Hi

I am in the process of buying a 2015 autobiography range rover.

I need a towbar and would like an electrically deployable one......
The dealer wants 2k plus for a new one ...........question is could i buy a used one with ecu controller, switch and harness and fit myself for considerably less. I have fitted plenty of towers in the past but is the wiring harness there ready to plug and play so to speak
or is it a dealer/stealer job.

Anything else to be wary off.......

Any help please before i commit.

Many thanks

2k isn’t bad - most seem to quote 3 for a deployable and 1 for a fixed removeable

I don’t know of anyone who had retro fitted a deployable - I just kept looking until I found one already fitted.

Mine ended up costing me £2188 after a battle with the dealership. Seriously expensive but I just factored the cost in with the total price and it worked out ok once I found the right car at the right price. When looking for the car you’ll see the prices are literally all over the place. You can pay more for a 15 plate than a 17 plate in some instances. I can only imagine they don’t look at the other ads before posting theirs. Red Merle on here posted on my thread (My (new to me) 17 MY) showing the detachable system in pictures. If you search on here you’ll see comments regarding retro fitting and it seems fraught with danger.
Good luck.

Can I ask a simple question..... how often do you need to use it per month? all smug in my new plug!

2021 Westminster Black D300
2013 Vogue SE - gone
Some Porsche Cayenne guff pretending to be a 4x4!!
2006 Vogue
2004 Vogue
2001 Vogue

I use mine continuously if it’s me you’re asking. I tow my caravan most weekends and for 14 weeks holiday a year. I pondered a detachable but wanted the convenience of it tucking itself away. It’s a few quid but that goes hand in hand with owning a FFRR.

Sorry no I meant the OP.

Sounds like it's worth it for you then. I think you need to do it when you buy it and keep the car for 3 yrs if it's a retro fit, but would love to see the stats on cars fitted vs not, as it looks like lots of 2017 SVO stuff got it by default. all smug in my new plug!

2021 Westminster Black D300
2013 Vogue SE - gone
Some Porsche Cayenne guff pretending to be a 4x4!!
2006 Vogue
2004 Vogue
2001 Vogue

I am looking for a 2018 model year to replace my 2013 AB and cannot find a deployable tow bar fitted. Dealer told me they cost about £750 from new and £3k dealer fit. I have one on the current car and its used all the time. Yes I use my Range Rover for towing! Its a must for me, wont go back to a manual after the deployable. 2006 S/C owned from new. Black, sand with black inserts. Shes a thirsty girl. ( now gone)

1972 Suffix A fully restored 2 door

1970, chassis number 26 the first of the press launch cars, Masai Red

2013 4.4SDV8 Autobiograpahy

The deployable one in my 2013 SDV8 failed 4 days before my holiday. I only found out when I wanted to clean the ball. It came out, wouldn't lock and then just beeped at me. Two dealers said the couldn't look at it for a week. So I rang my favoured tow bar centre who phoned Westphalia for advice. 'Oh we've had a lot of these fail recently. Advise you fit a standard detachable one'. Which I did for £800 or so.
Incidentally the electric one is so heavy it took 3 men to lift it off...
I would NEVER have another deployable one. You only find out if they have failed just before you need it.

Sorry to hear of your problems, but I use mine twice a month minimum and have for 4 years and its always worked perfectly. Have a few friends with them and no problems either. Will definitely buy one again. 2006 S/C owned from new. Black, sand with black inserts. Shes a thirsty girl. ( now gone)

1972 Suffix A fully restored 2 door

1970, chassis number 26 the first of the press launch cars, Masai Red

2013 4.4SDV8 Autobiograpahy

My main agent who supplied my vehicle said there were issues with reliability and also a recall on them. The issues being motors not working, slow to operate and not latching. It sounded as though problems were also being exacerbated due to infrequent use and road salt.

Personally for these reasons and it not working at the most inconvenient time I would never have one 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

The technician I spoke to said they had had problems with both the motor (in a welded-shut box, repair not possible) and the control unit. I asked Hatfields in Shrewsbury if they could swap the control unit over for one on a stock car, but they refused to do it. As I was booked on a ferry before they could even look at it (never mind fix it), I never did find out what the problem was. My fear was that even if it was fixed it might fail without warning - that could be VERY inconvenient.
The other issue is they are extremely heavy - maybe 50kg- which is a lot to carry round all the time.

I guess thats why you have warranty and breakdown tho. Not ideal but at least it becomes someone elses problem and not yours.

P all smug in my new plug!

2021 Westminster Black D300
2013 Vogue SE - gone
Some Porsche Cayenne guff pretending to be a 4x4!!
2006 Vogue
2004 Vogue
2001 Vogue

Now don't get me going on the 'warranty'. The LR Extended warranty doesn't cover the towbar (and many, many other things either..) 😳
Imagine you were in Europe with your caravan on a packed site, can't move it because the towbar doesn't work. Now that really would be a faff.... 2013 Vogue SDV8
2014 Defender 90
2009 Freelander 2

Totally agree Nigel, it would be terrible, but there ain't no car out there that dosn't have problems or there would be no warranty, but you are right days like that have been my pain!!

I had a boat attached to mine once and the air suspension failed 500 miles from home!! Not ideal, but a new car and them trailering my boat home at last got me home.

Thats why I always have a manufacturers warranty, and tbh not sure whats left out from a dealer one but I'm sure I won't know until I want to claim. lol all smug in my new plug!

2021 Westminster Black D300
2013 Vogue SE - gone
Some Porsche Cayenne guff pretending to be a 4x4!!
2006 Vogue
2004 Vogue
2001 Vogue

The removable farmer's hitch towbar is cheaper, more highly rated re nose weight, robust, simple and very quick and easy to fit/remove, certainly more so than the old 322 removable which was prone to seizure. Only Range Rovers since 1988