Tow bar problems

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birtanedaha

birtanedaha

New Member
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Edinburgh/harpenden/Turunc, Turkey
I have just received a Dixon Bate tow hitch for my 1995 Defender 300Tdi 90. This is the exact one Land Rover Defender Dixon & Bate Adjustable Tow Bar Kit | eBay

Problem is, though it purports to be for a 300 Tdi it doesn't fit! The two brackets which are meant to attach to the chassis reach far too far forward of where I assume the mounting points should be, that is where I currently have JATE rings mounted. There are no other potential mounting points on the chassis around the area to which the brackets reach.

The kit looks the same as others for sale for 300 Tdis so I am wondering if my chassis is an oddity. It is a replacement galvanised chassis. Could it be a TD5 one?

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You're right, that's a TD5 chassis. TD5 fuel tank is where the back box is on a
I think you want t be looking for a TD5 set up, or at least the bottom arms.
Does the drop plate fit in the right position and bolt holes line up?
 
That hole thing in the rear crossmember, isn't that a td5 thing also?

My 300tdi has extra bracket things next to the jate ring holes that the tow thing bolts to. I wonder if someone like yrm do just the brackets that you could weld on.
 
Thats a td5 x member, you can see the 2 bolt holes for the fuel tank, the rear body support is td5 and the hole on the outside of the chassis rail for the wiring loom.
Even if you modify the arms the bottom holes on the x member are different and the main bolt holes are 6mm out
 
I could have sworn that TD5 x- members had the top mounts behind the rear tub panels, or is that a Puma thing?

Sent by Galaxy S3 to annoy forum goers!
 
Dave90 said:
I could have sworn that TD5 x- members had the top mounts behind the rear tub panels, or is that a Puma thing?

Sent by Galaxy S3 to annoy forum goers!
Click to expand...
Depends what year, early were in front newer versions behind with captive nuts.
**** what have I become when I have chassis dimensions and variation from 1954 to present memorized:(
 
pressbrake said:
Depends what year, early were in front newer versions behind with captive nuts.
**** what have I become when I have chassis dimensions and variation from 1954 to present memorized:(
Click to expand...

You're on to a winner :D
 
pressbrake said:
Thats a td5 x member, you can see the 2 bolt holes for the fuel tank, the rear body support is td5 and the hole on the outside of the chassis rail for the wiring loom.
Even if you modify the arms the bottom holes on the x member are different and the main bolt holes are 6mm out
Click to expand...

Thanks Pressbrake. So is the whole chassis TD5? I can see no obvious join along the length of the chassis. The motor is definitely a 300 Tdi. Of more immediate concern, can I fit a TD5 tow bracket?
 
Strangely enough I found this thread tonight after looking into the towbar situation myself last night, I was looking into getting a dixon bate for my 300tdi (depending how easy to take on and off as dont want it there all the time)
Anyway, mine has been rebuilt onto a Marsland galvanised chassis, the rear crossmember is as a TD5 infact as far as I am aware they buy the chassis's in from GKN who make them for landrover, Marslands then put engine mounting etc on to suit whatever engine variant is required, on that basis I assume everything for chassis mounting needs to be bought as TD5, certainly that was the case when I bought some rear bumperettes.
When I ordered my chassis I remember them saying did I have a towbar as Marsland supply an adaptor plate as an extra if required (this is also mentioned on there website) I turned them down as I didnt think I would ever want to put my original towbar on (indeed I even sold it)
Now 18 months on it would be handy to sometimes have the ability to tow.
Looking last night I guess you need a TD5 towbar, however should you confirm this could you please update here as I would like confirmation for myself.
Mark
 
