Removing a corroded Range Rover L322 Westfalia tow bar

This Range Rove L322 is fitted with a removable Westfalia towbar & I had 2 keys for it. Unfortunately it appears to have been left in place for many years & was stuck solid & corroded. The key wouldn’t even go into the lock cylinder at the start, so I had to improvise...
Basically I decided to hammer out the locking cylinder from the opposite side which enables the release handle to be turned. Unfortunately even this didn’t work, so lots of banging ensued....

[@ukaszjot8078]

I was attempting the same last weekend, but fortunately I did not follow what you did on that video, as it leads to damage of the tow bar (you damage the socket of this little steel ball that locks the knob in place). Some advices: -if the lock is jammed the best should be to try to pull the core out with a sliding hammer. If you don't have one - you can drill the cylinder, replacements are available, -smashing it with the hammer will not help much, you should rather try to get the internal mechanism moving by soaking it with WD40 and tryging to turn the knob over and over again. The best is to first unbolt it from the car, so that you can reverse it - will make it much easier to do the soaking :) It took me like 3 hours in total...but a completely jammed towbar now works perfectly fine. Of course after removal it's a good idea to flush it a bit wit some brake cleaner and lube.

[@Drew_Eden]

I'm really enjoying these videos. I have a towbar on my XC90 and thought about removing it, but couldn't be bothered. Just after Xmas I was sitting at traffic lights and a Mercedes Sprinter van walloped me from behind. No damage to the Volvo but the bumper on the van was wrecked.

[@gillmcc]

Thanks for this video! Identical issue on my Q7 and followed your steps and got it off! Thank you!!!!!

[@Firkinnel]

Thanks for the tips. I just bought a 2000 VW T4 Atlantis and it had a towbar fitted but no key ! I was lucky as it took less than 2 mins to prise of cover,remove circlip (used long nose pliers). A couple of gentle blows and the handle came out soon followed by the towbar. I don't need it and It hadn't been removed in the 17 years the prev owner had it. Luckily it had been greased previously. I anticipated it taking a couple of hours to batter it into submission after watching your video.

[@ad-dajjal7133]

Congratulations on removing the tow hitch , I don't think I've seen anyone else hit themselves various times with various hammers without swearing though .... Amazing job all round .

[@srdjanvukmanovic546]

Thanks for advice.I unlocked mine i five minutes after watched your video.

[@simontist]

Hammer time! I just had a similar time removing a Witter towbar, ended up having to take the bumper cover off and unbolting the receptacle, needing a lot of hammering to get it out of the bar. Then after disassembling the locking mechanism and hammering down on the locking pin from above, then more hammering to separate it from the receptacle. Then, hammering up on the locking pin to get it out (losing a small spring... damn!), it's finally free. The little lock is still seized solid though but luckily not a big deal.

[@SPQR-Z]

That hitch. What an over engineered PITA POS. Fun watching your journey with this old RR. Good luck

[@Mosse-Sweden]

Thanks for this video, so helpful video. I helped my and work successfully

[@flemmingranch8777]

Very hard work but you succeed very fine video......

[@Matt-rq6wz]

Bro that hitch is NSFW. Phalic Af

[@user-jo3sj4ih8k]

U helped me out today👌🏾

[@scottysscandinavia5793]

Years ago I knocked the assembly out enough to remove the ball bearing, then knocked it back in, replaced the spring/washer/circlip and it worked fine without needing to use the seized lock. Even passed 3 Swedish MOTs, but they've now changed the rules and the lock has to work - though the rule says if a tow bar has a lock, the lock must work (nothing about if it originally had a lock, or if the original design had a lock). Not sure what will happen at the MOT if I pull out the lock, because legally the tow bar then doesn't have a lock. Regardless, I've ordered a new lock. Easy to remove. Force a screw into the key slot for about a centimetre and then use it to pull the barrel out with a crowbar and a bit of wood. Then just press in the new one. And then do the whole thing again in two weeks when the crappy lock seizes again.

[@lifeiswhatyoumakeit5505]

Or you could have just pulled the R clip out and undone the nut and bolt and slid the unit out, so there was nothing visible.

[@Nut_Job.]

I tried that... it didn’t come out

[@tuggers1000]

I love watching your vids mate lol. Look forward to tour next little job. How is the Range Rover behaving? Still good? How did you ever get on with the propshaft bearing?

[@mouseburger17]

Liking the vids 👍 new subscriber

[@wesleyrietveld5329]

What a fight... i was broken afterwards 🤣

[@awsomeal100]

There Is One Bolt Going Through The Square Mount...It Has A Locking Pin ...Remove The Locking Pin And Remove The Bolt.......Simples.

[@astront917]

i think the titanic had a smaller anchor than your towbar !!

[@karstenschulz7245]

Hard Work

[@thegreatdandini8121]

Id have just the whole tow bar bracket off lol!! I take it you had lost the key ?

[@nickblake1166]

It's actually a parking sensor!

