I've measured the receiver itself and it's definitely 52mm x 52mm (2 x 2"), although the LR OEM Hitch (which is made my Westfalia, unsurprisingly), is 51mm x 50mm, which helps to explain the rattle

With it being a true 2 x 2” fitting, I should have lots of options if I want to switch it over to something else, but I may give the loo a miss

I've now ordered the heavy duty hitch clamp, so I'll report back when it has arrived and it's in place.

Thanks again for everyone's help

I’ve also been thinking of having this towbar fitted.

Is there any chance you could kindly please post some real world photos of the set up (ideally without the towbar in place) so that I could see how discreet the installation is? I find that the brochure photos can sometimes be a bit misleading.

Thank you! 2016 SDV8 AB

Happy to help there

I’ll need to wait until daylight tomorrow to get some photos taken for you.

ABAB wrote:

Is there any chance you could kindly please post some real world photos of the set up (ideally without the towbar in place) so that I could see how discreet the installation is?

Some "real world" photos for you. There is one piece left to fit (which is should arrive from Dan @ Duckworth's tomorrow) and that's a revised cover that fills on the gap behind the new receiver hitch and between the two silencers. There's a big plastic infill there on yours now, but it needs to be replaced with one that fits around the receiver.

Personally, I like the look of it; it gives it a purposeful look

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Is it just a case of removing the rubber bung, inserting the bar of the towbar unit and then a pin through a hole in the receiver and the towbar, with a clip through the pin (i.e. not threaded like the bolt that holds the 322 detachable towbar in place)? Subject to any anti-clunk device you are adding. So a 5-minute job to take the towbar off/put it back? Only Range Rovers since 1988

@Red Merle: Majestic and good looking ffrr in the carport - and really nice with the dog: King of the boot

Is this the same hitch clamp as the one the PHEV 2018 can be equipped with? -> http://gear.landrover.com/gb/en/range-rove...tiary-tabs

Many Thanks Red Merle - exactly what I was looking for. Very grateful. 2016 SDV8 AB

@ CS: Absolutely, it's really that easy (it takes less than a minute to do without the anti rattle device!).


@Erick34: Thanks, it could have a used a wash though! Ben's usually with me much of the time

I'm not sure about the part numbers or the look of the bar in the link that you gave me; I sourced mine here (second one down from the top):

http://www.duckworthparts.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh...LGT0082_2c

The fittings are almost certainly different for the PHEV, as the chassis for this receiver has components that reach well into the area where I understand that the battery lives in the PHEV.


@ABAB: You're welcome, happy to help

Hope you don't mind a follow up question but how much should I budget for a dealer fit of this setup including electrics? 2016 SDV8 AB

Not at all.

The official recommended time from LR is 1.3 hours x their labour rate.

There is an extra panel that I had to order from Dan, to tidy the underside again, which turned out to be an additional £33.

I take it that you’re happy with the way it looks without the hitch in place?

Thanks - appreciate it. 2016 SDV8 AB

Just on the issue of rattling, I was looking at the LR instructions (in the 'manuals' section of the LR website) for this towbar on MY17 and there was an anti-rattle bolt to be tightened to 55Nm I think which seemed to be near/behind the pin that holds the bar in place. You (Red Merle) didn't mention that, does yours not have it? Only Range Rovers since 1988

CS: No, there’s no anti rattle bolt on mine

Maybe have a look at www.ownerinfo.landrover.com and work through the menus to the section on fitting these towbars to RRs. Both 2016 and 2017 models show the bolt, so Q if a word with your dealer might produce something? I know what you mean about the rattling being annoying and worrying, especially in the light of the problems with the Discovery which led to accidents and eventually a recall. One instinctively thinks movement must be undesirable. Only Range Rovers since 1988

I don 't think it's a safety issue by itself as this form of tow bar is extremely common in the USA, where they all seem to be affected by this very same issue. It seems to just be the nature of the beast. However, they are also they country that provides the after market solutions.

Unfortunately, I bought this bar from one dealer (Duckworth's) and then had it fitted by a third party fitter, so it's got a little messy.

I could get the bar removed and a hole drilled and tapped in the receiver, but it's already cost me £150 alone to get it fitted just the once.

I think that we probably have a working solution here and I'm looking forward to trying the add on when it eventually arrived! I've been tracking the parcel through USPS, where it took nearly 9 days to get to the airport, just over a day to fly to the UK and it's been with Lord-knows-who, simply getting to Cornwall from Heathrow, for the last 4 days