 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > NAS spec rear step bumper and NATO hitch |
 
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 19677  
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It is certainly strong enough, height might be a little high but depends on the trailer.
I have a Dixon Bate ball and pin hitch on the lower bolts and that suits my Ifor trailer if a tad nose high if not loaded. The bolt pattern is indeed the same and I've though of that myself! At a guess I would say it fits but I am no more sure than you. Someone should be able to advise you on this or at worst give dimensions. |
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12th May 2014 5:46pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240 
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A NATO hitch will fit but it'll be very low. It depends on which type of Sankey but it really needs to be close to the height of the rear crossmember to be anywhere near level. Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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12th May 2014 6:03pm |
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| LittleFoot Member Since: 25 Aug 2012 Location: east sussex Posts: 233
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Thanks guys.
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12th May 2014 6:38pm |
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| LittleFoot Member Since: 25 Aug 2012 Location: east sussex Posts: 233
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Will the handling be seriously affected if the trailer is slightly nose down?
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12th May 2014 6:40pm |
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| landys1 Member Since: 04 Dec 2013 Location: Cheshire Posts: 134 
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Trailers should be towed slightly nose down - helps prevent the dreaded trailer snaking! 1959 Series 2 Ragtop
1989 SWB Stationwagon 1998 300Tdi Hard Top and 2012 2.2 Puma Hardtop (at work) 2011 Puma 90 2.4 XS |
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12th May 2014 6:51pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558 
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yes I agree slightly nose down helps
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12th May 2014 8:05pm |
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| DiscoStu Member Since: 30 Jun 2007 Location: London/The far north Posts: 253 
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Got a NATO hitch on my NAS step, will post a pic tomorrow. Have got a 'bracket' to raise the height My Disco 'best bits'
Defender 110 XS CSW 2013 |
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12th May 2014 8:31pm |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2290 
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Hello LittleFoot
I have done almost exactly what you are thinking of doing. I mounted NATO hitch to a NAS rear step-towing frame to tow a Rapier Trailer. Observations... 1. The NAS rear step needed the bottom 2 holes elongated slightly to allow my NATO hitch to fit correctly. 2. The connection of the Trailer (with my set up) is slightly nose down, this presents no towing issues to my knowledge, and, as has been stated is preferred, nose up can cause 'snaking'. 3. The strength of the NAS step for towing should be ok, although check that you have the two torsion arms fitted, through to the chassis extension brackets (near where the fuel tank guard is located). I don't have a picture of this currently as the NAS step (and side steps) are off my 90, for the removal of the powder coating  and refinishing
This is what I tow...  Click image to enlarge Rapier Trailer SKIP https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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12th May 2014 9:04pm |
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| LittleFoot Member Since: 25 Aug 2012 Location: east sussex Posts: 233
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Great answers guys, thanks for your time.
Sounds like it is possible
I'm particularly glad to hear your answer X4SKP  and I'd be very interested to see your bracket discoStu!
When you say elongated - do you mean opened out? May I ask what specific hitch you use? Cheers all  |
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13th May 2014 8:02am |
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| LittleFoot Member Since: 25 Aug 2012 Location: east sussex Posts: 233
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Ps very good looking trailer X4SKP
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13th May 2014 8:03am |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2290
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Hello LittleFoot
I adapted my NAS step by elongating the bottom 2 holes (which are 18mm OD) upwards by 10mm. I 'limited' the alteration to fit the NATO hitch I have so the elongated section of the holes are 15mm OD. Click image to enlarge NATO Towing Mount The NATO hitch I have came with the 'deal' struck at a MOD auction for the trailer. I don't know exactly what type of hitch it is as it has no distinguishing markings. The 4 mounting holes are at a spacing of 85mm width x 45mm height and require M14 bolts. Click image to enlarge NATO Hitch I am refinishing the NAS step-towing frame currently and will probably weld the 'unwanted' section of the lower holes, (as I don't intend to tow anything else currently) although I am sure this isn't really required. The plate here is 10mm thick and the towing bolts have 27mm washers fitted, I also fitted a 3mm SS plate behind the NAS towing plate, with the 4 holes required matching exactly my NATO hitch. An adaption bracket like discoStu has used may be a good solution, the overall towing position of your trailer is probably the key thing to consider, I set mine up on blocks first to judge. Let us know how you get on... SKIP https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html Last edited by X4SKP on 4th Apr 2019 6:28pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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13th May 2014 9:44am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240
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Whilst it's true that 'slightly nose down' is ok, as I said earlier it does depend on the type of Sankey trailer that you have. If it's an earlier narrow track or Mk2 widetrack, then the hitch is mounted on top of the chassis rails. This means that they are already slightly nose down even if the hitch is at crossmember height. If the hitch is lower on a NAS step then it'll be 'very ' nose down. Probably not much of an issue from a safe towing perspective, but it will look very odd and mean that the load bed is always on an exaggerated slope, potentially making loading a real pain.
On Mk3 widetracks and rapier trailers as shown above, the hitch is in line with the chassis rails so they're slightly more forgiving. They still look better when near level though: Click image to enlarge Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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13th May 2014 10:59am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16960 
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It should be a Dixon Bate Bradley FV987958 4.08 tonne light towing pintle.
Curious. I think that BSAU24 (the standard for four-bolt towing attachments) specifices a 12mm diameter fixing (ISO M12 or 1/2") and a hole capable of accepting an M14 bolt seems oversize. Has your pintle been modified in any way? It's not a Chinese knock-off? EDIT - standard calls for 33/64" holes on centres 3.3/8" (h) by 1.3/4" (v). 33/64" = 13.1mm. |
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13th May 2014 12:45pm |
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| LittleFoot Member Since: 25 Aug 2012 Location: east sussex Posts: 233
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Thank you all for your answers. Much appreciated.
If all goes to plan the trailer won't be a Sankey -it will be a Rapier
Hence my interest in Skip's detailed answer and photos
Thanks for the link to correct pintle. Cheers, |
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13th May 2014 3:02pm |
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