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landys1



Member Since: 04 Dec 2013
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 134

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
NAS rear step
Hi all, just wondering if some kindly soul with an NAS rear step could measure the distance from ground level to the top of tow ball (where tow ball is fixed directly to integral mounting points on step, not on a drop plate etc.). Just trying to sort out what i need to ensure level towing of the wifes horse trailer.... I'm on 235/85/R16's, factory suspension, Puma 90.

Many thanks, Andrew 1959 Series 2 Ragtop
1989 SWB Stationwagon
1998 300Tdi Hard Top and 2012 2.2 Puma Hardtop (at work)
2011 Puma 90 2.4 XS
Post #289323 10th Dec 2013 10:06pm
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Lou Sparts



Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
Will have a measure in the morning for you (if nobody does it tonight) i think looking at it it,s too high without some sort of drop plate especially if you have a twin axle trailer which i guess a horse box is.

My defender is also a 90 on 235,s so should be about the same as yours. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve
Post #289334 10th Dec 2013 10:19pm
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landys1



Member Since: 04 Dec 2013
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 134

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Great, thanks Thumbs Up - yeah, reckon it will be bit high, just want the measurement so I can sort out best way to make it a bit lower (and yes twin axle trailer!). Cheers 1959 Series 2 Ragtop
1989 SWB Stationwagon
1998 300Tdi Hard Top and 2012 2.2 Puma Hardtop (at work)
2011 Puma 90 2.4 XS
Post #289341 10th Dec 2013 10:31pm
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XS Pete



Member Since: 13 Jan 2011
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 632

England 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

Click image to enlarge


This was my solution for a similar problem.

Pete
Post #289349 10th Dec 2013 10:40pm
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Lou Sparts



Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
Thats the jobby Pete Thumbs Up the standard holes are too high to be of much use but not a problem for me as i don,t tow only have a Dixon Bate ball and pin for recovery purposes. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve
Post #289357 10th Dec 2013 10:58pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20561

United Kingdom 
XS Pete - nice idea but what about the lower support arms? The tow step has them for it's towing bolt hole area but the adaptor you have is lower and due to the angle the trailer will obviously try and push it forward or pull it back putting great stress on the top mounts of the tow step. The force involves depends on weights towed however. KEEP CALM AND Drill ON
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Post #289370 10th Dec 2013 11:36pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

United Kingdom 
Tow ball height should be between 350 and 420 mm.


Brendan
Post #289376 11th Dec 2013 12:41am
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Lou Sparts



Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
The top of my towball sit 520mm or 20 1/2 inches in old money from the ground on the lower set of holes in the tow step.
Hope this helps. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve
Post #289422 11th Dec 2013 9:14am
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

United Kingdom 
Lots of information here



Towing equipment for cars have to be type approved these days.


Towing equipment for commercial vehicles does not have to be type approved


Trailers do not have to be type approved.


Some Defenders are 'cars' and need type approval, some are commercial and do not need type approval!




Brendan
Post #289428 11th Dec 2013 9:58am
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landys1



Member Since: 04 Dec 2013
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 134

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
That's great guys, many thanks for the measurements and all the other info and photo - think I've now got all I need to work out best way forward!

Cheers, Andrew 1959 Series 2 Ragtop
1989 SWB Stationwagon
1998 300Tdi Hard Top and 2012 2.2 Puma Hardtop (at work)
2011 Puma 90 2.4 XS
Post #289445 11th Dec 2013 11:32am
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XS Pete



Member Since: 13 Jan 2011
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 632

England 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Quote:
XS Pete - nice idea but what about the lower support arms?


The lower support arms for the NAS step are on there but a bit difficult to see from that pic.
The lower support arms for the DB slider are a DB optional extra, and according the the fitting instruction sheet which came with it are not required for loads up to 3.5T, which covers my trailers more than adequately.

Pete
Post #289452 11th Dec 2013 12:37pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20561

United Kingdom 
Pete - Ah I see, I thought there perhaps maybe extra support for it. I have the same step too and they are just up under out of sight aren't they.
Hope it didn't come across like I was condemning it in fact I think it's a positively great idea.
How much is the slider?

Thumbs Up KEEP CALM AND Drill ON
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Post #289459 11th Dec 2013 12:52pm
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XS Pete



Member Since: 13 Jan 2011
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 632

England 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Steve - No worries. I was a bit concerned about it too, but when you see the slider frame close up, and realise how sturdy it is, I think it could survive some pretty heavy treatment. I also put the whole thing together with 12.9 grade cap screws for extra strength (including those retaining the step), and have seen no signs of movement anywhere after over two years of towning with the set up.

According to the DB instructions, using their braces attached to the back of the slider in place of the NAS step braces (you can't use both, as they both use the same mounting holes on the chassis) increases the load to 5T, which is a lot more than I'd ever need, so didn't bother.

They do (or did when I got mine) come in 3 different lengths, provding three different ranges of height adjustment. Mine is the longest of the three as one of the trailers I have is a diddy two-wheeled thing, so the ball needs to be at quite a low setting. The best deal I could get it for in my neck of the woods was through my local Indespension dealership for about £120. You can almost certainly get it a bit cheaper elsewhere, but be warned, it is heavy, and shipping will not be cheap.

Pete
Post #289465 11th Dec 2013 1:06pm
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