Defender 130 Rear cross member towing question

I think its still a little difficult to determine if the longranger tank will or will not fit with the OME tow bar, in the pictures i have posted below you can see a ranger tank on a 130 HCPU, with a tow bar of some sort, and then compare with the bar i have fitted. I am told this is a UK only tow bar and was one of 5 that were wrongly fitted at the factory, maybe some one can confirm this???

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...11/06/1396.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...11/06/1398.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...11/06/1399.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...11/06/1400.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...11/06/1401.jpg

Yep, that's a genuine UK or Dixon-Bate (I think) tow bar.

Pretty rare on an Oz spec 'fender.

Forgot to mention that if you fit the big tank generally you need to remove the anti-roll bar too.

FWIW I have the standard tank at the back and a 65-70l LRA sill tank under the drivers side.
The filler is just behind the rear door, it goes through the cabin behind the back seat and through the floor into the tank with a transfer pump to push the fuel across to the main tank.

Remove the anti roll bar!!! is this a bad thing???

Well, that depends on whether you think you need one or not :D


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...11/06/1396.jpg

if you look at this shot the rear ARB has been removed, it can't be mounted with these aftermarket tanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rick130

Well, that depends on whether you think you need one or not :D


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...11/06/1396.jpg

if you look at this shot the rear ARB has been removed, it can't be mounted with these aftermarket tanks.

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Well, i would think it may be a bad thing taking it off??? as its meant to be there for a reason...

Juddy, in answer to your second question, the Nato hitch does bolt directly onto the cross member, and requires a stiffening plate on the front of the cross member to beef up the mounting a bit.

As far as the position of the hook goes, the MOD uses an extentsion bracket, part no. NRC 7758 - described as an 'extentsion towing bracket', to space the hitch back a bit.

Hard to tell but that is what you see on the project hebe link, and also fitted to the HCPU Desert Patrol Vehicles as used by the British SAS. Have a look around the net, there are a few good photos of the rear of the DPV that show this quite well.

I currently have my pintle hook attached directly to the 130 HCPU cross member to tow my No. 5 trailer, and although not ideal, the trailer drawbar would need to be at a fairly extreme angle before it hit the body.

I do intend to see if I can get hold of this bracket, though, but I've been a bit busy on other stuff!

Cheers,

Mike.

Hey Juddy,

I am not sure if you already have a long Ranger Tank or not, but if you haven’t, you can get 140Lt (20lt more than a LongRanger tank) from Long Range Automotives in Melbourne, that will fit with the standard LR tow bar.

Search "Long Range tank prices". There is picture of mine on page 2.


Cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Drover

Hey Juddy,

I am not sure if you already have a long Ranger Tank or not, but if you haven’t, you can get 140Lt (20lt more than a LongRanger tank) from Long Range Automotives in Melbourne, that will fit with the standard LR tow bar.

Search "Long Range tank prices". There is picture of mine on page 2.


Cheers

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Thanks for that, very helpful, i can get a Long ranger tank at trade, so thats why i was looking at the particular brand, but i need to check with regards to

the comment on there site saying

Sway Bar Spaces Down Approximately 75mm, Some Tow Bars/Rear Bars Need Temporary Removal. Would 75mm cause any issue's???

however i will give the melbourne ones a call too.

cheers

J;)

Juddy

My tank is a Long Ranger 120 litre model. I was convinced that my tow bar was genuine landrover....until I am told otherwise.

You will see from the pictures that I had to trim some steel from the tow bar section that runs forward to the Chassis.



As for sway bars.....their over rated! I do have Dobinsons Springs (+2"), poly air bags and twin revalved Bilsteins on each corner of the rear...

Cheers
Andrew