I recently damaged my tow socket. The cover broke off. Contacted the dealer and they said there is no way I can replace just the tow socket and I have to replace the whole hitch since it all comes together. Around $1,500 to replace the hitch! I'd like to know if there is a genuine tow socket that can be replaced and see if the dealer was wrong.

If not, has anyone had experience in adding an aftermarket tow socket? Will a tow socket cover from another land rover work? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Is it still functional?

If so, I'd be rolling out the duct tape and/or zip ties while keeping an eye out for one or something compatible on ebay from a breaker.

Plenty of mild shunts total these vehicles. Tow hitch and wiring setups have to be plentiful out there. Might take a while but perhaps time is on your side.

 

It is still functional and the duct tape is being used, I just wanted to get it back to 100%. From what you are saying, it does sound like there is no way to do this without grabbing something from eBay or replacing the whole hitch. If so, that is a disappointment and really bad design (or a cash grab) on the part of Land Rover. I'll keep an eye out. I've also asked powerfuluk if they can make a detachable socket.

 

My cover has also broken off.....I haven't seen just the tow socket available as a seperate piece. If you find anything it will probably be the entire wiring harness that goes back into the boot because the tow socket and wires come as one integrated piece

 

I would take a whole wiring harness but that’s not even an option from LR! Crazy. I’ll look for that on eBay as well.

here is a picture of a wiring harness for sale but WITHOUT the socket of course. If this image is correct (who knows, could be a different section), then why can’t the damn socket be sold separate?

 

The socket is more common in Europe. It is used on a bunch of other vehicles as well. If you look on the web for European web sites for trailer/towing products, you may find one there without the hefty markup JLR charges. If you're not in a big hurry, Aliexpress has loads of options. I found this on the first page searching, super expensive: $5.35.

Aliexpress Trailer socket

 

That's a 13 pin connector, US uses the 7 pin. But you're not wrong, these aren't JLR specific, just need to find one that fits. Our local tractor supply has a lot of versions of the 7 pin mount. May not line up with the exact screw pattern, but I can't imagine it would be tough to find one that is very close.

 

Unfortunately it is very specific piece. Yes it is a standard US seven pin, but they molded it into the mounting piece and then sealed he wires into it with some type silicon. On top of that the 4pin is directly molded to it too.

 

I had thought you broke the cover. The pin on the cover may be drifted out and a cover from one of these many styles can be substituted. At a Finn note each, a bit of experimentation might be in order. My Range Rover had the same 4 pin/7pin combo mount and it had been the same from 2004. Many of those vintage RR's now live in old car retirement lots. You may be able to get the entire assembly, including harness for very little. You may need to remove them from the mounting plate and put them in the Defender's one.

 

You can pull back the casing on the wire and splice in a new one. I'm seeing four screws on mine so it looks like I can pull the 7 pin out, tap into the harness and replace it. Is it a factory solution? No, but it fixes the problem.