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vinsell

Member Since: 06 Feb 2009
Location: Brindisi (Italy)
Posts: 74

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Zermatt Silver

50 mm tow ball

Hi all,
does anybody know if it is possible and legal to fit directly a 50 mm tow ball at the existing points on the rear cross member?
Thanks

15th Nov 2010 7:47pm

Laurie

Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897

2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey

No problem but you'll need a backing plate.

15th Nov 2010 8:15pm

roel

Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

I don't know how it in the UK and how much weight you want to pull, but fiting it only to the rear crossmember than you don't follow the factory's installation rules and points so it won't be legal in The Netherlands.
Here we have to have an approved system and be connected as the manufaturer intended. Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)

15th Nov 2010 9:17pm

Lorryman100

Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Here
Posts: 2686

Tricky one, the crossmember is designed to take the 150 kg of down pressure exerted on the towball by the maximum noseweight of a hitched trailer. But the actual forces involved in pulling the trailer are taken by the chassis when fitting an approved tow hitch (the two bars connected to the chassis and the bottom of the tow hitch plate) and not the rear crossmember. Also the height of the crossmember mounting bolt holes would make the trailer sit very high at the front and very low at the back depending on its length which would probably make it illegal to tow, and if not it would probably encourage the police to stop you. I would personaly not go down this road and would fit an approved tow hitch. See the fitting instructions here, just choose defender and accessories fitting from the side menus and highlight one of the tow packs and you will see what I mean.

http://www.ownerinfo.landrover.com/extfree2viewlrprod/index.jsp

16th Nov 2010 12:13am

Laurie

Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897

Since the chassis is manufactured to take a 50mm towball, it must be legal to fit one,
The drop plate (tow hitch fitting) is purely to change the height from the chassis position.

16th Nov 2010 12:32am

vinsell

Member Since: 06 Feb 2009
Location: Brindisi (Italy)
Posts: 74

Laurie wrote:
Since the chassis is manufactured to take a 50mm towball, it must be legal to fit one,
The drop plate (tow hitch fitting) is purely to change the height from the chassis position.

Thank You all for Your replies.

I agree with You Laurie, but where could I find fitting instruction regarding the mounting of a tow ball on the rear crossmember?

In Italy we need this document to obtain approval by government office that issues driving licences and registers vehicles.

Moreover I need a certificate issued by an authorized workshop (that will ask me a lot of money for tighthening only 2 bolts) proving that installation of tow ball comply fitting instruction!

If I won't be able to find this document I think the only solution is what Lorryman100 suggest. But it is very expensive for what it really is.

Thanks Vinicio

16th Nov 2010 8:03am

Laurie

Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897

I think you will have to ask your dealer about compliances for your country.
I'm glad I don't have to go through that when I tow my caravan to Italy.

16th Nov 2010 10:48am

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