Thread: Defender towbar conundrum

I picked up a towbar for the Defender wagon, and unfortunately it must be from a different model to mine as the 2 of the 4 bolts on the back of the cross member don't line up.

On top of this, it's not compatible with my rear folding step, as the bar fouls one of the bolt holes.

Finally, the bar connects to the chassis at the same place as my jate ring recovery points. They will probably still go on, but won't have movement past perpendicular to the road (they won't be able to swing back toward an attached vehicle when towing or being towed). This would be negated by the very reason for swapping the existing towbar with the new bar. The existing bar doesn't have a receiver like all new bars have - it simply has a big piece of bent steel curving around until the ball bolts onto it.

I'll post photos of all this later when time permits.

So, the questions are:

1. Do I bother swapping the existing bar which hangs lower than the new bar and doesn't have a removable hitch like the new bar?
2. If I do bother swapping, will the above-mentioned issues be a problem? i.e. the jate rings not swinging back as much, bolt holes not aligning.
3. Is it feasible to drill to more hole in either the cross member or the bar to align the 4 bolt holes?
4. Do I really want/need the folding step?

To me, it seems like a bit of trouble to go to just to have a removable tow hitch, and thus not having the folding step.

Comments/suggestions?

Solved! I removed the old bar and added the new one today.