↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > Technical > Towbar extender for bike rack
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 10 of 11 <123 ... 91011>
Print this entire topic · 
B4Lamb



Member Since: 21 Mar 2015
Location: Abergavenny, Wales
Posts: 233

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Galway Green

Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge

I've done a slight upgrade to my extender. I've added a bar underneath with tapped holes to take M8 Screws that contact the vertical variable position bracket. When these are nipped up it stops the annoying rattle when the tow ball is not loaded. "You are never to old to learn something new"
Post #781329 13th Jul 2019 10:13am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
DonH2000



Member Since: 12 Jan 2015
Location: North Kent
Posts: 551

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Excellent, looks great but when my bike rack was attached to a Dixon Bate detachable tow bar there was quite a lot of "slack" and movement in it which meant I went back to a rigid attachment system.

Have you managed to make to make it rigid? Cheers Don.
Post #781347 13th Jul 2019 2:54pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
B4Lamb



Member Since: 21 Mar 2015
Location: Abergavenny, Wales
Posts: 233

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Galway Green
Yes its rock solid. As you can see it picks up on 2 sets of holes on the fixed half of the Dixon Bate tow bracket to form a triangle. I tow trailers, caravans, boats as well as my bike rack. They are all easier to attach compared to the standard Dixon Bate tow ball bracket. The mod I recently introduced just takes the tiny bit of residual movement caused by the tolerance of my 3/4" clevis pin diameter match to the holes. If you make this tolerance too tight it becomes very difficult to slide the pins in and out so you need some play. With the two added M8 screws you have to first slacken these before removing the pins if you want to change height position or remove it altogether. You can do the same mod to the Dixon Bate which is what I did years ago before I came up with the extender design. "You are never to old to learn something new"
Post #781360 13th Jul 2019 4:54pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
ngins



Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Down South
Posts: 69

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
Another thread resurrection! Since disco 2 tow balls no longer seem to be around on eBay or at any scrappies, it looks like this Dixon bate https://dixon-bate.co.uk/products/gb/unive...coup-.html is longer than the standard tow ball. Anyone know if this on top of a nas step (standard 235 spare) with Thule rack would clear?
Otherwise i’ll Try it anyway as it seems a cheap fix if it works and then if not work out what spacers and mods I end up adding and report back!
Post #783972 30th Jul 2019 8:00am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
B4Lamb



Member Since: 21 Mar 2015
Location: Abergavenny, Wales
Posts: 233

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Galway Green
To clear the spare wheel/tyre your tow ball centre needs to be at least 31 cm back from the rear mud flap mounting plate for most tow ball fitting cycle racks. The referenced tow ball you have identified would not provide sufficient offset in my opinion. "You are never to old to learn something new"
Post #783985 30th Jul 2019 8:54am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
ngins



Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Down South
Posts: 69

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
that's great information - thanks!
Post #783987 30th Jul 2019 8:55am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
ngins



Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Down South
Posts: 69

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
Disco 2 towball popped up on eBay today so I think I am sorted - phew. Thanks for all the advice!!
Post #784697 3rd Aug 2019 6:37pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
B4Lamb



Member Since: 21 Mar 2015
Location: Abergavenny, Wales
Posts: 233

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Galway Green
Oh well spotted. You are in luck. "You are never to old to learn something new"
Post #784741 3rd Aug 2019 9:50pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
TACK



Member Since: 26 Apr 2009
Location: Essex
Posts: 1045

Off a defender 130



Click image to enlarge
Post #784797 4th Aug 2019 9:31am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
ngins



Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Down South
Posts: 69

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
Interesting......
Post #784801 4th Aug 2019 9:56am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Phil VM2.5



Member Since: 28 Mar 2012
Location: Limelette
Posts: 196

Belgium 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green
try my contribution on the subject

Click image to enlarge

Hi,
I did buy to my dealer a NAS tow bracket ....
Unfortunaly it did rust and I do not like rust.
So I did buy a Brink tow bracket ...
Problem, my bike holder was not anymore ok because the tire on the door. ( normal size )
So I did buy a tube size 150 x 100 x 120mm, tichness 8 mm.
Nearly for nothing but have pay for the cutting, do not remember but 3 or 4 times the price of the part !
Sorry for my english, hope I can put the pictures to help.

What I like with the Wesfalia part is the form, I think when ofroad it will be better .
I did use it with the NAS so less high.

The extended tow bracket is only use for the bikes.
I like the way I did make it because the initial tow ball can stay, I did lose one day my tow ball not well fixed ...

Not a good day to put a message ...
I have try to delete , sorry

Philippe


Click image to enlarge





Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge
 current : defender 110 sw 2.2 puma 2012 and 230.000km today and
again my Range Rover VM2.5 engine from 1992 and 528.000km today.

One ten 1988 to 1992
1987 BMW GS80
One Ten from 1984 to 1987
One Ten from 1983 to 1984
Serie 3 109 from 1980 to 1983
from 1974 Jeep CJ3B and CJ6
Post #786233 11th Aug 2019 9:24am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
ngins



Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Down South
Posts: 69

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
Well finally got my rack today - Atera Strada DL - as others have mentioned it’s a great bit of kit. Bit of a faff turning it into a 4. Photo attached as even with all the extensions it doesn’t quite clear the door completely but it opens nearly fully so after I add a bit of rubber tube to the bike rack to protect the door corner it will be good enough for me. Once I also extend the electrics of course as why would they be long enough?!!! - 3 more inches would have done it!
Even though it’s not as premium I really liked the Buzzrack Eazzy 4 as I like the uprights and the folding, I haven’t tried one in person but was advised the DL slider is the widest opening you can get - not sure if this is really the case but since it’s also rated on here it’s where I ended up. Hope the pic is useful to others. N.


Click image to enlarge


[img
Post #792596 12th Sep 2019 6:43pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
glpinxit



Member Since: 31 Jul 2010
Location: Somerset
Posts: 149

United Kingdom 

Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge

A detachable Discovery 2 unit enables the whole lot to be removed if you need to open the door (easier with no bikes on, admittedly). They are no longer that easy to come by but I found this on eBay last year- the holes don’t quite line up so a bit of adjusting was needed. Cheers, Guy.
Post #902538 11th May 2021 10:28am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
ngins



Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Down South
Posts: 69

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
Thanks. I may keep an eye on one on eBay as a future option! Good choice in driveway by the way Very Happy Very Happy
Post #902541 11th May 2021 10:41am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
markb110



Member Since: 22 May 2010
Location: Guildford
Posts: 2505

England 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
DonH2000 wrote:
Excellent, looks great but when my bike rack was attached to a Dixon Bate detachable tow bar there was quite a lot of "slack" and movement in it which meant I went back to a rigid attachment system.

Have you managed to make to make it rigid?


Tip here. Weld two nuts to the top of the slider plate ( one each side), then run a bolt through to take up the slack and stop it from rocking.

Thumbs Up
Post #902561 11th May 2021 1:57pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 10 of 11 <123 ... 91011>
All times are GMT

Jump to  
Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DEFENDER2.NET RSS Feed - All Forums