Thread: Bonnet mounted spare wheel

Makes checking the oil and water bloody difficult....

Originally Posted by 200defenda

Hey has anybody had or has mounted a spare wheel to tdi defender bonnet ? What are your thoughts on doing it, is it worth doing it? Or more hassle than its worth?

I have done it recently on my 300Tdi. Was a bit of an effort as the instructions are minimal. I got a genuine kit, STC7633 from memory.

But once you sat down with all the parts laid out it came together.

Is it worth it? Well that’s up to the individual I guess. It does flex a bit and I haven’t been on any bad corrugations so can’t comment on its performance on sustained impacts.

My only concern would be my 300 has 265/75 16’s which are a bit fatter than 235/85 16’s which limits your visibility and I will go for the narrow tyre when it is time to replace them.

When I bought the vehicle the spare was on the roof so I have lowered that weight. I love the look!

I would be very cautious about bonnet mounted spares on any Landrover that was not delivered in Australia that way. You are likely to have issues with being booked for restricted vision. I have heard of it happening even to people with Series vehicles that were delivered that way, although they should be able to talk their way out of it.

The issue of lifting the bonnet is not (in my experience driving Series Landrovers with bonnet mounted spares for the last 50+ years) as serious as some suggest, although it will depend on tyre size and is easier without a bull bar.

With my Series 2a I avoid it whenever possible.

i had a 200tdi defender bonnet with spare wheel on my 300tdi 130 for many years.
between the bull bar and bonnet it got use as the roof access, (im a tradie always transporting timber) so it was stomped on a lot.

it survived just fine, well apart from footprints.
i loved the space it freed up elsewhere and the ease of access, if i was going to do a trials event or similar i would take it off.
even with a tyre on the bonnet the defender still has better 'over bonnet' vision than many other vehicles.
i did, however, choose to keep the original bonnet unmolested and safe by fitting another with the tyre mount already fitted


sorry, don't know why the emu trying to eat my camera got there. should be a pic of my landie

Yep they look cool but to be honest a PITA, if you are travelling and lifting the bonnet twice a day or more and as we know with older Defenders you will, you will soon tire of it, and or develop strong arms... when I need or think I need a second spare I throw it on the roof... and yes agree with others if the bonnet is not or has not had the strengthening you will need it. Agree it does not really impair visibility.
Mupamadzi.jpg

My son's 300tdi has mounts and i have installed a set from a S3 on my County.

Extra weight has not really been an issue in use. Neither has any vision restriction, but a short person may experience some minor problem - I do not know.

Using the bonnet does give a handy location for an extra or third spare on an extended trip and as swaggi has posted there is a degree of convenience with roof access. There is a different solid rod stay for open bonnet support.

You might expect some bonnet structural issues on a long trip over corrugated roads but so far thousands of kms of corrugations has not adversely affected the bonnet on either motor car.

I don't know if we can mention it now, but a spare wheel on the bonnet provides a very convenient rest at the correct height for long range bunny sniping

Yea i think thats definitely the way to go, getting a second bonnet and leaving my original intact. Incase for what ever reason i would have to resort back to it. I was thinking of buying a frontrunner kit does anybody have any recommendations on brands or where to get a bonnet already with the mount on it ?

The issue is not whether it impedes your vision, but the letter of the law regarding extra equipment that is within the driver's field of view. And the willingness or otherwise of the constabulary to pursue the matter.