Witter Quantum detachable swan neck tow bar repair

[@rickhayes4278]

Well done M. Le Trudgian. This is one of the very best quality youtube videos I have ever watched - extremely clear in every respect, orally and visually, no superfluous nattering, you are a natural (or well trained). I am just about to have one of these fitted for the first time after 59 years of fixed towbars and will detach and maintain as advised. Thanks.

[@cals.9269]

Many thanks for taking the time to post this video. Very much appreciated

[@peteh7646]

Thank you Dan for this I've just purchased a 2nd hand 3rd hand 4th hand car with a detachable bar. You have guided me in the right direction.

[@kjreyno]

Hi Mr Trudgian, thank you for this video on KZbin, I have the same tow bar as you, and unfortunately when we bought the car the detachable tow bar had no key, so now I’ve watched this video, I can now get a new key or get a new lock button and also give it a bit of maintenance, before I go on my holiday to Devon in August, and also I watch other videos you’ve posted on KZbin and are very helpful, so thank you. 👍🏼

[@andyg8643]

Brilliant! This is exactly the situation we're in. Bought the car with witter bar already fitted, ordered replacement key but lock is seized solid. Thought that was it but will now be trying this. Thanks!

[@grantmayos9639]

Great advice mate. I've got a removable towbar. I always take it off on arrival at site, and then take it off when we get home. Clean it and put in its bag in the boot. These items are expensive as you say.

[@matthewbassirat8164]

Thanks Dan, watching this prompted me to check my removable tow bar which i hadnt removed for at least a year, it was a little hard to remove, almost stuck in. I'll definitely be removing it each time now! Thanks again!

[@mailbox1016]

Great little video. Recently had an issue with our Witter Removable Tow Bar which was on the car when purchased. Didn't want to trust myself to look at it so got it professionally checked over £28 for piece of mind.

[@adaptle]

Great video as always Dan, one thing to mention is check your boot especially if you have a VW as you may have a place to store the removeable tow bar just like I did in my Passat. Its located with the car jack in the foam insert that is next to the spare wheel. My Westfalia one slotted straight in :)

[@colinrimmer789]

Hi Dan learnt things again today, I remove my bar over winter, usually between Oct to Feb.

[@grantmayos9639]

Hitch and Tow. Company in Llanfair Caereinion nr Welshpool fitted our towbar. Came to the house, fantastic service, very professional. Dan was amazing. Took his time. Great job, no problems since. That was 15 months ago. Definitely recommend.

[@willwaters2447]

Another excellent and most useful video Dan. I have a removeable Witter towbar which I had fitted 8 years ago. I take it off every time we come back from a holiday although I do tend to keep it on for the duration of a holiday. I've been very pleased with it but in recent years, it's become more difficult to get on and off and the twisting mechanism has become stiffer. Your video gives me great confidence to get inside it and clean it up. Many thanks

[@neilbuck6949]

Great video my friend. Very informative. I am planning to do the same repaint to the bar fitted to my e220 Mercedes. I may even go a step further and remove the frame and do that as well. Hope you and yours have many more trips. Happy caravanning.

[@draganpesic6113]

Thank you for these advices. Useful as always. BTW. You look good! Much better than few videos ago. Cheers.

[@ashhammond]

You are probably already all over this. PF jones are great. I’ve bought and fitted two tow bars and dedicated electrics from them. Less that half day was spent. I bet the old ones are universal without a bypass relay. I would just remove it. Repair the wires and get a 13 pin decorated loom. PF jones will tell you of it needs coding. Best of luck bud.

[@mikeclifton7778]

I have a Witter lookalike on my Kuga which is always removed from the car when we're not on holiday. The locking handle doesn't have anywhere near as much play as yours though. Good informative video there Dan.

[@1boltmeadow]

AS always Dan, really nice & useful video. I don't have a removable, the tow ball hitch on my Hilux is fixed - but as ever its the attention to detail that makes trips away all the more enjoyable knowing that everything will 'just work' as it should

[@nickbell8634]

Great video Dan. Just inherited the same towbar with my new car. It's off the car but lock seems to be playing up. Will now look at taking it apart. No weather cover with mine so will look at a new one too, £24 though😳😳😳

[@617539]

Well done Dan, again very informative.

[@garethlewis3647]

Thanks again for the tutorial on removable towbar. It gives one peace of mind when you can see that it is safe to use so, yes, always remove after use.

[@HelenandDave]

Guilty as charged Dan, I can’t remember the last time I removed the tow bar, so I’m off to do it now. Great video, Cheers Dave & Helen

[@andrewlightfoot1830]

I remove mine all the time , the only reason I do this is mainly to do with if someone by accident hits the tow bar whilst your out and not knowing. Good video Dan btw.

[@Perthshire]

@@andrewlightfoot1830 would they rather they hit your bumper?

