high.

I tow a 2.5t Track-van caravan. The WDH and coupling attach solidly to the vehicle. When towing the rig is level and stable.

I have every faith in this set up. I make sure the hitch coupling is clean and functioning properly, that it locks into place and it is checked along with other routine checks while on the road.

For the people that are convinced that the failure of the LR hitch is material based ie cast. Have a look at what the Mitch Hitch is bolted to on the rear of the vehicle! its the same.

Cheers

Howard

Harlie....Vw have no issue (3500kg),

Not correct.....vw do not endorse use of wdh with airbags....it's in the manual and also advised by dealer.

New 2012 touareg don't endorse using wdh full stop....with or without airbags.

I have a 2008 without air and wdh is fantastic (I went for coil purely because I cold not use wdh with airbags...airbags try to mimic but not as well as they don't transfer the weight to the front)....it was supplied by vw and made by Hayman Reese (800 pound version). Was going to change to 2012 but vw are super clear on the non use of wdh with or without airbags (in the us and aus). Looks similar at the rear underneath (very strong mounting and a long way forward), so queried sales rep.....vw sales line is now ...no wdh at all now for the 2012.

I do agree the LR setup is crap.....fitted my Mitch hitch yesterday and much happier, even though it attaches to the cast fragile points on the hitch, the weight is spread much better over the whole area, and hoping as though the points won't be shock loaded, they should hold at maximim weight.

Brett....

Point of failure on LR hitch has not been the casting. It has been the attachment of the removable part to the cast part of the vehicle. It is also a rare failure.
Know of one case in UK of a vehicle that had to have the cast part replaced due to rust and this was on a a vehicle used for commercial car towing with 270,000miles on it. :eek:

If I remember correctly there have been three other reports on AULRO of issues.

There was one where a car towing a van went into a service station to get fuel and the tow hitch fell out with the van attached. There was another where the hitch (nothing attached) fell out of the hitch in the owners driveway after coming back from a drive. There there was the recent report where the actual casting cracked - oh there was the report of the separation of van from car but this was not a hitch issue but the casting where the safety chains were secured failed.

Whether there is an operator issue (should be failsafe) or a design issue or a combination of both a record of failure is starting to develop - how many have not been reported here??

Garry

Scouse - our D3 is always serviced at a LR Dealer so I presume all inspections are carried out - the paint - our vehicle is just out of warranty - although I had queried the paint prior to the expiry of warranty - the dealer at that time told me that it was already out of warranty!

LR are happy to fix the problems but only if we pay! I am atm not a happy customer although I love my D3 it has always performed well and the only problems we have had have been caused by human (technicians) error!!!!!

I believe the tow hitch problem is a major design flaw and as such LR should take responsibility before someone gets hurt! As I said I was unbelievably lucky that the float did not hit a passing car and cause a serious accident - it was quite a scary experience.

Land Rover are not alone with hitch failures and lack of recall.

Yup, Crush tube too long and so bush not able to be tightened. Batch issue I think. Now have a fatter pin too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roamer

Land Rover are not alone with hitch failures and lack of recall.

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This is off the Mitch hitch ?

How did you know that the bush was buggered....did you hear something ?

Brett...

Yes. I saw the result of one where the bolt had gone through. Top of hitch bent down and van stayed attached.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wardh

Here's my WDH tow set up fitted to a 2006 coiler. The vehicle has 2 inch lift King Spring Coils, Heavy duty in the rear.

I fitted the D4 coupling (thanks to Redback for supplying) This cast steel coupling with its stronger shorter profile (unlike the older unavailable style plough) and the coil lift gives me all the clearance I require. Most of the issue with air suspension vehicles was clearance and obtainable ball height hence the very good solution in the Mitch Hitch. My tow ball is very close to the rear of the vehicle (Mitch Hitch protrude further) and is 520 high.

I tow a 2.5t Track-van caravan. The WDH and coupling attach solidly to the vehicle. When towing the rig is level and stable.

I have every faith in this set up. I make sure the hitch coupling is clean and functioning properly, that it locks into place and it is checked along with other routine checks while on the road.

For the people that are convinced that the failure of the LR hitch is material based ie cast. Have a look at what the Mitch Hitch is bolted to on the rear of the vehicle! its the same.

Cheers

Howard

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Howard, your towball is tilted a fair bit forward. An engineer from Hayman Reese fitted my cam to my touareg and the ball points a little backwards...they indicated that in all cases the ball will point either directly up or backwards before using the bars. When you use the bars, if set correctly, the ball will move towards the upright position.

I am sure you have it right, but looked this way in the pic.

Brett.....