 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Tank Guard and 2" Receiver for TD5 90 |
 
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| stevie d Member Since: 09 Nov 2009 Location: Bishops Stortford Posts: 342   
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I don't think Defenders require type approved tow bars as mine at least is classed as a light goods vehicle N1 up to 3500kg and as such doesn't require a type approved tow bar
http://www.caravanninglinks.com/goto/page/...explained/ Looks like it will be ok for a further 5 years at least and then may not be retrospective
Steve  Defender 90 TD5 Station Wagon
Discovery 3 HSE BMW 330i Coupe |
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11th Jan 2011 12:23am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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The sticky point is the drop plate as it is illegal to use a drop plate to lower the tow ball on a non type approved tow bar.
Now is a 2"receiver a tow bar? Oh the fun and games of regulations! Brendan |
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11th Jan 2011 12:50am |
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| stevie d Member Since: 09 Nov 2009 Location: Bishops Stortford Posts: 342
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Extreme 4x4 are currently getting their receiver and drop plate type approved and expect this around Easter time.
Devon 4x4 have rated the receiver at 6 tons for recovery but have no rating/approval as tow bar. Safari equip no approval/ rating I believe Andrew S has one of these receivers, does he use it for towing? Where is he when you need him!! (as a side, extreme are selling receiver and drop plate as tow bars, but when I spoke to them they didn't confirm they were legal for towing?) Steve Defender 90 TD5 Station Wagon
Discovery 3 HSE BMW 330i Coupe |
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11th Jan 2011 2:25pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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Extreme are being slightly naughty there selling them as tow bars. I would not go as far as saying being illegal but it could be considered to be unethical however.
On the black 110 we have the Safari Equip 2" receiver and have experienced no problems with it. Since we have long range tanks fitted it would be difficult if not impossible to fit a standard tow bar HTH Brendan |
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11th Jan 2011 3:27pm |
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| alantd Member Since: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1513 
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I too have the Safari one.
One of the reasons it is cheaper is that they've not sought type approval. They were very clear with me that they couldn't rate it. As leeds says, it be limited to the shear strength of the pin - which is at least as thick as the one used by Dixon-Bate. There are enough bolts to the crossmember (and importantly the chassis rails) to mean it won't fail there. I use mine for pulling a loaded Sankey all the time. The combined weight of the trailer and payload rarely exceeds 1.2T but I've never had any hint of problems and there's no evidence of strain (deformation etc). The only things to consider are: The chassis rail connections use the same slots as a tank guard so you'll need to verify that they work together. It also means that when fitted, you can't get a JATE ring through the rear chassis (if you wanted to hook up the break-away brake line). There's a stupid little grub screw designed to stop the fitment rattling in the receiver. It'll scar the fitment and strip all the powdercoat off - not an issue but it seems a bit flimsy to me. Other than that, very happy with it. I get to tow at varying height (including crossmember height - important for Sankey trailers) and I don't lose my departure angle like you would with a Dixon-Bate. HTH One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS
+ New Defender 110 First Edition |
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19th Jan 2011 12:13pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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Putting the break away cable (emergency brake cable in event of loosing the trailer/not sure what it is called) around the tow ball is illegal AFAIK. i.e. tow ball fails the 'emergency' brake will most likely not be applied.
Must get around to fitting a shackle through one of the other holes in the drop plate to attach the brake cable too. Alan you mention a little grub screw to stop fitting rattling ours is I believe an 8mm bolt. Yes marking of the powder coating will occur. Am not sure if they are galvanised or not underneath the powder coating but don't see it as a major issue. We use ours to pull a 2.6 tonne trailer and I have confidence in it. The point about different after market stuff working together is very important
Brendan |
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19th Jan 2011 3:00pm |
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| alantd Member Since: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1513
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Yup - grub screw is 8mm
Agree with you about attaching the break-away cable to the tow ball - hence I was looking to attach it to a JATE ring. Not going to happen now though  One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS
+ New Defender 110 First Edition |
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19th Jan 2011 3:10pm |
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| Glynparry25 Member Since: 16 Feb 2009 Location: Miserable Midlands Posts: 3015  
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Lets hope when the European trailer law comes to UK they won't include your tow hitch. Here in Germany you will pass your MOT if you have one of them on.... everything has to be approved.
Glyn  |
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19th Jan 2011 3:17pm |
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| Glynparry25 Member Since: 16 Feb 2009 Location: Miserable Midlands Posts: 3015
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19th Jan 2011 3:18pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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Simple just removed the drop plate or tow ball and it is not for towing.
If it is not on they can't test it 
Brendan |
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19th Jan 2011 3:46pm |
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| Glynparry25 Member Since: 16 Feb 2009 Location: Miserable Midlands Posts: 3015
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Will be difficult to tow a trailer to the test center without a tow hitch. Glyn |
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19th Jan 2011 4:03pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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There was me thinking MOT for vehicle rather then trailer!
Well one of our vehicles has a type approved tow bar so no problem there. Another due to its age gets away without having a type approved tow bar on. So we would be able to get our trailers to the trailer MOT test station legally. Now just wait for some not so bright spark to decide that you must MOT and only use a specific trailer/vehicle combination??? Brendan |
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19th Jan 2011 4:26pm |
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| Glynparry25 Member Since: 16 Feb 2009 Location: Miserable Midlands Posts: 3015
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Haha, guess what  .
In Germany it doesn't matter how old your car is you have to have an approved tow bar. Same as the trailer, doesn't matter how old it is it has to go through the same test. It is good and bad... 50-70% of the trailers on the road will become ;unroadworthy' and people will have to fork out a fortune in buying type approved towing systems. On the plus side, you won't have people putting a car on an old caravan chassis rated at 500Kg driving down the motorway at 70mph and then wonder what went wrong when the whole thing flips 
Glyn |
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19th Jan 2011 4:33pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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Well I live in the UK and seldom tow on the continent.
Both our trailers are Ifor Williams ones. Both rated properly for the work they do. Yes there are some dogs of trailers on the road which should be taken off the road. If a trailer MOT gets them off the road I will not complain! Interestingly I saw a 2.6 tonne Ifor Wiliam box trailer being towed by a medium sized eurobox. `Trailer was all sign written so obviously a business trailer. There was me thinking cars in general (i.e. medium sized eurobox) had a general tow limit of 1200-1500 kg? Trailer/driving laws are a nightmare at times to understand/comply with. Brendan |
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19th Jan 2011 4:43pm |
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