Detachable Discovery Tow Hook

[PETERA]

Anyone out there with a Discovery 3 that uses a detachable towing hook. I bought a new hook with the 06 Discovery 3 when purchased last year. I haven't had a chance to use it yet as the our first van is not due for delivery until April. I have attached the hook as instructed by the manual and all seems well. I suppose the question is. Do these hooks ever come off when towing ?
Maybe I'm being over cautious but I don't want my first experiance towing to end up with the hook dropping off and losing a very expensive van to boot.
Also when I bought the tug I had to have the electrics fitted as the vehicle hadn't towed before. As with the hook these have never been put to the test.

Is there any place I can get both bit of kit tested before I tow ?

Any reasurances or advice very welcome.

PETERA

 

[C4F]

I have been towing with a detachable towbar for abaout 3 years and never had a problem we went onto the detachable type as reccommended by a friend who has been towing for 20 years plus with out any problems.

 

[NigelHutson]

Petera,
I have the D3 with detachable tow bar. Touch wood, I've not had any issues with it. If you make sure it "clicks" into place, and then lock it (removing the key) you should be fine. On occasions I have noticed very slight play, (allowing a little "rattle") but on checking other D3's (and some other cars for that matter) that doesn't seem to be abnormal. We've towed thousands of miles without any issue (keeps fingers crossed!!).
With regards to the electrics, were they fitted by a LR Stealer? If so, all should be fine. However, if not you might find that things will have to be activated by said Stealer so that they all work properly - reversing sensors cut out for instance.
Nigel.

 

[Oldsalt49]

I had a 13 pin socket fitted to my Discovery 3 by the supplying dealer. Unfortunately the first time I connected up, the caravan lights failed to work properly. With the help of members on the www.disco3.co.uk forum, I discovered the dealer had fitted the towing electrics for a Discovery 4. When I returned to the dealer they fitted the correct set-up and all is ok. On the way home I stopped off at Cranham Caravans and they kindly connected their test board to my Discovery to ease my mind. My detachable towbar has worked perfectly everytime and is a very solid arrangement. I enquired on the disco3 forum, and there are no reports of towbars dropping out. If your towbar has the orange keys, then you have the latest design. The ones with green keys, I believe were subject to recall due to a fault.
Overall I am very happy with my Discovery 3, its towing abilities are awesome, and after 25 years of caravanning can honestly say the best towcar I have experienced.

 

[OmOnWeelz]

We have had detachable tow balls for a long long time, never had any problems or concerns.
We've had two Disco 3 and a Disco 4 with the detachable tow balls.
The tow balls and brackets were 100% fine, the Disco's were just the crappy part the hitches were attacthed to

Got our money back on the 4 in the end. Great tugs, but only if and when working or not at the fuel pumps

 

[ChrisUK]

I have a detachble towball and have no problems in 3 years, although I had your concerns at first. I did change from the looping of the breakaway cable around the towball to a shackle on the tow bar however. So if the towball did come off , the chain would still work.

 

[PETERA]

Many thanks for the advice.

Mine is the one with the orange keys so all should be well. Goood advice on the test board. I'll pop into the local Caravan dealer and ask the same.
I certainly feel happier now

Regards

PETERA

 

[Carwyn]

Had a Disco 3 and 4 for over four years and no issues with the detachable tow bar which I carried over from one to the other. There's a wonderful form called disco3.co.uk which well worth joining if you haven't already.