[@ChefDodd]

Unbolt it off the chassis

[@grahamarthur]

Hey fella, what is your take on why this vehicle is so corroded? Brake discs were shocking. I know it’s an old car but not that old. Was the car driven through salt water a lot or something? Great series by the way, really enjoying the detail. 😎

[@TheSwampdoggydog]

It’s the cheap road salt used by the councils around the country, it rotting every car prematurely in the UK

[@grahamarthur]

Brett Swampy ah. Seems to be a pretty big problem!

[@Nut_Job.]

Overall, the corrosion on this car isn’t too bad. The worst places were; the rear discs, tow bar, air suspension reservoir. Some point in future I’ll probably do the air tank...

[@paulbryan4498]

Bet your neighbours love you

[@dennij]

I've enjoyed the series so far and look forward to the next one, however, do yourself a favour and get some overalls to avoid spoiling your clothes. Well done though on starting the vlog seems a lot of people enjoy watching even if they are shouting at the screen :-)

[@gutworm686]

5:53 you require a proper MAP gas torch. You’ll never get metal hot enough with that candle. And you need to hold the heat in one spot.

[@nickj3368]

Good towbar, but needs to be maintained.

[@user-br8my6oj8q]

Hi there you could have removed the nut and bolt were the unit is contained to the main tow bar . 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@Nut_Job.]

I seem to recall it wasn’t as simple as that & wouldn’t withdraw… it was a few years ago though, so can’t really remember. It would seem a rubbish security system if someone could just remove a bolt and disconnect your trailer?

[@user-br8my6oj8q]

@@Nut_Job. well the main thing is you got it off . So well done for that . 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@Nut_Job.]

😂 Yep 👍

[@benlund1717]

Hey! Do you remember if it was locked or unlocked when you started hammering? Or is the procedure the same whether it is locked or not? I can’t unlock mine because of corrosion, so I have to hammer or drill it out! 🙄

[@Nut_Job.]

I remember it was so corroded that I couldn’t tell if it had really unlocked even when I got the barrel to turn. So I just had to hammer the shit out of it until it came free...

[@benlund1717]

Nut Job Then I will do the same tomorrow! Mine is totally locked (key-locked) 😜

[@maxl7827]

@@benlund1717 Did you get it out? I have same situation as you and actually started removing it like in this video but I couldn't hammer the lock cylinder out yet.

[@benlund1717]

@@maxl7827 I did get it! After I bought a new one.. so now I have 2! Both working fine 🙄🤷🏻‍♂️

[@maxl7827]

@@benlund1717 What did you do to get it working?

[@JBinthesticks]

I would have just taken the bolt out and removed the whole assembly from its square socket.🙂

[@Nut_Job.]

I only thought about that at the end 🙄

[@jerryshields9906]

@@Nut_Job. Exactly that. Mine has a nice rubberised grommit to put in the square hole

[@jamesmacdonald3090]

I use mine as a parking sensor.... tow bar is like mud on ffrr... serious off roader! As others have said, why didn't you just unbolt from the chassis, brain fart moment?

[@aaronhajzyk]

Great videos but please get a bigger hammer toffee hammers ain't good working on a 4x4

[@Nut_Job.]

I know... but I’m a lazy bastard & my big boy hammers are buried under a ton of crap in my shed! 😂

[@The2304Steve]

Sorry, But think you might need to invest in a small club hammer...lol

[@Nut_Job.]

I know.... 😂

[@qualityswisswatches1]

if ppl drive into the back of you it will fk them up..

[@kevinjackson6387]

Should have sold the car then you would have god rid of tow bar quicker lol,any way well done

[@TheDaf95xf]

Great videos but invest a couple of hundred quid in some decent tools.........🙈 It’ll make life a little easier and better viewing instead of shouting at my phone lol 😆 But there still great 👍🏻 Stevie

[@jockd7]

Why just not unbolt it from the top...

[@Nut_Job.]

I tried that mid-way through... it wouldn’t come loose so I persisted with releasing it

[@lifeiswhatyoumakeit5505]

Towbars save car parking damage to your car, bonus.

[@becomematrix]

life is what you make it true.

[@awsomeal100]

Then Someone Wraps Their Shin On It And You Come Back To A Big Dent In Your Door With Boot Print....Their's Always One.

[@mikemlw]

I dont trust detachable tow bars i would always have a permanent fixed one

[@judsport]

All you had to do was take the one bolt out and slide the thing out would not of damaged it and wouldn’t of hit your hands with hammer 😂

[@Nut_Job.]

Yes, of course… I must be that stupid 🙄

[@skipmole612]

Possibly the most inept piece of mechanicing I have ever witnessed.

[@Nut_Job.]

Probably was 😂

[@rangeroverp3846]

Certainly not your best video / advise. Should have simply removed the upper section as well, and not damaged a £150+ (2nd hand) part. You’ll regret it when selling the vehicle.

[@Nut_Job.]

Range Rover P38 It was already ruined. All I did was smash the lock cylinder out, but that could be replaced if needed. I tried unbolting the upper mount piece but it wouldn’t come free. So I had to remove it this way. No biggy