Detachable towbar stuck - how to remove?

[Bobsta]

Hi folks,

I had a Tow Trust detachable towbar fitted to my W213 Estate last summer - mainly for using with a bike carrier. The car has spent most of the time since September 2021 with it removed and the little plastic protection plug in place.

I fitted it again 3 weeks ago and it was a little sticky going in... but with a few taps of a heavy object and some pressure from a jack, I managed to get it seated nicely. The problem is I now can't get the damned thing out, and unfortunately the place where I had it fitted has had to close down due to losing their premises earlier this year.

I'm trying to think of creative ways to pull it down/out - anyone been in this predicament before and have any advice please?

Thanks,

Bobsta

 

[JHS]

Silly question, but you did use the key to unlock the receiver before you fitted the hook?

 

[Benzowner]

What make of tow bar? They all have slightly differing ways of attachment and removal, but the fact you have resorted to brute force does not bode well, they all do not need force to attach them.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

What make of tow bar? They all have slightly differing ways of attachment and removal, but the fact you have resorted to brute force does not bode well, they all do not need force to attach them.

OP said Tow Trust in the post above.

 

[AndrewOl]

I would take it to a tow bar fitting shop as it will be pretty jammed in there if you had to put a Jack on it to get it to lock in.

 

[Sheffield Col]

Mine is a Witter detachable tow bar, but I would imagine they all work the same. I make sure it's unlocked then push the knob in (the bit that turns) to release it.

 

[JHS]

As he had to use excessive force to fit it something is seriously amiss. I have the same towbar and have had no issues. My money is still on a key issue.

 

[Smiley]

"with a few taps of a heavy object and some pressure from a jack, I managed to get it seated nicely"

And now you're surprised that it is tough to get out?
A lesson to be learned there - don't force anything that you don't want to break. Things that are designed to go together and come apart again don't need a jack to assemble them.
My guess is that the assembly fitted to the car will have to be removed in order to remove the tow hitch from that fitting - and then the assembly and / or the hitch will need to be replaced. Probably best to go to a towbar fitting place.
Hope you get it sorted.
Or you could just leave the hitch in place.

 

[Trickythemerc]

I would question the integrity of the coupling and certainly wouldn't tow anything with it until it has been properly sorted. Heavy object and a jack.............!!!!!!!!!!!! not a good idea.

 

[Blobsta]

I had a similar issue with my CLK. The hitch wouldn't seat nicely, it would go in but never latch fully to get the green part to show on the lock so I took it off to investigate and found that there was a build up of scale/rust in the receiver. They are a really snug fit and rust swells so if there is anything causing a slight misalignment, it won't lock in. Based on that, my guess would be that by forcing it with a jack and hammer etc. you've got it to locate but now it's too tight to remove.

You can see how it was a bit crusty inside


Worst part was the two semicircles not allowing the hitch to go up the last millimetre to locate properly


Got the big guns out to fit it back on


I would unbolt the receiver and then soak it from the top in penetrating fluid, turn it upside down and clamp the hitch in a vice and then gently tap the receiver off with the lock released. Use a wire brush on a drill and clean it thoroughly (lightly oil) and re-fit. I'm sure it will be ok

 

[BTB 500]

Never had any problems at all with removable tow hitches ... the one on the Vito (Westfalia) is 15 years old now and goes in and out as easily as it did when new

 

[ALFAitalia]

You may have damaged it by forcing it in. I have to fit those all the time. If anything more than the lightest force is needed you are doing it wrong....learned that the hard way unfortunately!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I leave my removable tow bars in place as it offers sone protection to the bumper, but it should pop in easily, and clunk into place. Unless you’re confident with a spanner, I would call a tow bar specialist and ask them to investigate.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Don't do that.....dust gets in....and as they jiggle about (there is always slight play to allow you to fit/remove them) the dust/grit causes wear and there have been cases where the ball fell out because of this. A few years back Landover had to have a recall because of it....excessive wear in cases where the removable tow bar was left in place.....

 

[Bobsta]

Thanks for all the replies. I do understand how the mechanism on these things work, and I’m confident this isn’t/wasn’t a key issue but more of what Blobsta talks about - a very tight fit and a small amount of crud in the joint meant it wouldn’t *quite* seat before the locking pin pinged out. Despite being less than a year old and with the plastic dust cap fitted there was some debris around the joint making it too tight to just gently ease in.

I forced it in as we were heading off for a few days of holiday with a bike rack on the back, were already late for various appointments, etc. and it just *had* to go on. I’m extremely confident that it’s on properly - the pin pinged out, the lock rotated, shows the correct colour, etc. It was “just” a tight fit.

But now… yeah, it feels like it needs to soak in a bath of penetrating fluid for a day or two, and then be wiggled a lot.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Just hook something expensive onto it and drive off. I guarantee it will come loose.