Thread: Gas Lift for Bonnet

Probably a dream, I would leave it on the back.
Bonnet mounted means you cannot tilt the bonnet back to the windscreen to get to the back of the engine.
Apart from the weight of the spare .
We aren't 18 year old army boys now!!

Search is your friend. Here are some Defender ideas.
DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - Gas bonnet struts
I searched https://www.google.com.au/search?cli...IMHu8weO77agDw

Don.

Thanks Gents - didn't think to look at Defenders - was just looking for Series. I've been living under the bonnet more or less since September and your'e right about access. Also - if I ever need to use the spare - its going to be a lot easier off the back than off the bonnet. Oh well , practically it needs to stay where it is I guess. Getting old sucks.
cheers,
D

Hello Dark,

Could you go and get something like this and put the tyre under the tray? Out of sight out of mind and could be easier to live with.

Holden 253 308 Spare Tyre Winch HJ HQ HX HZ WB Tonner VAN UTE V8 Parts | eBay

or one for an off road trailer

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/OFF-ROAD-...QAAOSw~bFWLshH

I have no association with the sellers.

Kind Regards
Lionel

Hello Dark,

I just found an ex-army Land Rover version of the tyre winch if you want ti keep it all under the same badge.

EX Army Landrover 110 Spare Wheel Winch Perentie Defender Bushranger | eBay

Kind Regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by Dark61

I currently have the spare wheel on the back behind the cab but it just doesn't look right and I want to get it back on the bonnet, except that the Hernia isn't getting any younger. Has anyone fitted a gas lift strut to help lift the bonnet and if so how much difference did it make?
cheers,
D

Hi Mate

Quick question rather than an answer.... and one for anyone else here.

When I brought my car in from the UK I brought with me a spare wheel bonnet mount kit which I intended to fit when the car arrived, mainly so that I could carry two spares - one on the swing away carrier on the back, and one on the bonnet - if required, thereby keeping the weight evenly distributed and right over the front axle.

Having got here and now having seen WA DoT in action, (as per my ongoing rear seat farce running in another thread), I decided to hold off installing the bracket. The reason for this is that the various rules and regulations basically prohibit installing anything which changes your view of the road ahead or causes protrusions which could hurt pedestrians (as though the square front of a land rover wouldn't basically bugger then anyway). There isn't much doubt that a spare wheel doesn't do much for your visibility over the bonnet...

Technically all the light bars (above the level of the top of the roo bar), fishing rod holders, aerials, sand flags etc. etc. are also illegal (although aerials are allowed if you genuinely have nowhere else to mount them).

Do you know what the legal position is on spare wheels on land rover bonnets? Although this option was supplied in the UK and was fairly common, I can't recall seeing any Australian Series IIIs so fitted. I am just wondering if it wasn't ADR compliant and therefore not supplied to the Australian market?

I would like to do this myself, however is it something which is quickly going to end in a conversation with plod by the side of the road, particularly if my car wasn't supplied like it from the factory?

Originally Posted by Dark61

I currently have the spare wheel on the back behind the cab but it just doesn't look right and I want to get it back on the bonnet, except that the Hernia isn't getting any younger. Has anyone fitted a gas lift strut to help lift the bonnet and if so how much difference did it make?
cheers,
D

I infer from other posts that you have a truck cab with a tray back?

In the UK I have seen people lift their bonnet by just connecting a ratchet strap to the spare wheel mount and bringing it back over the top of the cab to a strong point behind... makes it easy to open and holds it in position when working under it.

I suppose that if you have a tray back you could install a small webbing strap hand winch at the front of the tray and behind the cab of the same type typically used to unfold camping trailers. That would give you the option of either using it to secure stuff on the tray or bringing back over the roof to lift and hold open the bonnet. Could even get an electric one if you were feeling particularly weak and were careful not to forget to stop it in time(!)

Just a functional alternative view.

I am slightly puzzled by the concerns expressed about lifting the bonnet with the spare wheel mounted there.

When I bought my Series III LWB in 1983, the spare wheel was there and it never really occurred to me to put it anywhere else. On long trips I used to carry a second spare in the well inside on the driver's side behind the seat. However the main one stayed on the bonnet.

Lifting the bonnet never seemed to require an especially great effort and I was 60 years old when I sold the Series III and weighed about 65 dripping wet.

My technique was to bend my legs so that my arms were held by my side with my forearm vertical. I simply straightened my legs to lift the bonnet. By the time I had to transfer some of the effort to my arms, the bonnet was almost full open and consequently needed very little effort to open it the last little bit.

I can't believe that the average Series driver is noticeable weaker than me, so I wonder why others seem to have such problems.

I can only think of two possible explanations. Maybe they have fitted heavier tyres than the standard 750x16 crossply retreads that I always used. However, I think it more likely that they are simply using the wrong technique. Perhaps they are trying to lift it just by using their arms.