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Tonyrec



Member Since: 22 Feb 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 137

United Kingdom 
Towbar extender for bike rack
We have a Thule Towbar mounted bike rack and a few months ago found that it would not fit on our 110 due to its spare wheel being mounted on the rear door.
I bought a Thule extension bar which meant that I lost one of my bike spaces and that this was designed for vehicles with door mounted spare wheels. Suffice to say that it didn't really work so I sent this part back for a refund.

Now that we are getting a 90 next week, we will need to somehow use the bike rack so does anyone know if there's a way around it such as an extender to mount on the towball etc.

Regards
Post #384507 3rd Jan 2015 3:46pm
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JWL



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

England 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Coniston Green
I haven't got the part numbers to hand but look up 130/hi-cap tow brackets as they have to step the tow point away from the cross member. I remember having the same sort of spacer fitted on my Disco II to put the towball out from the rear bumper.
Post #384508 3rd Jan 2015 3:53pm
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Fellrunner



Member Since: 28 Sep 2014
Location: Wandering
Posts: 257

 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
Hi Tonyrec

Could I ask which carrier and extension you're currently using? I'm looking to buy myself. The Thule Euroclassic 3 bike carrier with the Thule 9042 extension seem to provide a solution to a 110/90 with spare wheel mounted.

Thanks
Post #384540 3rd Jan 2015 5:25pm
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Tonyrec



Member Since: 22 Feb 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 137

United Kingdom 
Thanks for the replies.
Fell runner, we have a G6 model and we used the same adapter. There just wasn't enough clearance.
Post #384544 3rd Jan 2015 5:30pm
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kmac



Member Since: 07 Oct 2009
Location: Middlesex
Posts: 1308

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Hi there are a couple of threads on this

I had this issue with an Atera Strada bike carrier (tow-ball mounted)
I initially had a part made specifically to extent the tow-ball - a welder can do this for you

Then i bought this from Norway



Click image to enlarge


Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green
Post #384674 3rd Jan 2015 10:19pm
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JWL



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

England 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Coniston Green
Here's a listing from Rimmer Brothers that is along the lines of what I'm suggesting, there are others out there that are just the extension piece that bolts onto the existing tow bracketry and you then bolt the tow ball onto the extension
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-VUB105450

Here's another one off the Discovery listings but at one hell of a premium but it does go to show that they are around
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-STC50038
Post #384698 3rd Jan 2015 11:43pm
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ginjez



Member Since: 18 Sep 2011
Location: huddersfield
Posts: 1760

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 ST Santorini Black
I had the Dixon Bate type towbar on a 90 and had the same issue so I bought a spare slider plate and got a fabricator to weld a box section extension to fix the towball to purely for using the rack. Still had the original slider for towing.
Post #384841 4th Jan 2015 4:07pm
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Fellrunner



Member Since: 28 Sep 2014
Location: Wandering
Posts: 257

 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
JWL - would you know if the Discovery part STC50038 fits onto the standard Defender tow bar drop plate? It looks ideal (though pricey) if a tow bar is already fitted.

Tonyrec - hope you don't mind me posting a question on your thread.

Thanks
Post #384842 4th Jan 2015 4:08pm
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JWL



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

England 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Coniston Green
I'm sure if you have a dig round on t'internet you would be able to find the same type of extender that is made for a Defender. I find it a bit difficult to look on my tablet.
Post #384846 4th Jan 2015 4:18pm
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Tonyrec



Member Since: 22 Feb 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 137

United Kingdom 
Fellrunner, no problem, the more info on this the better for everyone. Thumbs Up
Post #384894 4th Jan 2015 6:11pm
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kmac



Member Since: 07 Oct 2009
Location: Middlesex
Posts: 1308

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
A Discovery 2 tow-ball would also do the job


Click image to enlarge
Post #384945 4th Jan 2015 7:49pm
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Fellrunner



Member Since: 28 Sep 2014
Location: Wandering
Posts: 257

 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
kmac - would you know if it's the case that the hole pattern on the Defender and Disco 'backing' plates (the part that the tow ball bolts on to) are the same? Therefore, a Disco ball can bolt onto the Defender backing plate (and vice versa the Disco extension box can bolt on to the Defender backing plate)?

I've spent the better part of a day trying to research this on the 'net but can't find anything definitive.

Thanks
Post #384947 4th Jan 2015 7:56pm
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kmac



Member Since: 07 Oct 2009
Location: Middlesex
Posts: 1308

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Yes the Disco tow-ball will fit the Defender plate

And the Disco box extension will fit a Defender too (this seems like a very expensive route)
Post #384993 4th Jan 2015 9:10pm
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Fellrunner



Member Since: 28 Sep 2014
Location: Wandering
Posts: 257

 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
kmac - many thanks

Tonyrec - I'd already ordered the Thule G6 929 and the 9042 adapter before initially reading this thread. It arrived today and I decided to see how far out the fit was, but it worked. I had to tilt the carrier to 11 o'clock to get the lock bar round the spare wheel in order to drop the carrier fully onto the tow ball, but I could then straighten the carrier and lock it down properly. You lose one of the bike slots due to the adapter, but other than that it seems to work.

(My spare wheel has the standard tyre fitted, I think this set up may not work with a wider tyre than standard.)


Click image to enlarge


Last edited by Fellrunner on 5th Jan 2015 8:03pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #385182 5th Jan 2015 5:48pm
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Xelr8



Member Since: 26 Aug 2014
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 165

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Montalcino Red
Hi

With this set up, I take it that you still can't open the rear door.
Does the Adapter unscrew & fold out of the way to allow access like the std one does?

Cheers
Leon
Post #385191 5th Jan 2015 6:04pm
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