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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006   
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Not on the defender that would be silly.
If you have a car that is new enough to need a type approved tow bar and you fit one that carries a certificate of conformity and it partially blocks the rear number plates where does the law put you? I know it's illegal to obscure the plate but if the towbar has a certificate that suggests that it is appropriate and legal to fit and use? Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon. |
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6th May 2014 10:45pm |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610  
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Think you know the answer already.... 
The tow bar may have all the certifications it needs to make it approved but the onus is still on the owner of the vehicle to ensure number plates are visible. You're not from the USA are you? If not maybe you should consider a move perhaps?   If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!
Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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6th May 2014 10:54pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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It just seems highly contrary to me that something can be conforming to a legally binding standard and at the same time be breaking the law. Not that I really care as I have a detachable one anyway. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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6th May 2014 11:14pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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The scenario set by Lambert was that a motorist goes out, buys a type approved tow bar and fits it to their car and it obscures the number plate.
The type approved tow bar manufacturer would not know exactly which vehicle it will be fitted to and the exact location of the number plate. Simple reason being that the tow bar manufacturer makes a single type approved tow bar to fit as many different cars as possible. It is up to the owner/ driver of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle is road legal. Brendan |
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6th May 2014 11:44pm |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3664 
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On my BM the factory removable tow bar obscures the number plate and has to be removed for the MOT DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,
I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy |
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7th May 2014 6:01am |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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I fail to believe that. Sure a good proportion of bits may be standard but I can't accept that the mounting points of too many cars are identical especially when different iteration of the same car don't have commonality over time. The manufacturer of the towbar will know very specifically how each one fits. All very backwards Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon. |
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7th May 2014 6:38am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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The ultimate position of a tow bar, regardless of how it's mounted, is pretty much fixed, i.e. central to rear, 400-450mm above ground, etc., so any problem with the numberplate is a failing of the design of the car rather than the tow bar. It's difficult to see how a tow bar manufacturer could be reasonably expected to accomodate that.
Tow bar type approval is all about its' strength, anyway. It's still the owners' responsibility to make sure that the vehicle is still road legal after fitting one. It's a similar situation to winch bumpers. It's common sense that if a replacement version no longer accomodates the front numberplate then it has to be moved to somewhere appropriate. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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7th May 2014 7:49am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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From Witter towbar website
Brendan |
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7th May 2014 8:20am |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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Actually, obscuring the plate is only half of it: "faded, dirty, delaminated, deteriorated or obscured, (for example by a towbar) so that it is likely to be misread or is not easily legible by a person standing approximately 20 metres to the front/rear of the vehicle" it's the likely to be misread or is not easily legible element from 20m that's the key. Always wondered how this one made it to market or maybe comes with a warning about fitting to the right-hand side only: 
whilst this one looks to meet the requirement: Click image to enlarge |
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7th May 2014 4:20pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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The latter one looks like it obscures the lights, unless it's outside the line of the body
 Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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7th May 2014 4:33pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20761
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The rear ladder I used to have which was genuine (now sold) used to go right around the extremity of the plate and lights so nothing was obscured.
Like this :
Still a pain though, I didn't but if you wanted NAS spec lights you'd be screwed also as the two would foul. |
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7th May 2014 4:59pm |
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