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Post by busymare on Nov 8, 2014 21:28:56 GMT
We have just got a new car and are planning on getting a towbar but have been told that as there are parking sensors we can only have a detachable towbar or the sensors would be constantly activated.
Now I just saw on fb a scary story about them coming detached when towing and suggesting that people only tow with fixed ones.
Does anyone use a detachable towbar and what have your experiences been? I am worried now...
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Post by larkhaven on Nov 8, 2014 22:00:12 GMT
There have been at least 2 bad incidents with detachable tow bars, one near us in the New Forest. It seems they arent all suitable for towing horse trailers.The failures seem to be related to factory fitted removable towbars on Discoveries. VOSA is collecting data and will be issuing advice.
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Post by Philippa on Nov 8, 2014 22:33:10 GMT
I personally would deactivate the parking sensors and have a fixed towbar.
We've had a bar fitted on a vehicle with sensors and it was fine.
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Post by conniegirl on Nov 9, 2014 8:50:37 GMT
I personally would deactivate the parking sensors and have a fixed towbar. We've had a bar fitted on a vehicle with sensors and it was fine. Ditto! Ours has parking sensors and a fixed towbar
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Post by fanfarefan on Nov 9, 2014 13:40:32 GMT
Stuff the parking sensors , get a securly fitted towbar that you know is absolutely safe and secure
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kirky
Full Member
Posts: 238
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Post by kirky on Nov 9, 2014 14:51:17 GMT
I've just had a fixed tow bar fitted to our Volkswagen Touareg by Volkswagen, they reprogrammed the car so that it knows it's towing and the tow bar does not effect the sensors. I know it was more expensive than using Joe Blogs but think it is worth it. I definitely wouldn't go for a detachable one.
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Post by busymare on Nov 9, 2014 17:10:40 GMT
Really interesting thanks guys- it never occurred to me that these towbars might not be fit for purpose.
The detachable are more expensive than the fixed or we would already have had it fitted. We bought the car new and were told by the manufacturer that we had to have a detachable one- I didn't think to question it at the time but delayed getting it. Clearly we will have to have further discussions with the garage.
I've never had parking sensors before but I do like them now. And I will never forget an awful experience at a place I worked years ago where there was a child killed by a reversing car (not me) they never saw the child as he was too short. Obviously I want to be able to tow safely but every time the sensors beep I think of how they could have saved that child's life so I am loathe to just deactivate them. Interesting that it maybe possible to reprogramme them.
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Post by Karen, garrettponies on Nov 9, 2014 18:08:41 GMT
Our 4wd has parking sensors but there is a switch to turn them off if not required. Also when the electrics are plugged in the sensors know and don't go off anyway.
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Post by Karen, garrettponies on Nov 9, 2014 18:10:17 GMT
Also ours never sets the sensors off!
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Post by dogandbone on Nov 9, 2014 20:50:28 GMT
I have a detachable tow bar, but have never removed it - I have parking sensors, and it all works brilliantly. The sensors are deactivated as soon as the electrics are plugged in for the trailer, so they do not go off all the time as you have suggested. I tow an Equitrek start trekka and at 3.5 tons I have never had any problems or worries and am assured by the mechanics and fitters it is totally safe - Like any tow hitch should be, it is of course checked out regularly every time the car is serviced etc.
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Post by chalky284 on Nov 9, 2014 21:00:09 GMT
There have been a few accidents with the detachable tow bars, I'm sure there's some stories with pics on Facebook! From research done by one unfortunate person to have experienced it failing, it turns out that the actual tow bar is not designed to pull such a heavy weight as a trailer laden with horses!!!
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Post by brt on Nov 10, 2014 8:26:52 GMT
Correct me if i am wrong, but should the sensors only go off if you were in reverse gear ?
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Post by busymare on Nov 10, 2014 9:35:18 GMT
Correct me if i am wrong, but should the sensors only go off if you were in reverse gear ? Yes it's not that it would be beeping continuously just when reversing. When trailer is attached obviously the sensors are not used anyway but when not towing the towbar itself would activate the central sensors so you would never know if you were about to hit something or just that the towbar was there.
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Post by brt on Nov 10, 2014 12:59:33 GMT
Ah right of course, thanks
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kirky
Full Member
Posts: 238
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Post by kirky on Nov 10, 2014 15:13:37 GMT
My fixed tow bar does not activate the sensors when reversing but then I had it fitted by VW dealership. They did tell me that they get a lot of cars coming in to them that have been fitted by "another tow bar fitter" to have the electrics sorted so maybe it applies to your new car.
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Post by lisadundee on Nov 10, 2014 15:27:21 GMT
What sort of car is it? We've got a VW Amarok with sensors and a fitted tow bar and have no problems!
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Post by CarolineNelson on Nov 10, 2014 15:34:06 GMT
My fixed tow bar does not activate the sensors when reversing but then I had it fitted by VW dealership. They did tell me that they get a lot of cars coming in to them that have been fitted by "another tow bar fitter" to have the electrics sorted so maybe it applies to your new car. A farmer friend has a top of the range Range Rover with very sophisticated reversing sensors and a fixed tow bar (tows a double deck IW cattle/sheep trailer, so, same sort of spec. as a horse trailer). He has no problems. As above, the tow bar would have been fitted by the Dealership.
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Post by busymare on Dec 18, 2014 13:13:00 GMT
Have been doing some research and thought I would share in case anyone else finds themself in the same situation. The dealership ONLY fits detachable towbars and say they guarantee the safety if correctly used (bit of a get out clause there but understandable). The dealership said if we wanted to fit a fixed towbar it would have to be fitted at another garage and then the dealership could PROBABLY desensitise the sensors. I searched for any advice from VOSA and found nothing so I emailed them- just received a reply this morning: "All towbars fitted to cars newer than 1 August 1998 have to have a towbar approved to EC Directive 94/20 to prove their strength. This includes any detachable towbars. Accordingly there is no issue in towing a horse trailer with a detachable towbar." So looks like it should all be fine- I'll still be worried though! Thanks everyone
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Post by thatboythatgirl on Dec 18, 2014 13:58:08 GMT
I thought alot of the accidents re deatacble tow bars was surrounding mainly the land rover discovery 3
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Post by shazbat500 on Dec 18, 2014 20:46:45 GMT
We have a Nissan navara with a fitted towbar and it doesn't make the sensors go off all the time never had a problem
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Post by skewbaldrocker on Dec 21, 2014 21:47:31 GMT
Earlier this month my hubby was towing a full diesel bowser back to farm with his Disco 3 that has the detachable towbar, luckily in a built up area whilst driving along the two became separated and he managed to slow the bowser to a stop with the help of the truck. He has now been advised that L/R will recall due to a cross member fault but could you imagine if 1. he wasn't going slow due to being in a built up area or 2. towing a horse box Another thing that happened to a friend towing with a 4 x 4 was that due to not keeping tow hitch greased the ball and hitch became worn and trailer jumped off hitch. Found this forum which is interesting landroverhell.com/article/4193/tow-bar-on-the-discovery-3
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