Break away cable problem

How often do detachable tow bars actually detach during towing?

Only once and then they are replaced 

lol

There seem to have been enough towbars falling off Land Rovers for them to have done a recall.  I suspect user error in fitting them plays a big part.  One can buy an after-market fitment to bolt a plate under the detachable tow ball for those who worry.

The concern seems to have been about the socket in the chassis rather than the tow ball fitment itself.

the tow balls are all the same size wether detachable or fixed so if hitch comes of then the question should be who did the attaching in the first place. the hitch doesn't know the difference and the same can be said of who fixed the towball to the towbar. EasyT. I worked for a hire company and a driver of a transit towing a mini digger on a trailer and the fixed towball snapped just under the ball at the neck so anything can happen when towing.

and the most probable reason is not attatching correctly in the first place.

Indeed anything can happen. Not really the point though is it? The breakaway cable is there for when a trailer becomes detatched. I have seen this happen on two occasions and read about many more. If the break away cable is around the towball, whether fixed or detatchable (or an alternative dedicated point), the brakes should operate.

If the detatchable towball detatches and is a fix point for cable then there are no brakes. There has been problems reported with some detatchables coming adrift. Whether user error or not is unimportant to me personally.

Bluenumber, you should be able to get a 30 kN screw-gate carabiner, which locks over the spring clip, from a reputable rock climbing shop, which you can then attach as a permanent fitting to your towball's lug, and then clip the breakaway cable to that.

I have used a D shackle on hard to get to fixed points. The loading required for a breakaway cable to actuate is tiny compared to the rating of anything above 5mm diameter bar and get a stainless one. Use an appropriate size so it protrudes from the towbar.  

Thanks Nellie and Phishing I will find a suitable caribiner as you suggest.  That would make life much easier.  Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.