Front TowBar

I’m looking at the possibility of putting a tow ball on the front of my 53 plate Mk1 pre-facelift Freelander to help with manoeuvring of my caravan/ trailers. I cannot find a single example of this being done. Can anyone help me with any practical advice please.
I’m including a picture that inspired me.
Thank you all.

Freelander has a plastic bumper does it not?

Freelander is quite a short car why do you need a front towbar?
Should be able to get in most places with a FL.

J

Anaconda said:

Freelander has a plastic bumper does it not?

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It has a metal one behind it.

Wouldn't be easy to mount to as its curved and not sure if its strong enough to be 'pulled', its designed for taking stress when pushed.

Pic here ...

Anaconda said:

Freelander has a plastic bumper does it not?

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Yes. However I could use the subframe or use a winch tray couldn’t I???

GrumpyGel said:

Pic here ...

Freelander 1 - Front Cross Member Removal?

Hello I have a Freelander 2005 and I'm looking for a little help and advice. Took the towing eye cover off and my front cross member is rotten. I can't take the bumper off until I go to my dads at the weekend, so I was wondering if anybody had experience with them. Is it bolted in place or...

www.landyzone.co.uk

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Sorry I posted a reply to the wrong g thread and now do t know how to delete

Never understood how a front towbar helps

kermit_rr said:

Never understood how a front towbar helps

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I'd love one on my Disco 2.
I have to manoeuvre big trailers around small areas both in the UK and abroad. Having one on the front would make this just so much easier when trying to shove a trailer into a tight space, after taking it up a shared drive, in one case.

ChrisMidWales said:

Sorry I posted a reply to the wrong g thread and now do t know how to delete

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You can only click on"Edit", delete the whole post then put a full stop in, then save it. It doesn't go away but it removes the content.

Stanleysteamer said:

I'd love one on my Disco 2.
I have to manoeuvre big trailers around small areas both in the UK and abroad. Having one on the front would make this just so much easier when trying to shove a trailer into a tight space, after taking it up a shared drive, in one case.

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Normally it's the steered wheels, fixed wheels, pivot point (hitch), trailer fixed wheels.
Why does making the steered wheels closest to the hitch make it easier?

There is a caravan sales and repair company next to my workplace. They have a defender with a tow bar on the front to do all of their manouvreing. It's clearly their preferred method as professionals moving them around all day long.

kermit_rr said:

Normally it's the steered wheels, fixed wheels, pivot point (hitch), trailer fixed wheels.
Why does making the steered wheels closest to the hitch make it easier?

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Basically you can see what the heck you are doing!

Fabricate a stand off bracket from 5mm plate that bolts in 4 places at each end near to the existing steel bumpers mountings.

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Cut away the pastic cover and re-fit over your backet.
Weld a 5mm plate to accept the towball, ensure it's vertical and weld into place.
Broach/drill out two 17mm holes and use two 16mm HT bolts to bolt it onto the plate onto the existing bumper.

Prime and paint to discourage rust.
Don't drive it on the road as it will probably be illegal.

miktdish said:

Fabricate a stand off bracket from 5mm plate that bolts in 4 places at each end near to the existing steel bumpers mountings.

___/ \___

Cut away the pastic cover and re-fit over your backet.
Weld a 5mm plate to accept the towball, ensure it's vertical and weld into place.
Broach/drill out two 17mm holes and use two 16mm HT bolts to bolt it onto the plate onto the existing bumper.

Prime and paint to discourage rust.
Don't drive it on the road as it will probably be illegal.

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Interesting and great to help those who need it.
Wondering why it would be any more illegal than driving around with a winch, especially a capstan winch, on the front.

Stanleysteamer said:

Interesting and great to help those who need it.
Wondering why it would be any more illegal than driving around with a winch, especially a capstan winch, on the front.

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Capstan could have been fitted by the dealer before the regs came

kermit_rr said:

Capstan could have been fitted by the dealer before the regs came

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Sure, could well be, as could other types of winch, as could "roo bars" etc etc.
If there are sharp edges the plod are normally a bit more inclined to get bothered.

I once bought an old style Mini, that had no front bumper, drove it home then the plod who had been following me stopped to have "a word". They told me I had driven all the way with my reversing lights on!
Sho nuff they were, (obvs aftermarket) we all had fun trying to make them come on again and couldn't!
They also pointed out the cutting edge on the front, suggested I got a length of garden hose, split it and put it over it.
I then pointed to the other old mini on bricks, on my parents' parking area, and told them I'd be swopping a lot of stuff over onto it!
They then just laughed and wished me luck with finding the switch or whatever for the reversing lights. and left!
Plod could be decent back in the day, they accepted without question that I had just bought it.

The front towing eye bolts on. Make a bracket that bolts on instead of the front towing eye that takes a 50mm ball?

pscan.eu said:

The front towing eye bolts on. Make a bracket that bolts on instead of the front towing eye that takes a 50mm ball?

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I'd be a bit wary of doing that.
It depends on what it is all rated at.
(Putting my "Recovery" hat on here.)
For a start, towing isn't the same as pushing.
I read all this thread through to see if it helped.
It didn't really except by showing how much people confuse tow hitches with recovery points which is SO dangerous.
I think the only safe way of doing it would be to make a towing bracket similar to one fof the rear to attach a ball and plate to. Which may be overkill.
A lot depends on the weight of wnat you want to shove/tow around.

My wife's old Freelander hit a Prius that pulled out in front of her. The initial point of impact was that towing eye. It utterly destroyed the front of the Prius. The Freelander would have survived if the impact hadn't triggered the airbags resulting in an cat B assessment from the insurance company. In my opinion that front towing eye is about as strong as anything else on the front of Freelander 1. Pushing a caravan around a yard is probably way less taxing than pulling 1 1/2 tons of Freelander out of a swamp.

Just my opinion though. I'm not liable if I'm wrong