Last month I had a witter lockable detachable tow bar fitted. I tried it when I got home and had no problems fitting it. Today I decided to try it with the folding camper to test the electrics and again had no problems with all the electrics working. However after I removed it my wife asked how to attach it but this time it would not attach and lock into place. I then spent 20 minutes trying. Any ideas? It seemed to lock into place very easily before and the dust cover has been on the whole time since being fitted.
I have one of these, you have to make sure the fitting is really clean, no dust etc. If there is even the slightest bit of muck it won't go back on. I only know because we found that out ourselves!
We have a Westfalia type, difficult to explain, but on ours you have to make sure that the mechanism that locks it in place is un-latched prior to attachment. Try and make sure that the knob/lever you use to detach it is latched back ready for re-insertion.
Following your advice I have just been out and tried again. I had not fully turned the mechanism when last detaching so it was already engaged when trying to refit. A bit daft not realising my this. It is back on now but my wife has lost interest. At least it didn't happen on a Friday when setting off for a weekend away.
Quote: Originally posted by johnjory on 03/5/2010We have a Westfalia type, difficult to explain, but on ours you have to make sure that the mechanism that locks it in place is un-latched prior to attachment. Try and make sure that the knob/lever you use to detach it is latched back ready for re-insertion.
Hi John, I have one of these - no prob getting it onto the tow bar, but I slipped a disk trying to get it off again! Is there a knack to it or something? thanks, Jax:)
No particular knack, just turn the key to 'unlocked' position, pull out and turn the knob away from yourself and it just drops out.
Just two mental notes I make. Firstly, be ready to catch the bar as it drops because it is quite heavy. Secondly, the spring on the knob is very strong and must be twisted fully till it clicks. Only then is it set for re-insertion. (I think this might have been the problem Roger49 was experiencing)
It is a very clever mechanism, so the only suggestion I can make is to ensure that both halves are very clean.
Quote: Originally posted by johnjory on 06/5/2010Hi Jax365
Apologies for slow reply.
No particular knack, just turn the key to 'unlocked' position, pull out and turn the knob away from yourself and it just drops out.
Just two mental notes I make. Firstly, be ready to catch the bar as it drops because it is quite heavy. Secondly, the spring on the knob is very strong and must be twisted fully till it clicks. Only then is it set for re-insertion. (I think this might have been the problem Roger49 was experiencing)
It is a very clever mechanism, so the only suggestion I can make is to ensure that both halves are very clean.
Hope your slipped disc is not too bad. 10 days of lying on the floor, but thanks for asking!
thanks for that, John. Mine doesn't have a key though. I think it was fitted way back when... it's also an anti snaking device...
I have a Witter detachable tow bar and it had managed to release the central locking steel bar while in the boot of my car. It would then not attach. I phoned Witter and they were very helpful.
Turn the blue handle 180 degrees until the pin locks itself back into position. Then stand it upright and spray it with WD 40.
It is now working again.
Just thought I'd add my two penneth in case it is of any use to anyone with problems with their detachable towbar. I recently had a problem with my Tow-Trust detacheable tow bar. I bought it from Towbars Direct in 2011 and until recently I have been very pleased. What happened with mine was that it appeared to lock into position but I did not get the geen safety indiactor on the dial on the release knob. I must say the supplier Towbars Direct and their supplier Tow-Trust were brilliant. They asked me to send them the item and once they had inspected it they confimred that, whilst faults with the item were very, very uncommonon it would appear in my case that there may have been a problem. Despite being nearly 4 yeasr old they agreed to send me a brand new replacement item free of charge. They didn't even charge me postage. Many thanks to James at Towbars Direct and Tom, the Technical Director at Tow-Trust.
Quote: Originally posted by johnjory on 03/5/2010
We have a Westfalia type, difficult to explain, but on ours you have to make sure that the mechanism that locks it in place is un-latched prior to attachment. Try and make sure that the knob/lever you use to detach it is latched back ready for re-insertion.
Ours is a Westfalia detachable tow ball. "...latched back ready for reinsertion."? I never leave it in this position when stored as it places an unnecessary burden on the spring mechanism. I always release it after removal.
The only other warning I would give, is not to get one's fingers caught by holding the unit anywhere near the knob when releasing it.
Bertie.
On the subject of detachable tow balls, a point about the Westfalia may be worth a mention. My VW Touran (Westfalia tow bar fitted by dealership to new car before taking delivery in 2009), the tow bar does not have a dedicated hook-up point for the breakaway cable, and looping the cable around the neck of a detachable tow bar is not considered good practice - possibly illegal!
I use a hole in the bracket holding the 13-pin socket, but am not happy with this. So, recently, I contacted the UK Westfalia company about the problem. They now provide a dedicated hook-up on new tow bars because this is now a legal requirement, but offer no retro-fit facility. They did recommend a company (local to me) who might make a special bracket which would bolt around the body of the tow bar to provide a hook-up. Trouble is, this firm require dimensional details to proceed, and access to the tow bar itself is extremely difficult without major work to remove the rear bumper assembly, which this firm do not wish to do themselves. In addition, the necessary extension of a fitting to be in reach for attachment of the cable would probably make refitting of the rear bumper very difficult, if not impossible. So the problem persists.
Bertie.
Could anybody answer a question on this topic please. I preloading the Swan neck as prescribed. I insert it in the square hole. Push hard and the knob spins and clicks but it doesn't lock in place. It falls out every time I try it. I have watched YouTube videos on how to lock/unlock charge and install the Swan neck but it doesn't appear to catch on anything and drops out ?
Could be there is dirt or something preventing the thing engaging properly. I had exactly the same problem after painting the socket. I had to remove the paint from the semi-circular mounting points at the bottom of the socket to get it to latch properly. It obviously is a very close fit.
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Topic: Detachable tow bar won`t attach
