 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Help needed with Towbar Setup |
 
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Anyway, if I fit the carrier I can no longer carry the bikes on the back.
| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7875   
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Gosh, that is a lot of thinking! I'm not sure I can help much, but have seen the Dixon bate drop plate added to the NAS step but would be concerned it can take the load?
I also have the annoying two pin rattle with a light trailer. I was thinking of removing the pins and replace with suitable bolts, two each side to clamp tight and stop the rattle. Yes, it would be not so easy to change height but should stop the rattle. My pins take some getting out anyway and hitch height never change so no brainer for me I guess. James MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641 MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557 Instagram @suffolk_rovers |
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23rd Sep 2018 8:22pm |
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| ozzie1989 Member Since: 25 Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 282  
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Thanks James
I hadn't thought of using bolts to be honest but may give it a go if I can find any the right size - my pins are big! 
Doesn't help the cycle carrier issue mind you - thinking about it I'm sure I saw something on here a while back for cycle carriers, it was like a box section towbar extender (even had an extended lighting socket on it) to push the cycle carrier beyond the spare wheel. I'm still deciding which is the best way to go!  Now: 2010 2.4 TDCi 110 Utility Wagon
Then: 2004 2.5 TD5 90 Hard Top (X-Tech Edition) |
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25th Sep 2018 11:16pm |
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| voorfrank Member Since: 06 Feb 2017 Location: Schiedam Posts: 37  
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I did not install a sparewheel carrier, instead I installed Optimill hinges on the backdoor and have the sparewheel on the door. The door still closes as(or even better as) without the ste spare on.
I have a Puma reardoor, which I think are much stronger than the old ones and 255/85R16 tyre. |
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26th Sep 2018 12:10pm |
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| Argee Member Since: 13 Nov 2017 Location: Suffolk Posts: 71 
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I’d be interested in the Southdown one if you do take it off.
Hope you get sorted. |
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26th Sep 2018 7:11pm |
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| Ads90 Member Since: 16 Jun 2008 Location: Cots-on-the-Wolds Posts: 800 
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There was a NAS step with removable hitch socket which I looked at a while back.
May have been this one http://www.4wheeln.co.uk/shop2/product.php?id_product=615 which I had saved, but their website doesn't seem to work too well. Would help re. removing the ball for off-roading, but you may still get rattles due to the removable parts! |
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27th Sep 2018 9:06am |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5424 
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I like the NAS ones, and fancy one like the original ones that had the 2” receiver, not tow Bar plate/holes
Andy. |
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27th Sep 2018 9:18am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8578
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I believe the genuine NAS step had a 2" receiver for the American market.
The 2" receiver with drop plate is not type approved towing equipment. There are different versions of the aftermarket NAS step which allows tow balls to be attached direct to the NAS step which is too high for most towing situations. The Nakatanenga dropped tow ball does carry the correct approval markings. The genuine Southdown tank guard is a great bit of kit (fitted to our red 110) . If removing that tank guard we have supplied various fuel tanks with double skinned bottoms which will give a reasonableamount of protection. HTH Brendan |
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27th Sep 2018 11:46am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240 
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It's worth noting that the type approval issue only applies to those vehicles that are classified as cars or tax class M1. If the towing vehicle is N1 and therefore a commercial vehicle, the rules are different and the restriction doesn't apply. As I understand that all factory USW's were classified N1, they can legally use a 2 inch receiver set up as a tow bar.
As an aside, the type approval only came into force in 1997 so earlier vehicles can also use non-type approved towing equipment. 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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27th Sep 2018 12:19pm |
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| DAZ110 Member Since: 06 Dec 2007 Location: East Sussex Posts: 2004 
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Is this any help?....would it fit a USW?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Defe...2338893024 |
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27th Sep 2018 12:43pm |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2288 
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Hello ozzie1989
I have a similar set up to the direction you are considering, low(ish) height Tow Ball requirement (350mm), NAS Rear Step, and Swing Away Spare Wheel Carrier....(and I hate rattles too). I used a Dixon Bate 200mm Drop Plate + X2 50mm Drop Plate additions, all bolted together with Custom Metalwork, bracing the arrangement, so zero rattel, and possible chance of DB Slider being stolen. There is also room for me to add a NATO rear hitch above this set up when I tow my ex MOD Trailer. LRA is right with a N1 classification there is more room for 'manoeuvre' with your set up. If you can (and havn't already) locate the 13 Pin Electrical Socket within the Rear Cross Member.  Click image to enlarge Good Luck SKIP https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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27th Sep 2018 2:00pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16892 
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Since the 130 rear crossmember is the same as those used on 110 and 90 vehicles, this could certainly be made to fit. Probably the only thing that would need changing is that the two bracing arms would need swapping for 110 arms. I wonder how many shin bruises you'd get before you remembered it was there! |
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27th Sep 2018 2:27pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8578
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LRA I believe that the requirements for type approval on towing equipment for N1 vehicles changed about 2-3 years ago under regulation 55?
Now I am not sure of the effective date of this change and if the regulation was applied retrospective or not Brendan |
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27th Sep 2018 3:30pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7693 
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Keep the southdowbn guard, buy two more tractor tow pins at correct length and get a short bar extender to move hitch back so bike rack still fits with wheel carrier. Cheers
James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
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27th Sep 2018 4:23pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11240
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That's a good spot, Brendan; I hadn't seen that one before and had to look it up. So, for the sake of completeness then: Regulation EC94/20, implemented 1st August 1998, meant that all passenger cars registered from the data onwards could only legally use Type Approved tow bars. This didn't apply to Defenders considered commercial vehicles - vans, pick-ups, DCPU's and USW's - but did to all station wagons. From 29th October 2012, this became Regulation 55, which introduced the same Type Approval requirements for light commercials (up to 3500GVW) and motorhomes. So, if your Defender is older than 1st August '98 or is a commercial model registered before 29th October '12, you can legally use a 2 inch receiver, Southdown towbar/tank guard, NATO hitch or anything else. Otherwise, you're restricted to Type Approved equipment. I'm not sure of the exact date but some time in September 2010 all Defenders became N1/commercial class, which means that any station wagons registered after then but before 29th October '12 will also fall into that group. 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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27th Sep 2018 5:39pm |
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