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HardCharger



Member Since: 03 Mar 2013
Location: Manila
Posts: 799
Philippines 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey
blackwolf wrote:
Yes and no!

Dixon-Bate was split up in 2009 with the trailer business being sold to Mersea Trailers and the towing products business and Dixon-Bate trade name being sold to Bradley Doublelock Ltd.

In 2014 Bradley Doublelock Ltd was itself sold to the German firm, AL-KO Kober, better known just as AL-KO, and what remains of the Dixon-Bate and Bradley businesses now operate out of AL-KO's premises in Southam.

There does however seem to be some internet detritus still around from the earlier days.


Thanks for the information, blackwolf!

I was contemplating a towing point for my truck but since I couldn't find a definitive site, I settled on a recovery point from Uproar 4x4. Thumbs Up No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy
Post #1075493 16th Sep 2025 1:31am
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Hazza



Member Since: 10 Jan 2011
Location: North Yorkshire / Leeds
Posts: 239
United Kingdom 1990 Defender 110 Td5 HT Bronze Green
You can make a NATO hitch work with a NAS step, you just have to remove the lower locking mechanism from the NATO hitch meaning it becomes swivel-only. It's the locking mechanism at the bottom which fouls on the NAS step.

My NATO hitch has been modified in this way, not that I have a NAS step - but I needed a hitch quickly and this was available! 1990 Defender 110 200TDI Camper - now converted to Td5 power
Post #1075530 16th Sep 2025 6:45pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17956
United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
You certainly couldn't do that on a vehicle requiring type-approved towing equipment. The pintle is also likely to be too low for comfortably towing any ex-military trailer, and you couldn't tow anything with a rotating lunette.
Post #1075561 16th Sep 2025 10:31pm
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TexasRover



Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1334
France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White
custom90 wrote:
On the bright side there is plenty of stock around so I can see, they are nice bits of kit.

It is a bit of a pain that NAS tow steps sit that bit higher than wanted, yet a non NAS spec drop plate and tie bars sit too low like a plough as well.


The NAS receiver socket can be high because you simply buy a drop hitch to stick in. Its simple effective and cheap which it seems our EU/UK are dead against with all these regulations they keep inventing (especially the cheap part)
Post #1075581 17th Sep 2025 8:16am
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Hazza



Member Since: 10 Jan 2011
Location: North Yorkshire / Leeds
Posts: 239
United Kingdom 1990 Defender 110 Td5 HT Bronze Green
Blackdog - totally agree, thankfully mine is too old for type approval to matter.

I have a feeling mine was originally fitted above the NAS step, straight onto the cross member so it was the right height. Hence the requirement to trim the bottom off the hitch as otherwise it would foul on the NAS step's mounting to the cross member 1990 Defender 110 200TDI Camper - now converted to Td5 power
Post #1075610 17th Sep 2025 3:13pm
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