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Quote: Originally posted by gray871 on 23/8/2023

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Answer to Colin21
Hi Colin the reason I had a detachable towbar fitted to my Kuga was where I worked in Wakefield city centre the parking was a narrow road so the extra 6 inch when the towbar was removed gave me the option of parking closer to the building
Graham

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Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 24/8/2023

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There is the possibility that they ordered the tow bar and then realised there was already a towbar fitted and could not return it. As the nephew had requested a fixed towbar they went ahead with the job.

Very underhand as most reputable companies would have advised that there was already a tow bar fitted with the hook part in the wheel well.

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Quote: Originally posted by gray871 on 24/8/2023

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Hi Colin
I know you were not criticising just explaining why the removable tow ball worked for me at the time, although I have to admit since retiring I’ve not removed the tow ball, probably will at the end of season though as it’s getting harder and harder to kneel down to unlock it and remove it
Regards Graham

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Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 24/8/2023

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It is not just about common sense, being honourable comes into play re: the OP's nephew's situation.

The garage was dishonourable for not informing the young man in person that he had a perfectly good detachable tow bar already installed in his vehicle before going ahead in installing a new one as requested.

Yes they saw him coming, as in he did not check his vehicle well enough to find the detachable parts were stored deep inside the boot underneath the cover!

DK

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 23/8/2023

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Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 23/8/2023

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One of the reasons why I bought the car was because of the towbar however I was aware the detachable was missing, but thought I could buy just the part anyway.

Another thing I found out is that you cannot buy the detachable part only, you have to buy the towbar plus the detachable and that seem to apply to all brands. Your only hope is a private sale!

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I suppose the argument would be that you wouldn't want one without the other. What do people do with the detachable part so that they come to lose it? I very much doubt that the manufacturers actually make or store the detachable parts separately, they just make the complete thing. Personally I have never really seen the point of detachable tow-bars, either you want to tow with your car or you don't. I doubt whether most people bother detaching it when they aren't using it, I know I certainly wouldn't if I had bought a car that already had one fitted. The last two cars I have bought already had a fixed tow-bar, and the one before that I had a fixed tow-bar fitted to.

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Quote: Originally posted by Paul_B on 25/8/2023

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Its not uncommon for people to have tow bar with a removeable ball took off and replaced with fixed one.

There's plenty of horror stories where the caravan has parted from the car and still has the towball in the hitch.

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Quote: Originally posted by billy on 24/8/2023

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You credit employees at these places as having the sense they were born with. I recall an incident at a Halfords tyre place. I needed 1 tyre to replace one that was not repairable. Ok my bad for going to Halfords but they were cheapest for the tyre I wanted.

I asked the receptionist to replace the damaged tyre in the spare carrier. Put it on the back & put rear wheel into spare carrier. He took keys & asked me to wait in waiting room. The car was taken into workshop & I was looking through small window in door. That’s right. I didn’t trust them.

The fitter removed rear wheel & I could see he was about to remove good tyre. I shot into workshop & stopped him. I indicated damaged tyre in spare carrier. Fitter aggressively said he was only doing what he was told. None of these people appear to have an ounce of brain.

Receptionist then rushed in & told me the public were not allowed in workshop. I pointed out my reason for being there & they just acted like kids being caught doing something naughty.

I did get the job done as described. Glares all round from staff. If I had no knowledge of cars I would have sat in waiting room & ended up with a perfectly good tyre replaced & u/s tyre still in spare & known no different.

They are all the same. You have to watch them like hawks.

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