Disco 2 Bonnet mounting spare wheel

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Paul Leinichen

Paul Leinichen

Active Member
Posts
110
Location
Weston-super-Mare
So, the lovely images tab on Google has gone and given me ideas again - damn it!!!!

I've seen pictures of Disco's with spare wheels mounted on the bonnet. What's involved in this? I've tried searching old threads and can only find one regarding a Freelander (so not really the same).

The issue I have is 18" alloys (factory ones for Landmark model) with General Grabber AT/3s means it's a real pain in the posterior to hitch up with an Alko stabiliser hitch. Hence wanting to take the spare off the rear doors and move it to the front where it's out of the way - Defenders have it there so why not a Disco?

I'm thinking checker plate on the bonnet would add strength and stability. But am I going to (as suggested in the Freelander thread) need to reinforce the frame on the underside of the bonnet as well or is the Disco 2 bonnet going to be strong enough with the checker plate panel fitted? Also, as for the actual fixing, will the rear door mount suffice if I reposition it, or would I need to get a Defender bonnet mount (kit?) or a universal one?

Has anyone done this modification before? How well does it work? Does it have any visibility or MOT implications that i'll need to consider?
 
Hi Paul, before you get carried away, have you actually placed your spare tyre on the bonnet and seen what the impact is to your forward view?

Plus imagine trying to lift the bonnet and support it when you do need to lift the bonnet.

Cheers
 
I was going to raise exactly the same considerations as @neilly here. The bonnet of a Disco 2 is heavy enough without putting the extra weight of a spare wheel on it. You're going to have to engage the services of Ratty's heavy haulage recovery crane just to check the oil!
Also, having used a Series III with a spare wheel on the bonnet, I can assure that while it does look "the biz" the thing does impede your vision, to the point that a properly installed spare wheel carrier also has a dished well in the top of the bonnet to try to reduce the height. Couple that with the fact that the Disco wheels are quite a bit wider than those of a Series III.
 
neilly said:
Hi Paul, before you get carried away, have you actually placed your spare tyre on the bonnet and seen what the impact is to your forward view?

Plus imagine trying to lift the bonnet and support it when you do need to lift the bonnet.

Cheers
Click to expand...


Lift the bonnet???? But it's a TD5 - they NEVER go wrong, the salesman promised me that!!! :D

In answer to your question though, yes I placed the wheel there last time I took one off and visibility didn't look too bad (had it towards the front of the bonnet) plus it looked kinda cool there.

The thing I didn't know was how much higher a mount would make it (a few mm is probably fine, a couple of inches probably isn't) and whether there's any stupid rules and regulations that would stop me doing it (VOSA / DVSA, MOT regs, or anything similar)?

I'm in the process of getting a tacho fitted and starting to use the D2 for work - vehicle delivery with a 3.5t gvw car trailer on the back - so, ass i'll be towing on a daily basis, i'd rather move the spare out of the way then I can put a rear camera on the top of the door and use it to back right up on the hitch to speed things up, plus wheel won't be in my way when i'm hitching up either trailer or caravan then and it makes the back door significantly lighter for when the missus is getting the dog in and out the back or loading it with too much shopping!

The alternative is to get my roofrack fitted (shaped one, a little like the Safety devices shape but need to get factory roof rails off first as won't fit with them in place) and put it up there - but then it's a pain to get it down if / when I actually need it. Hence i'm thinking the bonnet idea works best if it's feasible.
 
Paul Leinichen said:
In answer to your question though, yes I placed the wheel there last time I took one off and visibility didn't look too bad (had it towards the front of the bonnet) plus it looked kinda cool there.
Click to expand...
There's a world of difference between putting something like a spare wheel up on the bonnet and sitting in the seat to see what you can see and the real world situation of trying to drive with it continuously in front of you. You'd be surprised at how restricted your vision will be.
Secondly, the further forward you mount any spare wheel, the heavier the bonnet will be when (or in your case if) you have to lift it and the further back it's mounted, the more it will restrict you driving vision.
My honest advice? Don't even bother to try.
 
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I did a Google search yesterday and couldn't find one pic of a Disco with a bonnet mounted spare.

I can't imagine it working well, there's no 'step down' from the screen to bonnet like on a Fender or Series let alone a dished bonnet.

Mine rests on rubber grommets in the dished bonnet, even then I certainly know it there.
 
blue beasty said:
I did a Google search yesterday and couldn't find one pic of a Disco with a bonnet mounted spare.

I can't imagine it working well, there's no 'step down' from the screen to bonnet like on a Fender or Series let alone a dished bonnet.

Mine rests on rubber grommets in the dished bonnet, even then I certainly know it there.
Click to expand...

Sorry, had to do it...............:p:p:p:p:p:p

downloaddd.jpg


Cheers
 
blue beasty said:
Ta, that's what I was looking for.

The top edge of my spare is about level with the lower edge of the screen and my view when sat in the drivers seat is...

View attachment 131946

I know Discos have a larger screen but even so it looks to be sat a lot higher in relation to the drivers viewpoint.
Click to expand...

I take on board what you're saying about the visibility, but in my case I've already got a Mud pod fitted to the centre of the dash with CB mounted on top of that, and i'm upgrading it to a larger Raptor pod so I can fit a tachograph somewhere easily accessible. So that probably takes up just as much of the screen as the wheel would on the bonnet and it doesn't seem to make any difference to MOT / DVSA acceptance and actually doesn't obscure my view at all (whereas the rear view mirror often gets in the way around corners, at traffic lights, etc.).
 
Paul Leinichen said:
I take on board what you're saying about the visibility, but in my case I've already got a Mud pod fitted to the centre of the dash with CB mounted on top of that, and i'm upgrading it to a larger Raptor pod so I can fit a tachograph somewhere easily accessible. So that probably takes up just as much of the screen as the wheel would on the bonnet and it doesn't seem to make any difference to MOT / DVSA acceptance and actually doesn't obscure my view at all (whereas the rear view mirror often gets in the way around corners, at traffic lights, etc.).
Click to expand...

Fair enough but I wasn't really thinking about MOTs, more not running over small children.
 
Paul Leinichen said:
I take on board what you're saying about the visibility, but in my case I've already got a Mud pod fitted to the centre of the dash with CB mounted on top of that, and i'm upgrading it to a larger Raptor pod so I can fit a tachograph somewhere easily accessible. So that probably takes up just as much of the screen as the wheel would on the bonnet and it doesn't seem to make any difference to MOT / DVSA acceptance and actually doesn't obscure my view at all (whereas the rear view mirror often gets in the way around corners, at traffic lights, etc.).
Click to expand...

Having a wheel on the bonnet is a total pain in several ways. Visibility, lifting the bonnet, strain on the bonnet hinges when you are bouncing around off road.

Most that do it end up removing it again after a bit.
 
Paul Leinichen said:
it doesn't seem to make any difference to MOT / DVSA acceptance
Click to expand...

I thought I remember reading somewhere the Old Bill were getting picky about Stuff in the way of visibility attached to the dash and the windscreen ( GPS, Phone , Cmaera) , altho not sure if this would apply to a pod bolted to the top of the dash tho'.

Cheers
 
TD5 bonnets are plastic arent they? would they take the weight like a steel framed bonnet?
 
My bonnet feels very much like its plastic, now i'm intrigued.... gonna go have a closer look :)

yep its ally
 
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