FL1 towbar

[mjm295]

Spoke to BMI about a tow bar kit - in the $1000 region:o

Can I get one cheaper else where?
OR I need a project for the winter months, so Does anyone have drawings/spec for one? (I have welding gear etc) And am comfortable with the wiring.

[101RRS]

I have a TrailBoss tow bar fitted to my Freelander. It is made in Australia and is similar to a Hyman Reese bar. It is rated at 2 Tonne and have towed that weight on a few occasions with no issue. I fitted mine in about an hour.

I bought mine off ebay for $120 but they can be purchased at most good tow bar retailers.

These are the makers.

Trailboss Towbars

28 Ovata Drv, Tullamarine, VIC 3043
p: (03) 93301169
Website - None Supplied
Email - None Supplied


Garry

[Scouse]

Try Carasel at Pendle Hill.
I'm sure there used to be one laying around at work too - I'll have a dig around tomorrow.

[mjm295]

Try Carasel at Pendle Hill.
I'm sure there used to be one laying around at work too - I'll have a dig around tomorrow.

Scouse
Did you find one?

[Scouse]

I haven't found one where I thought one might be as the area is a right mess & I can't even walk through the door.

I have found another towbar elsewhere though & I've just dug it out.
It is a Freelander one but it says 01MY onwards.

If it's suitable for you, it's yours. There's no bolts or gooseneck (Hayman Reece type) though.

[Scouse]

Just checked the parts listing. According to LR, it fits all years & it's the 2000kg version, not the little 1400kg one :).

[mjm295]

I haven't found one where I thought one might be as the area is a right mess & I can't even walk through the door.

I have found another towbar elsewhere though & I've just dug it out.
It is a Freelander one but it says 01MY onwards.

If it's suitable for you, it's yours. There's no bolts or gooseneck (Hayman Reece type) though.

Thanks, sent you a pm.

[mjm295]

Right - next question, what size bolts do I need? ;)

Ill have a crawl under later and see whats there. Are there threaded holes in the chassis? Or do I need nuts too? any ideas?

Also electrics. I hear I can get a wiring kit that plugs in to the loom? Is that right?

[mjm295]

Never mind

Found these:

I fitted a swan neck towbar and it is held on by six bolts, there are three where the heat deflector is above the exhaust tailpipe and three more needed for the other side. The wiring is plugged into a white connector behind the trim on the right side, and a gromet is pushed through above the exhaust which is below the socket.






hi depends on towbar should have 3 13mm bolts each end and 2 15/16mm bolts go up through into rear crossmember normally covered by round black sticky pads to protect threads,the towbar eletrics as rightly said behind rear right hand quarter white connector face of it just hid behind metal look into hole,dont forget to fit relay for indicators hope this helps tiga,.
PS. you may have to tap the towbar up as sometimes the brackets can be slightly bent on towbar,and the heat deflector plate above exhaust sometimes has plate welded in in correct place so tight to get towbar up tap with soft hammer and MIND YOUR HEAD!

[Scouse]

I'll check on the wiring kit on Monday & see what it's worth (if available).

I doubt the bolt kit is available through LR but Carasel might be able to help if you get stuck. The branch at Pendle Hill is usually very good in that regard & not too far from you.

[mjm295]

Bolts is no problem. I have plenty of 13mm high tensile. Some are probably too long, but I'm happy to cut them down. Might even have some bigger ones too if needed.

[mjm295]

OK - Thanks to Scouse for the main bit. I'll get that fitted next week :-)

Rather that shelling out for a wiring kit - what are the 7 wires for?

Earth
Brakes
Left flasher
Right Flasher
Side Lights

Thats 5, what am I missing?
Is their one for Fogs?
Number plate light/markers would run off side lights?

EDIT:

found this:

The "Vehicle Standards Bulletin" issued by the Commonwealth Department of Transport states "Trailers and towing vehicles must have electrical connectors which comply with Australian Standard2513-1982 'Electrical Conectors forTrailer Vehicles'.

1 Left hand turn Yellow
2 Reversing signal Black
3 Earth return White
4 Right hand turn Green
5 Service brakes Blue
6 Stop lamps Red
7 Rear lamps, clearence and side marker lamps Brown

.........and for 12 pin connectors

8 Battery charger / electric winch Orange (http://www.exploroz.com/Places/19828/NSW/Orange.aspx)
9 Auxiliaries, etc/Battery feed Pink
10 Earth return White
11 Rear fog lamp Grey
12 Spare Violet

[mjm295]

Just been in the garage, supposed to be working from home, yeah right.

I have removed the recovery eye as per landrover instructions, but that leaves a gap between the towbar and the chassis, so I think the eye needs to go back in. Can anyone confirm that their freelander has a tow bat and the towing eye?

Trouble is I need to grind a bit (5mm?) off the towing eye bracket to get them both to fit. The plate that goes across to deflect the exhaust gas stick out too far on the non exhaust side of the eye bracket. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks
Mark

[101RRS]

My tow/tie down bracket is removed - my towbar just just went straight on - no modifications to the car at all.

Garry

[mjm295]

Thanks Garry,

There is too much of a gap for this one to bolt straight in.

[101RRS]

What brand tow bar did you end up buying - seems to be poorly designed. The only hard bid in putting mine in was getting the plates that the bolts bolt up too inside the chassis rail. My plates gave with lengths of stiff wire welded to them so they could be poked through the holes in the chassis and then moved into the right spot to be bolted up. On the side where the tie down point is the bar used the holes for this as the bolt up points.

Good luck with it

Garry

[mjm295]

What brand tow bar did you end up buying - seems to be poorly designed. The only hard bid in putting mine in was getting the plates that the bolts bolt up too inside the chassis rail. My plates gave with lengths of stiff wire welded to them so they could be poked through the holes in the chassis and then moved into the right spot to be bolted up. On the side where the tie down point is the bar used the holes for this as the bolt up points.

Good luck with it

Garry

Its a Hayman Reese, maybe it shrunk, its been laying around scouses work for a few years!!!

[Scouse]

It's a genuine LR towbar but made locally by Hayman Reece. It's not a genuine UK bar. It has a RAA... part number which means it's made locally as a 'genuine' part.

It's been a while now but I seem to recall that one edge of the towing bracket needed to be trimmed off when a certain towbar was fitted. Later on, LR made a modified bracket that was to be retrofitted.
I'm at home today looking after Little Scouse but I'll see if I can dig up the details tomorrow. I had a quick look yesterday when I first saw that you had a problem but the details might be hard to dig up as it was a local bulletin, not a UK one.

[mjm295]

Thanks Mate. It very nearly fits, like I said 5mm will be plenty. I will have a go once I get hold of a grinder.

[mjm295]

Grinder just got dropped off, trouble is I have loads of work to catch up with and the gaffer is hassling me for it!!!! AAARGH

[101RRS]

Crickey - this job is becoming bigger than Ben Hur:D

[mjm295]

Crickey - this job is becoming bigger than Ben Hur:D

Its fitted now. :D

What size goose neck do I need?

something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Hayman-reece-tow-bar-goose-neck_W0QQitemZ180333220339QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Ca r_Parts_Accessories?hash=item180333220339&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Hayman-reece-tow-bar-goose-neck_W0QQitemZ180333220339QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Ca r_Parts_Accessories?hash=item180333220339&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

[101RRS]

Something like that should be fine.

Glad to see the job done.

Garry