 | Home > Technical > Converting from Fixed Towbar to Adjustable Towbar |
 
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3751  
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^ I've been many many times before in lots of different cars, My parents have a house there
 It's usually a good drive down although door to door around 850miles
It used to be you could have a bit of a go and bob on now and then.....no police on the Toll roads or cameras. Not now though, just like the UK, police and cameras all over the place. Good thing is on the Toll roads you can average 70mph hour after hour... they are generally much much quieter than our roads. I will try and stick to my 60 mph but we will see... It will be the longest trip in the Defender so hopefully all ok. Cheers |
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29th Jun 2016 7:08pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3751
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Boom bar arrived today at work even though it said Monday / Tues next week
Home and tried it....Boom !! cannot get it to slide over the drop plate its a mm or so too tight.?? How can I squash the drop plate a bit..... Looks very well made and heavy but cannot report further as cannot get it on the drop plate yet...sure I will but aarrgghh how annoying.  Click image to enlarge its close but I could not push it on... Click image to enlarge |
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30th Jun 2016 7:27pm |
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| twinspark Member Since: 04 Apr 2015 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 18  
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Hi Stacey007,
I've still not got my adjustable Towbar yet.... too many other things going on at present! I have however measured my Boom and it is c. 148~149mm from inner surface to inner surface. Outer surface to outer surface of the Universal adaptor is 146mm. Is your adjustable towbar a "genuine" Land Rover one? I thought whether "genuine" or other they would all have to be the same width for the sliding plates to work.... I've seen adjustables on Toyotas, Nissans, Misubishis and Fords and assumed they were all to the Dixon Bate "standard"?! I see your towball is mounted to the drop plate - I'm not sure if this will work with the Boom, unless the Boom is above it? I always thought you put the towbar on the sliding plate with an adjustable towbar? |
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30th Jun 2016 7:55pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3751
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Hello
Maybe that's my problem its not a genuine one? The towbar is fitted low so I can fit the Nato hitch for the sankey. The Boom bar will sit just above the fixed towbar and assuming I could slide it on it would I think be away from this and fit ok. Not sure on a plan B try to squash the drop plate? try to widen the boom bar? look for a genuine LR drop plate? Left all this a bit late as on Holiday soon..... OOps |
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30th Jun 2016 8:01pm |
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| twinspark Member Since: 04 Apr 2015 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 18
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I wonder if rather than trying to put on square, if it is possible to offer up say the left hand side of the boom, with minimal overlap to the drop plate and, keeping this minimal overlap, rotate the boom on to the other side?
....I'm trying to visualise if this could even remotely work but it's the only thing I can think of trying! |
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30th Jun 2016 8:11pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3751
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It really is tight...
Would be ok when on I'm sure maybe not exactly quick release but it would be on for the holiday and them I can sort it... I've got a few weeks to sort and I was rushing to try and fit it...although I've already took part of the black cover off the drop plate trying to slide it on. will give it another go if not tomorrow over the weekend  |
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30th Jun 2016 8:15pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3751
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E-mailed company they asked for pictures, I've sent but no reply.
Anyway I thought it HAS to fit somehow....
So...bold approach, I'm away in 3 weeks and if I need to source a LR drop plate after then so be it... but these tools managed to shave a few mm off the sides of the current drop plate, 
Click image to enlarge then fitted however noticed with the 7 pin connector 'connected' it would need undoing for the boot to open fully. So why use it.. I can plug the Thule rack straight into the socket on the car.
with socket used...but no benefit so don't need to use it. Click image to enlarge Without and plugged into car directly. Click image to enlarge boot opens...ignore the state of my car, its half in bits due to soud proofing and the box's of tools and stuff for it in the boot.... Click image to enlarge trailer light and all lights work Click image to enlarge folded down view (will try a bike over weekend but should be fine) Click image to enlarge So end result given I already had the Thule rack appears good. Expensive yes but I've had the thule rack 5 years and its a great piece of kit. So £135 for the boom bar thing to make it all work is good, Door opens, its legal with plate and lights, no strain on rear door. Looks neat. Click image to enlarge Happy with that  |
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1st Jul 2016 8:53pm |
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| Gatecrasher Member Since: 19 Mar 2016 Location: Surrey Posts: 76 
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Hi Stacey 007,
Great to see you had a positive conclusion, though after some tweaking, and you can open the rear door fully with bike rack tilted down, as you said so easy and practical to use. Would be interested to hear how you get on using it with the bikes on the rack and the boom bar taking the strain and weight fully loaded with the test of time, unlike Twinspark experience withe the universal mounting plate bending on the first outing! |
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2nd Jul 2016 3:44pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3751
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Tried it today and all seemed to work very well,
Even without folding the rack down you can get in the boot this much.. enough to get stuff in and out without folding the rack. Click image to enlarge Fitted with bikes Click image to enlarge |
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3rd Jul 2016 6:59pm |
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| Gatecrasher Member Since: 19 Mar 2016 Location: Surrey Posts: 76
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All sorted for your hols
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3rd Jul 2016 8:10pm |
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| Gatecrasher Member Since: 19 Mar 2016 Location: Surrey Posts: 76
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Hi Stacey007, long time no speak, how was your hols and drive down to Annecy? Also I just wondered how have you been getting on long term with the Boom Bar?
Cheers |
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10th Oct 2016 6:35pm |
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