 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Bonnet-mounted spare wheel |
 
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17382   
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What's the betting it's underneath like it is on the sensibly-designed Disco 3 and 4? Stupid idea. Or possibly it will be can of Tyre Weld as is the case (apparently) on many modern cars. |
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20th Aug 2012 8:32am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17382
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This is an interesting observation. Does anyone know the current situation re. Defender MOTs? I know that DVLA or DSA (I forget which) stated last year that the exemption that allowed DPVs between 3000kg and 3500kg GVW to udergo a Class 4 MOT (instead of the Class 7 that they would need if they weren't DPVs) was to be abolished, has this actually happened? According to the Directgov website DPVs are still in Class 4, and certainly my DC underwent a Class 4 test in July of this year. Makes me think that either the plan has been scrapped or it hasn't been implemented yet. (Please don't start the "is a Defender a DPV" debate, or the "what's the speed limit for a Defender" debate again). |
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20th Aug 2012 8:41am |
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| mrandmrsh Member Since: 31 May 2010 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 692 
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Where would you put it? Assume new Defender resembles new one. C 2015 110 USW XS in Santorini with premium contrast leather seats in tan/black, black headlining and with Dual Finish alloys (in the garage, now on Wolf rims with Goodyear MT/Rs) 2012 '62' 2.2 X-Tech 110 USW now gone ... 1984 90 soft top with full roll cage, 200 tdi engine etc now sold 2012 USW XS 2.2 "FUU" now gone.... |
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20th Aug 2012 8:44am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17382
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Well upon reflection perhaps underneath is not so stupid. I think it is a stupid place to put it on an off-road vehicle, but it might be OK on the new Defender if DC100 is an accurate foretaste.
Re. the MOT question, after digging round online it appears that in July 2009 VOSA advised MOT testers via a Special Notice (no. 05-09) that the change was due to be implemented through a change to the Motor Vehicles Test Regulations "early next year" i.e., in 2010. There has been no subsequent mention of the change in Special Notices, which there would have been if the change had been implemented. Furthermore the The Motor Vehicles (Tests) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (link) as enacted only alter the test fees payable and the definition of the phrase "out of hours". The inescapable conclusion is therefore that the exemption has not been removed and at present provided that your Defender is a DPV under the definition in the C&U Regs 1986 (as amended) you are eligible for a Class 4 MOT. |
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20th Aug 2012 9:05am |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471 
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Years ago I had a bonnet stay collapse on a Land Rover equipped with a bonnet mounted wheel and tyre while I was leaning over into an engine compartment - it smarts! Since then if the vehicle has a bonnet mounted spare I've always used a bit of wood as well as the stay or removed the wheel altogether. Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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20th Aug 2012 9:05am |
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| roamingman Member Since: 15 Mar 2012 Location: nearly thier Posts: 152 
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Used to have a bonnet mounted spare wheel on our 110, in 1999-2004, manged ok, now we have bought our 130 camper with spare on bonnet I have got a bit older just about lifted the bonnet, so spare will be on the back.
Never had any trouble back then with MOT, maybe differant now,I was ok to see out not so the wife. If you are you young enough no problem to lift it, as to view with the puma bonnet am sure it will make the view very bad. Live Life Ti'l You Die Teddys are out thier http://teddybearspicnic.webs.com http://130sasha.co.uk/ |
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20th Aug 2012 9:26am |
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6678
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Possibly the reason why the Army moved the spare to the side of the vehicle to help with forward vision ?
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20th Aug 2012 9:31am |
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| Naks Member Since: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Stellenbosch, ZA Posts: 2638  
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Yep, but then again, having it on the bonnet does make it more aerodynamic and save on fuel  --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear 2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged 
Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9 Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ |
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20th Aug 2012 9:36am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8581
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If fitting spare onto a bonnet, use a one piece bonnet stay.
Gas strut systems are available for bonnets but the wings are best reinforced. We are aware of one company who does this system but the wing reinforcement comes via their chequer plate wing tops. Brendan |
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20th Aug 2012 10:09am |
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| ChrisP Member Since: 13 Oct 2011 Location: Durham Posts: 8 
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I wouldn't know the legalities of a bonnet mounted spare wheel but from someone who has tried it I agree with everyone else who has pointed out the practical disadvantages.
On a previous TD5 90 I wanted (on occasion) to carry a second spare wheel. It was a Michelin 7.50x16....a regular diameter but quite a narrow tyre. I'm quite tall, but it still obstructed my forward view and I imagine a wider tyre would be even worse. Do not underestimate the weight. Earlier Land Rovers had a far thicker bonnet which were very well braced and supported underneath. The TD5 and Puma (which I have now) are very flimsy compared. On the TD5 bonnet as well as chequer plate above I fitted a very thick aluminium plate underneath. All that happened was that the stress was transferred to the bonnet hinges. I was for ever replacing the hinge plastic inserts which wore very quickly. I suppose the security type hinges could be a stronger alternative but that would probably only find a weak spot somewhere else. Neither did I like working with the bonnet up-anything longer than a couple of minutes and I would remove the wheel first. There was only one advantage....it made a great step point to get onto the front of the roof rack from the bonnet. I still occasionally carry a second wheel (on the Puma)....but the bonnet is not an option Cheers Chris |
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22nd Aug 2012 3:15pm |
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| megatoad Member Since: 07 Jan 2012 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 358 
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When I first started Landrovering with my old S11A 109 Safari the spare was originally on the rear door, this of course on the series doors fatigued the door frame appart and made the door heavy
Then I got a hinged wheel carrier, this in turn started to fatigue the rear offside wing spot welds and needed a new rear wing. Then I tried the bonnet, which was the deluxe bonnet and as it was a 7.50x16 BFG Trac Edge I found not only did it obscure forward vision of the n/s corner but it weighed a ton to open the bonnet, it also prevents you fully opening the bonnet and resting it against the windscreen, however the plus side was it was a great place to stow things green laning. and to sit on I even tried storing it on the roof rack, but then its a hefty beast to get down, I used to walk over the wings and bonnet which were reinfoced with chequer plate for that purpose (after all is not a Land Rover with a roof rack nought but a highly mobile access platform?). I really dont fancy walking on the bonnet of a 110! It ended living inside on the rear floor most of the time. |
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23rd Aug 2012 1:07pm |
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| Grouse Member Since: 16 Apr 2012 Location: on the hill Posts: 521 |
IMHO the best place for the spare is on the bonnet, I don't have any issue with obstructed vision and I am average height.
It gets it off the back door away from the tow bar, doesn't obstruct rear vision, doesn't knacker your door hinges, avoids you getting your legs chopped, gives more room inside. Yes it is heavy to lift, but you open your back door more than you lift your bonnet and wherever you put a 7.50 or bigger its an inconvenience.... but FFS we are all men and its a Land Rover, it looks macho  and it aint a LR if the spare isn't on the bonnet?  , and as far as extra wear and tear on the hinges is concerened, I have never had an issue in over 30 years, plus the MOD favour it on nearly all their LR's
I love my bonnet mounted spare and wouldn't put it anywhere else |
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23rd Aug 2012 8:25pm |
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| shaun.mobile Member Since: 12 Dec 2011 Location: England Posts: 156 
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Grouse
do you drive a puma? if so, let's have some pictures please. |
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23rd Aug 2012 8:45pm |
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| cjbenway Member Since: 08 Aug 2012 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2  
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Just moved my spare to the bonnet. With kids in the back and a soft top there was no good place.[img]
Didn't like the tailgate since I open it a lot. This is from a newbie to Land Rovers. Plus it looks cool! |
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23rd Aug 2012 10:44pm |
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