Making Disco 1 towbar 'quick release'?

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Clarky130

Clarky130

New Member
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Location
Chippenham, UK
Is it possible to replace the bolts on the 'standard' Disco 1 towbar with some kind of quick-release pins?

I want to be able to tow with it, but not have the rigmarole of pulling the bumper off and spending an hour undoing big bolts every time I want to go playing and not have a big plow stuck on the back... I'm already planning on mounting the electrics to the bumper, so they're out of the equation...

Anyone done something like this, or know how to?
 
Or buy the one that LR make :rolleyes: if not if you want to keep your current set up


I don't mind the towbar on mine when I go laning though, it does protect the rear end to an extent :eek: I took a large chunk out of a rock with mine
 
Hmmm.... Trying to do this at min expense, using the original towbar I already have if possible...

Was wondering if maybe I could just drill the bolts with a hole at the end to take a strong spring pin, so I could pop em off quick if needs be... Obviously I'd need to drill or cut 2 holes in the top of the bumper so I could access the two top bolts without bumper removal...

Laning, I dont see much of an issue, but I use it for pay n play quite alot...
 
You could make a low profile tow bar


Essentially this, all you need is some box section and plate with a bit of weld and some holes drilled, this is the fender one cant find the disco version but they do exist, seen them on ebay a few times and in the for sales on here

defhitch22.jpg
 
Dr_evil said:
You could make a low profile tow bar


Essentially this, all you need is some box section and plate with a bit of weld and some holes drilled, this is the fender one cant find the disco version but they do exist, seen them on ebay a few times and in the for sales on here

defhitch22.jpg
Click to expand...

Ah, I see... So 2 bits of box section that fit inside each other, smaller one with the plate welded to it (can butcher my old towbar for that) - just need the larger box section welded to the chassis, appropriate holes drilled and one of those pins...

Any idea where I could get some suitable box section and one of them there pins?
 
That pin you can get from the farm shop, my local one sells them

Basically that bar stays on all the time on the disco version as the legs are curved to avoid snagging on anything and then the female end of the receiver comes up under the bumper. The male end then drops the plate to towing level and pins in place with that HD pin, think they're about £7 off the top of my head

The box section any local metalworker probably has some scrap lengths knocking about
 
Dumb Q... But, what are those pins actually called?

I'm thinking now of maybe welding 2 lengths of box to the underside of the chassis rails, then fabbing the removable piece with 2 lengths of box that fit inside them, and another length cross-ways joining them, that I could weld the plate to for the towball, if that makes sense... Nowhere in the middle of the chassis to weld a suitable length of box to to give it enough strength against 'twisting' forces with a single piece.... If you see what I mean...
 
Dr_evil said:
I'd say if the metal you use is tough enough i.e. using the same thickness as currently on then say a 5mm wall box you'd be sorted

Its just a bit hitch pin
Click to expand...

I guess I could bolster it against the rear chassis cross-member with some triangular pieces... Could get those by cutting up my old tow bar...

Cheers Evil, given me some great ideas there :) Might just delay Hammeriting the rearmost bit of the chassis until I got this figured out now...
 
Clarky130 said:
I guess I could bolster it against the rear chassis cross-member with some triangular pieces... Could get those by cutting up my old tow bar...

Cheers Evil, given me some great ideas there :) Might just delay Hammeriting the rearmost bit of the chassis until I got this figured out now...
Click to expand...

That was meant to say big not bit btw :p

Have fun ;) I've got a disco 3 tow plate if thats any use to you before I junk it on ebay ? might be able to slice and modify parts of it to use
 
Clarky130 said:
Dumb Q... But, what are those pins actually called?

I'm thinking now of maybe welding 2 lengths of box to the underside of the chassis rails, then fabbing the removable piece with 2 lengths of box that fit inside them, and another length cross-ways joining them, that I could weld the plate to for the towball, if that makes sense... Nowhere in the middle of the chassis to weld a suitable length of box to to give it enough strength against 'twisting' forces with a single piece.... If you see what I mean...
Click to expand...
that would work fine and category one pins would be perfect if using agri suppliers
 
Clarky130 said:
Is it possible to replace the bolts on the 'standard' Disco 1 towbar with some kind of quick-release pins?

I want to be able to tow with it, but not have the rigmarole of pulling the bumper off and spending an hour undoing big bolts every time I want to go playing and not have a big plow stuck on the back... I'm already planning on mounting the electrics to the bumper, so they're out of the equation...

Anyone done something like this, or know how to?
Click to expand...

i have this same problem, also have side steps to keep taking on and off
 
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