mark-w said:
Strangely enough I found this thread tonight after looking into the towbar situation myself last night, I was looking into getting a dixon bate for my 300tdi (depending how easy to take on and off as dont want it there all the time)
Anyway, mine has been rebuilt onto a Marsland galvanised chassis, the rear crossmember is as a TD5 infact as far as I am aware they buy the chassis's in from GKN who make them for landrover, Marslands then put engine mounting etc on to suit whatever engine variant is required, on that basis I assume everything for chassis mounting needs to be bought as TD5, certainly that was the case when I bought some rear bumperettes.
When I ordered my chassis I remember them saying did I have a towbar as Marsland supply an adaptor plate as an extra if required (this is also mentioned on there website) I turned them down as I didnt think I would ever want to put my original towbar on (indeed I even sold it)
Now 18 months on it would be handy to sometimes have the ability to tow.
Looking last night I guess you need a TD5 towbar, however should you confirm this could you please update here as I would like confirmation for myself.
Mark
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input Mark. Armed with what you say I hope that what I have is as you describe and not some hybrid or chimera. I am hoping to get further comment from Pressbrake, Shifty or one of the other experts on here. You mention Marsland offering some sort of adapter and I will follow that up. I doubt that the supplier of my Td1 bracket will willingly accept it back for refund given that they supplied what they were asked for. If they supply TD5 ones then perhaps they can be persuaded but I have to admit it is my mistake even though an honest one.

I will post the outcome of this little problem - it is a pet hate of mine that so many potentially helpful threads on this forum fade out before a confirmed solution is found.

Jon
 
Re Marks earlier post, I have looked at the Marsland site and the 90 chassis certainly looks like what I have. They make a point of saying that their chassis has anti roll bar mountings and mine does. Are these normally absent on a 300 Tdi chassis? They also say they can supply an adaptor plate for the Dixon Bate bracket but don't mention the bracket arms which surely also be needed.

Confused still.
 
Look out for atd5 towbar setup should bolt up as factory.

I have a td5 fuel tank if you ever wanted to add more fuel capacity somthing I once wanted to do but have decided against the td5 tank.
 
Well it would appear that I have a Marsland , or similar, replacement galvanised TD5 chassis (modified engine mounts to accommodate 300Tdi lump). I contacted Marsland regarding them supplying an adapter plate which they can do but don't have modified brackets. I dare say I could cobble up such brackets but it probably isn't worth the hassle. RST Online Ltd who sent the Dixon Bate kit for a 300Tdi have agreed to the return and refund of it without any quibble which is good of them as it was my (innocent) mistake. So next action is to source a Dixon bate for a TD5 which will hopefully slip on easily.

Next issue is the electrics. Do I buy an 'N' type one for a 300 Tdi or for TD5 as they appear to be different according to eBay suppliers.

Thanks to those who gave advice. Oh, and no Jai, I don't want a TD5 tank. I can hardly afford to fill the existing tank ;-)
 
AFAIK the N, S and Euro aren't landy things but are standards for the sockets. N was the old style trailer lights, S had more gubbins and Euro is the new one. New caravans come with Euro I think, and if you have it it's a part of the MOT. So, it depends on what you are towing. You can also buy adapters.

Love for someone to confirm this.

There you go : http://www.tridenttowing.co.uk/trident_tow_bar_wiring_diagram.htm
 
Last edited:
trax said:
AFAIK the N, S and Euro aren't landy things but are standards for the sockets. N was the old style trailer lights, S had more gubbins and Euro is the new one. New caravans come with Euro I think, and if you have it it's a part of the MOT. So, it depends on what you are towing. You can also buy adapters.

Love for someone to confirm this.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is as I understand it. I just want the 'N' type as I will only be pulling trailers. But it appears that the 'N' type loom comes in at least 2 different flavours, TDi and TD5. I know the square root of FA about electrics so don't know if there is a significant difference.
 
Probably just be the plug connectors, maybe the fitments. The old defenders won't have a plug, the td5 deffo does and I *think* the 300tdis do. Get your head under on the drivers rear side and you should see some plastic guard protecting the rear lights. There should be a plug around there. Have a butchers and see if it will match up with the pics online.

Or wait for someone more sensible to come along :p
 
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