[@andrewlightfoot1830]

@@Perthshire 🥱

[@ianc8398]

Brilliant video, I have the exact same issue with this towball. Thanks👍👍

[@markbradbury6076]

I have a Bink removeable towball on my car. I had it fitted by an independant towing company. Thier advice went like this... "ALWAYS remove the towball. The number of people who come into the shop and ask to buy the towball because someone had nicked theirs.." And looking at how easy it is to remove the handle without the key, the lock is pointless! As for attaching, its very easy to have it engaged but not correctly. If there is any movement at all then its not correct. Turn the handle, drop the towball, reset the handle and start again. I always jack up the van with the jockey after connecting to the car as a further check to make sure its hitched.

[@hitchupngomr_p3927]

Brilliant Dan.. The devil is always in the detail and you always show the details in your videos. Great video 👍

[@edcoleman4060]

Hi Dan. I have a westfalia which seized. I used graphite powder which if anything made the lock worse. I'm loath to put WD40 on locks which I don't want to wreck. I notice that your towbar doesn't have a lock cover. Mine has a plastic lock cover, which I have lost. Water and dirt can get in even with the metal shutter that most locks have.

[@colinmew6695]

Very good Dan I have just had my tow ball changed to fixed as mine had done the same but could not be saved.

[@jamiestewart8691]

Hi Dan, a good informative video and a great job done. Dan have you heard of a product called ACF-50? I’ve been using this product for years on locks, electrical connections like towbar electrical sockets and plugs and general protection to prevent corrosion on metal surfaces.

[@brennigjones]

More than helpful, as usual. Thanks for the info

[@TheTrudgians]

Glad to help!

[@GoldingsGoExploring]

I pull with a Discovery & after seeing a post do the rounds on various Discovery pages in which someones detachable tow-bar came off whilst towing their caravan, it has now given me nightmares about having a detachable in the future, haha! Albeit the car in question had left it fitted all year round for a prolonged period of time.

[@drbdrb113]

Thanks Dan very good and informative vlog. Cheers mate.

[@CarlAdamson2563]

Great video once again Dan 👍 had two towbars from PFjones as good local company. Still don’t understand why people get detachable towbars and don’t take them off. I remove mine all the time.

[@terrythurston8572]

Very helpful , only use my tow bar twice a year (witter same as the one in your video) kept in a bag in boot. Question is I never lock mine , don’t know where keys are. Is this a safety issue ,or do most folks lock it to stop theft ?. Cheers

[@richardhaigh7852]

Hi Dan we had the same problem with our new car the last owner hasn't removed it it was stuck I was lucky a lot of WD-40 and it come out the electrics was a nightmare auto electrician sorted the electrics out and everything works now

[@timmcneill2772]

You’re looking well Dan

[@TheTrudgians]

Thank you.

[@Richard-vt3gm]

Many thanks for this video. I have the opposite problem - I can't get the towball to lock into place. Very useful to see that removing the cover label gives access to the torx screw for cover removal. thanks again.

[@veedubgeezer]

I've got this issue too. Did you manage to sort it?

[@davezeraschi7936]

It’s removable for a reason if they didn’t wanna take it off why didn’t they buy a more less expensive one in the first place?? They had no pride in my opinion! Thank you for the video I’ll save it for the time when I don’t bother taking mine off 🤣🤣

[@stephenhawe4331]

Hi Dan, I have the Brink on a Freelander and I can tell you I don’t have much faith in the detachable tow bars. There’s now some play in the bar itself I’m thinking of replacing it with a fixed one as the knocking noise when towing the van is quite concerning to say the least. The fitters have advised me the detachable ones should ALWAYS be removed when not in use.

[@davidroffey9639]

I have no faith in removable towbars after my Disco dropped my trailer in the middle of a road junction. It was not very old at the time but had knocked from new. Land Rover fitted a new rear crossmember under warranty and I had the extra bars added that turned it into a fixed towbar.

[@simonnicholls4838]

Great advise Dan👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@brianhughes8449]

Hi, different subject, have you heard of new caravans being delivered to dealerships without a table. We were informed todat aftrer dropping off our van for part exchange. Picking up new van next week after PDI minus free standing table and no idea of when to expect table to arrive.

[@TheTrudgians]

no havent heard of that, sorry.

[@CaraVanOlogywithBecky]

Bootiful job!

[@TheTrudgians]

Thank you Becky. Have to do the rest at the back of the car now 😂

[@mickforster3547]

Hi Dan Another well put together vlog. But can I ask one question,how did just replacing the blue disconnecting handle just free it up.I took your advice and my blue handle will not even twist clockwise after unlocking ,it will depress though.It is now undergoing extensive WD40 and penetrating oil tests.

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Mick, So the key was locked, and i couldnt turn the key to unlock the blue handle (push in and twist) without being able to see the state of the towbar locking pin, i wasnt going to risk towing with it. Replacing the blue handle for me, meant that I could turn and push in the blue handle and release the locking pin if yours is still stuck, the locking mechnisim is quite possibly corroded. and like you say will need a lot of penetration fluid to ease it up. Maybe worth a couple of taps with a rubber mallet to shock it into freeing up I hope that makes some sort of sense. Thanks Dan

[@daveandow2809]

Great video PF Jones are a good company. had my last two tow bars from them, fitted myself. they were a Great help for any help I needed. Found I my be colour blind, couldn't tell the difference between Mauve and Purple. Have you any information on how to clean the socket.?

