I have been looking for a reasonable cost way of fitting a Towbar since I got my FL2 and thought I had cracked it when I found a Tow Trust Towbar £87.25 + £12 P&P!

However it seems that you have to use LR electrics costing £180.95 - supply only!

So decided to bite the bullet - but now find out the electrics need a STEALER code/software update costing £94 after I have done all the fitting

£374.20 without fitting!

I have fitted my own towbars and electrics over the years but this is daylight robbery!

This cant be right - can it

I think the dealer lets the car know it towing and this Update turns off the parking sensors when you plug the electrics in, can't think what else it would do  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I orderd my FL2 with removable towbar (Thule/Brink) which I paid an exorbitant price for fully fitted. I cant remember exactly how much now, but I did react to the difference between the price of the towbar compaired to the total price I paid and wondered how on earth fitting could cost so much. Having read muddywheels comments on fitting prices, software etc. I can maybe understand now

However, the other day I tried connecting the electronics to my Thule bike carrier (which has its own lights built in) and the lights didnt work So it will mean a visit to the stealers to check it out I guess.  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

hi m/wheels i also fitted my own towbar with the l/rover electrics they quoted me 1/2 hour labour £45 plus vat its to tell the car a trailers plugged in and it cancells the park senors and brings on the light on the dashboard of a little trailer to tell you the indicators are working mine went in for a oil leak and I told them that the reverse senors would not switch off when i had a trailer on and they did it for nothing so i got away without paying it might be worth a try if yours has to go in for anything 07my Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Baltic Blue,Privacy Glass,Ebony black leather,Land rover detachable towbar,S/S Side bars,Climair wind deflectors,Bramble Rash,

Hi Muddywheels

I fitted my own towbar and electrics (both genuine landrover), i was charged half hour laour to switch the electics on ( this is the LR listed time for job so don't pay anymore ) it does actually take anything up to an hour to actually switch on.
I was also told that there is some remapping of the ECU so that the fuelling is different when towing to maitain performance as well as all the things that others have listed above.
As for cost of electrics, negotiate with the dealer, i showed them the price i could get the accessories for from the land rover dealer that sells on ebay, and they undercut his prices. This was great for me because it mean't i didn't have to pay for postage either. markrt
Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto
Sumatra Black, Ebony Leather

surely, if this was really the case then the fueling would be altered when connecting a light board for a cycle carrier as well!!

I have just fitted the detachable towbar and electrics, IMHO its worth getting the landrover electrics for the ease that they can be installed and for the fact that there isnt any invasive work done to your cars electrics. My only tip is avoid the main dealer (mine wanted 1.5hrs labour - £135) my local independant activated the trailer tow module for £30 using Autologic diagnostics.

The procedure was simple

Upload Trailer Tow Code
Enable Tow module
Select Electrics type (13pin, 12n, 12s)
Deactivate Reversing Sensors
Deactivate Fog Lamp

it all takes no more than 20 minutes.

I have heard several 'Urban Legends' about remapping of the ECU when the module is connected, the most feasable is that the Stability program is adjusted to take account of the trailer being attached - not heard the one about fuel before!

So vaners why not tow with the lights unplugged,so the engine doesn't go into snail mode

I got my towbar fitted at the dealers before i took delivery detachable with twin electrics for.......................................wait for it......................................................................................................£350 I just flashed my big.......................brown eyes at him..........and the low cut top helped i'm sure

I must have looked nice too as Phil the salesperson throwed mine in with the deal  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

you should pay less for a car with a towbar ,its been disfigured

chicken george wrote:

you should pay less for a car with a towbar ,its been disfigured

CG - Towbars are not JUST for pulling plywood box's on wheels, mobil homes, caravans, or camping wagons (as they are called in Norway)

I will use my removable towbar for by bike carrier only otherwise you can hardly see I am a member of that FL2-towbar group  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Just looked at the caravan in my shed its an 'elddis hurricane', can you think of a more stupid name for a caravan. It could never survive a hurricane and is never going to move a fast as one.


What about .. traffic stopper 2000
never sleep 1300
wide'n'slow super chicane

Refused to have towbar fitted on the ' never wanting to be tempted to the Dark side of caravaning' grounds

Solved the problem of a bike rack by buying this

http://www.2x2worldwide.com/LR2008/CityElite.html

saves all the hassle of fitting racks and not being able to get in the boot

NM Baltic blue XS - Alpaca Leather - 18" HSE wheels.

Quote:

never wanting to be tempted to the Dark side of caravaning' grounds

Wise move, welcome to the club  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650