Thread: 1958 Series II resurrection

Someone has done some interesting modifications to it. Have a look at the wiper setup for example. And I don't think I have seen a brake booster in that location before (mine was in the LH side of the bulkead tucked under the rear of the mudguard).

Originally Posted by gromit

A tow ball on the front is quite common for working Land Rovers, there's one on my Series I and a Series II I sold some years back had one.
Usually they are offset to the passenger side so that the driver can sight down the side of a trailer/caravan.

Already have plenty to keep me busy so I may have to move this on.



Colin

That's pretty interesting I've never thought about why you'd have one on the front. Would you use it to push trailers a small distance into place or what? I can't really see the benefit except you can see the trailer in front of you.

That's a bummer you may have to give it up, does look like a big project

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Someone has done some interesting modifications to it. Have a look at the wiper setup for example. And I don't think I have seen a brake booster in that location before (mine was in the LH side of the bulkead tucked under the rear of the mudguard).

Hi John,
Not sure if you remember but my Series I has the same type of wiper modification.

This Series II has lots of mods and looks like it was well used prior to '97.
Drivers seat raised (owner was height challenged).
Bash plates under dual fuel tanks.
11" front brakes, SLS. I haven't checked whether the servo is for both F & R or just Fronts
Tail lights in home made galvanised housings.
The professionally modified chassis which has then been galvanised would have been an 'investment' at the time.
Would have originally had a 2 litre motor but this has long gone unfortunately.
Because it's early the hardtop is missing the two small rear windows and the cat-flap support mechanism is unusual.

Originally Posted by shwza

That's pretty interesting I've never thought about why you'd have one on the front. Would you use it to push trailers a small distance into place or what? I can't really see the benefit except you can see the trailer in front of you.

That's a bummer you may have to give it up, does look like a big project

Yes, handy pushing trailers.

I think the wiring will be a challenge, lots of extra switches etc.
The rest is the usual Land Rover repairs and the decision regarding how much to try and get back to 'original'.

I really need to focus on the ones I already have. Very easy to get diverted onto a different project and the others are left behind......


Colin

Originally Posted by shwza

That's pretty interesting I've never thought about why you'd have one on the front. Would you use it to push trailers a small distance into place or what? I can't really see the benefit except you can see the trailer in front of you.

That's a bummer you may have to give it up, does look like a big project

The front tow ball can also be used for vehicle towing. When growing up our S3 had a front tow ball and we carried a tube bar (about 2m long) on the roof rack with a tow receiver mounted on both ends. It meant we could be towed if required without having to worry about rope tension etc. I never saw it used though...

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

The front tow ball can also be used for vehicle towing. When growing up our S3 had a front tow ball and we carried a tube bar (about 2m long) on the roof rack with a tow receiver mounted on both ends. It meant we could be towed if required without having to worry about rope tension etc. I never saw it used though...

I think I've always thought of a tow ball as being the pulling part of the setup. Never thought it was for pushing. I can see why you shouldn't push things for long distances with it. If there's an issue the tow ball is going straight through whatever you're towing and vice versa. The double ended bar makes more sense because all parts are pulling so the whole thing will fall apart if there's an issue. But we're talking about working and farm cars here so things like safety sometimes seem to go out the window lol

Originally Posted by shwza

I think I've always thought of a tow ball as being the pulling part of the setup. Never thought it was for pushing. I can see why you shouldn't push things for long distances with it. If there's an issue the tow ball is going straight through whatever you're towing and vice versa. The double ended bar makes more sense because all parts are pulling so the whole thing will fall apart if there's an issue. But we're talking about working and farm cars here so things like safety sometimes seem to go out the window lol

A tow ball "pushes" whenever the towing vehicle brakes, so they're certainly up to it. I'd hazard a guess that the braking/"pushing" forces could be much more savage than anything "pulling", which relies on engine power to generate this force. Failure has got much more to do with the bits between the ball and the vehicle itself...

A lot of people who vans who have trouble backing them use tow ball at the front to push the van.

On the farm we had a lot of small equipment such as feeders or connecting bits of kit that were quicker to position front on.

Reversing you often need a spotter to line stuff up, but in the front you could do it alone