[@philip9657]

I would just like to add to anyone considering a removable towbar who might be physically disadvantaged that the towball part that is removed is a considerable weight so it could be quite a challenge to locate it and involves grovelling around on hands and knees! You might wish to consider electrically deployable , i actually had mine fitted by a volvo dealer for only slightly more than a aftermarket removable one.

[@Andeecee]

Yes, it is rather heavy and fiddly but you soon get the knack of fitting and removing it. I keep a piece of cardboard in the boot to keep my right knee clean!

[@michaelmcmillan8814]

I have lost the keys for mine but need to take it off. If I remove the turning bit can I unlock it by getting grips onto that metal pin?

[@TheTrudgians]

Yes, but i would go careful you dont foul up the metal lug. dont be tempted to use mole grips, instead maybe a very small socket, - remember you need to apply some rotation to it, so it might be quite difficult to turn.

[@neilwrench6980]

Hi Dan, I have the same tow bar. Your electric plug can be replaced with one that pivots behind the bumper to protect it from the elements when not in use. PF Jones can supply Neil

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Neil, yes - already purchased one of these - it requires a bit more bumper cut - so that’s a job for another day 👍

[@davezeraschi7936]

Also have you bought a new cap to go over the hole while the bar isn’t on? It’ll need something over it or it’ll fill with road muck 😊

[@davezeraschi7936]

Oh you have got one 👍🫣

[@adiwilson42]

Where did you get the handle from and is it call handle ? My key doesn't fit and need a new one ??

[@theonlywoody2shoes]

An alternative method to removing a stuck tow bar: whilst stationary on the M25 have someone slowly run into the back of you (fortunately not towing) - the garage replaced the whole tow bar assembly, so I do now periodically remove and refit it, plus an occasional application of white spray grease when it’s off. 👍

[@daveandow2809]

Had the same happen to me, not on the M25 but on a local road. new tow bar.

[@philip9657]

Happened to me. Dropped caravan off for service, thought , i will remove towball at home , and yes you guessed right on way home taxi ploughs into back of me and towball takes the brunt of it, but did towbar stop entire back of jag being trashed? Jurys still out!

How many takes of “2 holiday caravan breaks later” did you do? 😂

[@TheTrudgians]

6. 😂

[@Fixingthingz4u]

Am i missing something ? you have a lock to prevent theft and you can go on ebay and order one WTF lol great video. That has got to be the worst looking towbar design i have seen we have Reece Hitch here in OZ :)

[@Perthshire]

I call my towball my parking sensor.

[@rickhayes4278]

😂👍 Me too. Old Landrover driving technique, reverse till you feel the bump.

[@Batesandrw]

My car came fitted with a detachable Witter Towball, not took it off yet. I would have had a fixed towbar/ball because I just leave them on.

[@outnabout632]

I only have my tow bar on when towing, off it comes even when on pitch. As said why pay more to have a detachable then keep it on all the time.

[@Andeecee]

Same here. Remove towbar once on site and put back on on day of departure from site.

[@rob_jarvis]

I'm not a great believer in that type of tow bar(removable) you should check if there's a recall on the tow bar as far as I know there was a recall here in Ireland on the land rover removable tow bar and they were refitted with non removable (height adjustable) tow bar..don't look as well as removable but more safe.

[@markweston427]

Brill 👍🏻

[@johnwoodcock6999]

I tend to leave mine on as I have had a lot of problems with the latching mechanism. It was springing as though it was locking in place but was just kicking downwards and not latching. I took it back to the fitters and they took some emery to the surfaces and it seems to have cured it but I'm worried it will play up again at an inconvenient time. Anyone else had this problem?

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi John, you’re likely to suffer this if the tow bar is left in place for prolonged periods of time. I’d recommend you drop the bar, and just visually check the receiver, to check condition. It’s quite easy to clean using a small wire brush and emery cloths. Hope that’s some help.

[@johnwoodcock6999]

@@TheTrudgians Thanks for the advice.

[@JB-gk6tg]

There is an issue here - if you want to steal the tow bar then just unscrew the existing handle and replace with your own lock ? Surely that's a design fault ?

[@TheTrudgians]

Yup, 100%. But, being a removable tow bar, it shouldn’t be left on the vehicle unless towing. So the answer to the question is simply remove it unless you’re hitched.

[@philip9657]

One last thing, be careful where you stow the ball when its off, you wouldn’t want it flying around in the event of an accident!

[@markglisson2956]

Once you've smacked your shin a couple of times your remember to remove it

[@malchall1029]

I will guarantee that if you don't take off the detachable tow bar when not in use, then you will find it with your shin!