Theft of detachable tow ball.
A friend of mine had his locked detachable tow ball stolen off his car at the NEC Caravan an Motorhome show. This seems to be getting a popular money making theft at our expense, many references to this type of theft can be found trawling the forums.
My main concern here is the impact on our insurances. Take the following what if scenario....... Caravan hitched to car, hitch lock in place to prevent removal of caravan from car, no problem it would seem, the theft is made easy just just demount the tow ball from the tow bar and hitch up tow ball and cararavan to another car, simple. How would our caravan insurers deal with that I wonder???
I wonder just how many key variations there are on these lockable tow bars, after all there are only a handful of manufacturers making them. It's all a bit worrying to say the least.
Comments
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The detachable bar on my car (& its predecessor) is only attached for towing & is removed immediately on completion ...... I hate the look of it, but it's a necessary evil if you have a caravan. From what I've gathered here though, not all towbars are automatically locked when engaged, ie on my Bosal & previous Westfalia, the key won't come out unless properly engaged, others, it seems, can be fitted without being locked.
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As far as Land Rover goes the key was never intended as a security device, merely to ensure the user had got the device fully engaged.
If you want to abandon an outfit at a service area and all go in together Messers Halfords will sell you a chain and padlock to put through your chassis and A-frame.
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MM, totally agree , there is nothing nice about a towball. Why would you want to keep cracking your leg on one?
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I always had detachable towbar on my vehicles because I don't like my cars to have the towbar showing when I am not towing. It is detachable so one can take it off . If it is left on then it is there to be stolen as is anything else somebody wants to help themselves to. So leaving it attached the person has to accept some responsibility as it only takes a few seconds to remove and store in the boot.
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I have a Witter detachable which I chose as it is more 'elegant' than a flanged towbar, and I don't remove it (apart from maintainence).
The reson is - hopefully it helps protect the rear of the car when parked, particularly in France and Spain, where I do most of my caravan touring.
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Although I've got a detachable tow bar at the moment, having used it for 3 years I see zero advantages over a fixed.
Like easyT its very difficult to knock your legs with a fixed, and its an £100 cheaper for a fixed swan for my witter.
Also never used the lock, and always remove the towball on site, it goes in the caravan, at home in the garage. I just don't understand why anyone is so idle to leave it on, same with those who leave the towing mirrors on.
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I quite like seeing one stick upright, strong and proud.
Looks like it talking, run into me and cripple your car, I've had 3 cars run into my fixed towbars, two needed new bumpers and radiators, another went home on a breakdown truck.
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I don't even need to get on my knees to use mine, a quick peek under to locate the receiver and "push vertically" and hey presto it is in. Remove the key and that's it.
If towballs were aesthetic then all cars would be supplied with them.
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no crawling required
