Buying a UK towbar

[LM020]

Hi guys just wondering if this is possible.

I was looking to buy a tow bar/rear step combo that is available on the UK landrover website.

What are the issues with fitting that here in Australia if not Australia approved?

http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/lr/defender/accessories/


It is the rear step under the 'Exterior styling' section

If no problems how easy would it be to fit?

[Tank]

If it doesn't have AS compliance or ADR's I don't think it will be legal, last time I went for rego the inspector wanted to see the compliance plate on my Hayman-Reese tow bar before he would issue a pink slip, Regards Frank.

[LM020]

If it doesn't have AS compliance or ADR's I don't think it will be legal, last time I went for rego the inspector wanted to see the compliance plate on my Hayman-Reese tow bar before he would issue a pink slip, Regards Frank.

Thanks Frank the tank (love the name!!)

Prob not worth the hassle it will cause down the track, just loved the idea of the rear step that would give some protection to the back the truck against all the Sydney drivers lol

[p38arover]

If it doesn't have the tow ball on it when inspected, it would probably pass muster. It's then only a step.

Plus it's genuine LR....

Quite often, inspectors won't even look at tow bars. No one ever queried the towbar on my 110 which had no compliance plate. In fact, old bars don't have any plates, e.g., my Hillman's towbar - never queried in 40 years (yes, it's back on the road with a new owner).

[Drover]

I wouldn't be concerned about rego inspections, it is just a step.

Love the look of it, but not sure how you mount/adapt a wheel carrier ?

Cheers

[PAT303]

The X-Tech comes fitted with that step in the UK as part of the towing pack but the wheel carrier won't fit so it's one or the other.Funny thing is I was only talking to CraigE about this the other day,why can't we fit the tow ball that bolts to the crossmember?,why do we have to fit a bar and then the ball instead of just the ball?. Pat

[LowRanger]

The X-Tech comes fitted with that step in the UK as part of the towing pack but the wheel carrier won't fit so it's one or the other.Funny thing is I was only talking to CraigE about this the other day,why can't we fit the tow ball that bolts to the crossmember?,why do we have to fit a bar and then the ball instead of just the ball?. Pat

The cross sectional area of the rear crossmember on a Puma is much less than on older model Defenders and the metal used is also much thinner material.So there is a much greater likleyhood that the rear crossmember can bend or twist without the added support from the mounts to the chassis offered by the Towbar even if a stress relief plate was fitted to the front and rear of the crossmember.

Wayne

[Tank]

Now that I have seen a pic it looks to me like it would cause ground clearance problems, you don't need anything hanging down at the rear like that, just my thoughts though, Regards Frank.

[JDNSW]

If it doesn't have the tow ball on it when inspected, it would probably pass muster. It's then only a step.

Plus it's genuine LR....

Quite often, inspectors won't even look at tow bars. No one ever queried the towbar on my 110 which had no compliance plate. In fact, old bars don't have any plates, e.g., my Hillman's towbar - never queried in 40 years (yes, it's back on the road with a new owner).

Compliance plates for twobars were only invented about 1990, and are not retrospective - so there is no requirement for compliance plates pre that date.

And my local bloke does actually check the towing jaw on the 2a every year, as well as the towbar on the 110, , although he does not look for a compliance plate.

John

[LM020]

The X-Tech comes fitted with that step in the UK as part of the towing pack but the wheel carrier won't fit so it's one or the other.Funny thing is I was only talking to CraigE about this the other day,why can't we fit the tow ball that bolts to the crossmember?,why do we have to fit a bar and then the ball instead of just the ball?. Pat

When you say the wheel carrier, do you mean the one the swings out, as the photo has the standard wheel carrier attached as well?

Sorry to be blonde lol