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LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

Receiver Hitch Choices

Hello folks,

I've had Dixon Bate hitches on my last four Defenders but having sold my trailer and caravan in the last couple of years, hardly do any towing anymore. As a consequence, I fancy fitting a receiver hitch, partly for the novelty having never had one before, and partly as a strong recovery point whilst still retaining the ability to tow, should the need arise.

As far as I can see, there are two options: Terrafirma and Safari Equip. Are there any pro's and con's for each or are they much of a muchness? The Terrafirma one seems to be more readily available, with the SE version not even featuring on their website, so I have little in the way of details about it (including the cost).

Has anybody got any views or recommendations? 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

6th Sep 2019 9:50am

discomog

Member Since: 09 May 2015
Location: Notts/Lincs Border
Posts: 2526

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

LRA, you say that you still wish to tow with a receiver hitch. My understanding is that you can only tow off road with a receiver hitch as they are not type approved for towing on public roads. I'm sure someone will come along shortly and confirm this or not. Defender 90XS SW
Mini Countryman Cooper S
Morgan Plus 8

6th Sep 2019 10:15am

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4209

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

I've been thinking about one too for similar reasons. I'll probably go Safari Equip because I have had other things of theirs and the quality seemed good. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

6th Sep 2019 10:17am

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

discomog wrote:
LRA, you say that you still wish to tow with a receiver hitch. My understanding is that you can only tow off road with a receiver hitch as they are not type approved for towing on public roads. I'm sure someone will come along shortly and confirm this or not.

Yeah, I'm aware of the limitation, which I'm happy to live with. 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

6th Sep 2019 10:28am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17372

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

I have front and rear SE receivers, completely happy with them, top gear!

Prior to 2012 N1 vehicles didn't require Type Approval on towing equipment, after 2012 technically they do.

6th Sep 2019 10:37am

hank

Member Since: 12 Sep 2016
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2299

I ordered mine from Flatdog. Website says Terrafirma but the item I received was/is Safari Equip. Got to be honest I didn't notice at the time, it was only afterwards I thought about it! I can confirm this after triple checking my email history!

https://www.flatdoguk.com/receiver-hitch-d...-2011~1571

Safari equip one is available from 4x4 overlander https://www.flatdoguk.com/receiver-hitch-d...-2011~1571

I can't comment on the terrafirma one but the SE one is nice. Pretty sure it's galvanised then powder coated. I say this as I managed to knock a little patch of powder coat off mine, but it never rusted. Plus SE galvanise and powder coat other products like tree sliders, which I also have, and the receiver is the same finish of slightly textured.

What I like about the SE one is that it's box section rather than angle so looks tidier. Plus the box section width is the same width as the chassis rails so that the tie bars back to chassis are straight as opposed to cranked which means they perform better in tension > 110 XS Double Cab

6th Sep 2019 11:00am

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

Ah, thanks for that. I didn't think of 4x4O. The price is very reasonable, too! 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

6th Sep 2019 11:16am

Devon-Rover

Member Since: 22 Jan 2015
Location: South Devon
Posts: 916

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Aintree Green

My SE receiver hitch Touched down this morning from Brendan at 4x4 overlander

Fitting it at the weekend

Also can be found on Fb, Ytube, Insta & Twitter @4WDSouthwest

6th Sep 2019 5:42pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

I've just reserved mine for collection from Peterborough next weekend

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

6th Sep 2019 8:26pm

Avelingporter

Member Since: 25 Jan 2016
Location: Southampton
Posts: 405

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

I have the SE one and been very pleased. Will pull 12 tons on a flat hard surface (steam engine) very slowly. Not broken it yet. Slightly flaky coating but mine is s but abused.
If you ask SE, the will make up custom hitch inserts. For instance an upside down drop plate to put the nato hitch at xmember height for my sankey. Very pleased.

6th Sep 2019 8:30pm

windy81

Member Since: 14 Mar 2018
Location: North Wales
Posts: 311

+1 for getting a receiver hitch.

definitely better than the standard boat anchor at the back.

6th Sep 2019 11:23pm

Bill1919

Member Since: 04 Mar 2017
Location: Dorset
Posts: 56

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey

Terrafirma 2 inch Receiver Hitch and folding rear step.

I looking to replace my standard LR tow hitch with a receiver hitch to improve the departure angle of my MY2015 110.
I understand the folding rear step needs to be removed for the Safari Equipment receiver hitch but what about the Terrafirma one. Has anyone fitted one of these and managed to keep the folding rear step.

29th Jan 2020 10:35am

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5697

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

discomog wrote:
LRA, you say that you still wish to tow with a receiver hitch. My understanding is that you can only tow off road with a receiver hitch as they are not type approved for towing on public roads. I'm sure someone will come along shortly and confirm this or not.

From my understanding, you can road tow with these when fitted to a commercial vehicle.

29th Jan 2020 8:08pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

As Blackwolf mentioned above, the rules did change in 2012 so that get out doesn't apply to later vehicles. 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

29th Jan 2020 8:44pm

Andy RV

Member Since: 26 Apr 2014
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 64

Does anyone know if it’s possible to fit a NATO hitch onto the Terrafirma 2” receiver without it clashing against the lower two M16 bolts?

27th Oct 2020 8:57pm

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