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chrisbbarnes
16th May 2018, 03:54 PM
I will be in the market for a Defender 110 300tdi Wagon soon, but I am wanting to find out if there is a concealed tow bar for these models. All the ones I've seen all stick out. I have been reviewing off road driving videos and write ups etc. and all say that a tow bar usually affect the departure angle. I can see how when watching the videos. I currently have a 2011 Mazda 6 Wagon and I fitted a manufactures tow bar and it has the 50mm receiver in a vertical position and stops just above the bottom of the rear bumper. This is what gave me the idea to get something similar for the 110. This way when not towing I can just remove the tow bar tongue and leave the receiver concealed and so it wont affect any departure angles. From the rear view all I would expect to see would be bolts in the six holes and the rear cross member.

140280140281

Does anyone know if one like this exists and if it will still be rated as per specs or lower rated. I suspect that it will be more than just what I have shown and will have outriggers to other parts of the chassis.
Thanks...

Tombie
17th May 2018, 01:55 PM
Nothing like it exists, and the rated tow bars have outrigger braces to the chassis rails also (crossmember isn’t sufficient).

They don’t have a lot of impact offroad, Long Range tanks and other factors play long before hand.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/05/232.jpg

weeds
17th May 2018, 02:04 PM
Are you planning to do a lot of serious off-roading on a regularly??

I haven’t found it to hamper my off roading....

Dorian
18th May 2018, 12:15 PM
Are you planning to do a lot of serious off-roading on a regularly??

I haven’t found it to hamper my off roading....

x 2.

If departure angle was a problem for you with a standard tow bar and the tongue removed, you might want to think about a 4 point seat belt as well. [bigrolf]

Cheers Glen

tact
18th May 2018, 04:06 PM
The original tow bar is pretty low. Mine acted like a rear mount grader blade.... see pic :

140337

I modified mine... (not for towing clearly...) :
140338

The modification kept the braces back to chassis, and the pintle hook is bolted through the crossmember crush tubes, with a spreader plate on the inner side of the crossmember. (the crossmember is apparently not strong enough without the extra strengthening)

DiscoMick
18th May 2018, 05:04 PM
The English dropped tow bars certainly seem a lot lower than the Hayman Reese style bars used here.

Tombie
18th May 2018, 05:16 PM
The English dropped tow bars certainly seem a lot lower than the Hayman Reese style bars used here.

Correct. Their vans are hitched lower also.

TheGrumpy
18th May 2018, 05:17 PM
It’s not a problem.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/05/247.jpg

DiscoMick
18th May 2018, 06:39 PM
I don't find my tow bar a problem. It's higher than the long range fuel tank.