Member Since: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 687
CAST TOW HITCH
Does any one know what the tow reciever is made off.?
The reason is if it is cast iron it will be brittle and not suitable to cut and weld. If it is cast steel it could be modified ( second thoughts on possibility of this)
Rob
21st Jun 2006 8:23 am
SMK
Member Since: 06 Dec 2005
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 43
Can't have a look until I get home on Friday but from memory the receiver for the clip-in hitch is integral to the chassis. Can't see how we are going to remedy this easily with an aftermarket fix. More like after market engineering involving cutting torches, MIG's and engineering certificates. $$$
I've been offroad with a KK camper without any clearance issues to date but I haven't tried really steep inclines or decents where it would be real issue. At offroad height the clearance to the hitch is marginal but driveable. Best i can offer is pick your line well.
21st Jun 2006 8:31 am
Rob Bruce
Member Since: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 687
TOW THINGEY
I was actually thinking of the cast removeable thing that plugs into the rear crossmember . If it was cast steel it may be suitable to mod. The issues I see are , possible distortion affecting the locking mechinism, and just reassembly .
If it is cast iron it is too dificult to do strong enough welds for this job.
Rob
21st Jun 2006 8:47 am
Tony
Member Since: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 183
With our Jayco 'Off-road' (Ho Bloody ho!) camper van attached via a gooseneck which reaches skywards to get the van level, the cast iron thingo grounds on approach and departure ramps for River Murray ferries! (Mannum and Swan Reach). As the ball weight is not great, the contraption would likely hit even without the van attached. And it has proven an effective plough when on dirt tracks with a ridge in the centre.
I might be able to pick up a few dollars at weekends by hiring it out to rip rabbit burrows....
The bloke who designed it does not own a trailer.Ex Defender 110 200Tdi owner.
21st Jun 2006 9:24 am
catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
or he has lots of unwanted rabbit burrows
21st Jun 2006 9:29 am
Rob Bruce
Member Since: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 687
TOW THING
Just had a good look at it, it is defenatly cast iron, if you scrape it with a hard chisel it is soft and comes off flakey. So it is NOT able to be modified.
This brings me to think we should only use it with caution on good roads, if it gets a hit on a rock and there is any distortion it will be serverely weakened with cracks.
I think these are made for LR and the maker does some other types, this should be looked at. If this fails the only way is to make/ design/ find a after market proper tow bar.
On the bright side seeing how far you can throw it might turn into a new sport, just emagine at the next Olimpics along with shot put , javelin and "THROWING THE LAND ROVER TOWBAR"
Rob
22nd Jun 2006 7:47 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
The land rover removable tow hitch is made by brink.DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
22nd Jun 2006 9:20 am
Tony
Member Since: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 183
Brink, eh? Mmmm, must remember that name in case I need some rocket science performed...Ex Defender 110 200Tdi owner.
22nd Jun 2006 10:19 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
Is that Aussie for I'm impressed
As I have said before they are designed for UK caravans and trailers not off road towing. It seems a shame that the car has been designed for what you want to do but not much thought has gone into extras.DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
i think it may be drop forged steel will not be cast iron as that is to brittle.Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
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22nd Jun 2006 6:27 pm
Tony
Member Since: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 183
Yes Pelyma, it is truely a work of art. I wonder how much the design and execution has added to the vehicle cost?
I know the Brits have a standard (and very low) coupling height, but it would have been nice if someone at the design stage realised that the rest of the world might be different. On the coil-sprung Disco it is too low for even normal road use here. Pity to have such a fundamental clanger on such a great vehicle...Ex Defender 110 200Tdi owner.
22nd Jun 2006 11:55 pm
Rob Bruce
Member Since: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 687
Reply from LR customer service re tow bar
I sent a email to LR who sent it to customer service asking if they had an alternitive to the one suplied with the car, or had plans to offer a bar that would be suitable for off road and asked what the detatchable tow bar was made off. They replied after a week, the answer is:
No alternitive is available
No plans to design one in future.
The detatchable tow bar was designed to comply with Aust. design rules!
What cods wolop!
They did not know what it is made off, anb told me to ask my dealer! how would they know if LR itself doesent know.
In conclusion eneyone needing to tow off road will have to make there own,
I will have to make my own, and that I guess will be another story
Rob Bruce
30th Jun 2006 6:07 am
Rob Bruce
Member Since: 18 Jun 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 687
OFF ROAD TOWBAR
After a lot of agonising about how to go about a towbar replacement the day came last weekend.
Using Jamos instructions the rear plastic bumper was removed.
The protuding base of reciver was cut off just below the weld.
A 12 mm X 100 mm plate cut to follow the rear chasis member with a 200 mm X 150 mm plate to bolt the toungue to, the whole thing braced up each side with 4 brackets each side and 4 bolts up through the bottom. A toungue cut to length and drilled, holes threaded to bolt it on.
Heavy washers used on all bolts very important.
The rear crossmember is high tensile steel and needs to be piolet holed first to drill.
Plastic bumper replaced.
Very pleased with the result, departure angle not affected now
The project took two days to complete , a bit longer than i expected.
The tongue now sits at 520 mm perfect for my trailer.
Rob
29th Nov 2006 6:49 am
caverD3
Member Since: 02 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Could you posts some pics. Sounds like a good solution.“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
29th Nov 2006 7:00 am
Tony
Member Since: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Adelaide Hills
Posts: 183
Well done, Rob! And I second the vote for some pictures...Ex Defender 110 200Tdi owner.
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