Spare on Bonnet?

[YOLO110]

I was looking at some earlier threads and still like the 'classic' look of the spare wheel on the bonnet! Had a quick search but I cannot seem to find what year did LR move the location of the spare from the bonnet to the tailgate?

I wonder if it is now still possible/legal to mount the spare on the bonnet of a new vehicle?

Cheers,

Pete :)

[cinders]

Hi Pete,
What year is yours and what tyres are you using. If it's a puma model, forget it
I was considering it myself a few years ago, 02 model, but when I sat the spare on I ruled it out straight away, lost too much vision for my liking. I am running 255/85 MTR.
But if you do go ahead you'll need to obtain the bracket that bolts to the bonnet plus maybe gas struts as it will become quite heavy.
Cheers

[YOLO110]

Yes, good point! Thanks.

Forgot the late model Puma's have a much higher bonnet!... that 'bulge' is hiding a lot more power!!! :D

[JDNSW]

Just a comment - Landrover did not "move the location of the spare from the bonnet to the tailgate". The optional bonnet mount was introduced in about 1949 and was always that - optional. (Probably except 107 wagon where it was, I think, standard)

All five door station wagons since the Series 2 (1958) have had the standard spare position on the rear door. The bonnet mount became less popular after the bonnet was lengthened with the Stage 1 and then coil sprung models, and from about the 1990s has pretty much faded out with wider tyres (and hence restricted vision). I seem to remember that the bonnets from 1999 on need reinforcing to carry a spare, and the Puma engined ones, as mentioned, have a bulge that precludes it.

I do not think it has been a factory or dealer option in Australia for any of the coil sprung Landrovers, and it is quite possible that it would not meet ADRs for forward visibility, although you would have to research when these were introduced.

John

[Mick_Marsh]

Yep, as John said, the ADR's are the restricting factor.
Australian Design Rules (http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/)

[rovers4]

I have a '97 300tdi 110 wagon. It has a bonnet spare kit.

With the 2nd. spare on it, it is heavy. I have lifted it by standing on the bumper with legs either side of the bull bar, for stability. Will investigate the idea of gas struts.

A fat tyre could make things interesting, but for out of the cities it should be fine. You can still identify your front edge with the line of the bull bar and therefore the front left corner. (intersect with side of vehicle.)

No worse than a lot of modern cars, in fact still a bit better.

[Lafia]

My '98 130 has the bonnet mounting hardware minus the ring and the bracket (missing when I bought it). Does anyone know if these are sold as separate spares or is it only as a complete kit?

Cheers

[JDNSW]

Ring and bracket is part of the rear door mount, not the bonnet mount, although sometimes used there.

John