Discovery 1 - tank guard / tow bar

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Discodad

Discodad

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,844
Location
East Anglia
Hi all,
I have a 98 300 TDI Disco with no tow bar.
I need a tow bar to pull a boat (not yet purchased).

After reading countless posts on the LR tow plough and witnessing it do it best to stop a Disco. I have decided against one.
I like the idea of a tank guard with removable tow bar. So far I have found
a regular seller on eBay (link) looks good to me £150:confused: should i be concerned that its not been rated? I'm hoping to hire a trailer at some point and buy a project defender?.

I've also found one that Southdown sell, its rated at 3.5t but over £300 :( LINK

Guardian also sell one which is £300 by the time the drop plate is added
LINK

Anybody have any experience of these or know of others that are available.
 
Discodad said:
Hi all,
I have a 98 300 TDI Disco with no tow bar.
I need a tow bar to pull a boat (not yet purchased).

After reading countless posts on the LR tow plough and witnessing it do it best to stop a Disco. I have decided against one.
I like the idea of a tank guard with removable tow bar. So far I have found
a regular seller on eBay (link) looks good to me £150:confused: should i be concerned that its not been rated? I'm hoping to hire a trailer at some point and buy a project defender?.

I've also found one that Southdown sell, its rated at 3.5t but over £300 :( LINK

Guardian also sell one which is £300 by the time the drop plate is added
LINK

Anybody have any experience of these or know of others that are available.
Click to expand...

The one on eBay is for sale by a member on here. I'll find a link and then you can ask him direct. personally I'd buy it. ;)
 
Hi......i just had a look at it and it appears to be fab and seriously over engineered (in a good way), the only thing that would make me nervous is whether you fall foul of any towing laws of which i'm sure there will be plenty regarding what you can now fit....

I have to say though i think you would snap the chassis before worrying about the item itself.

Nick.
 
the towbars part of the mot now so it may pay you to chat to a tester and get their opinion. there will be some type approval bollox so you have to fit an overpriced crock o ****e:rolleyes:
 
gegs88 said:
the towbars part of the mot now so it may pay you to chat to a tester and get their opinion. there will be some type approval bollox so you have to fit an overpriced crock o ****e:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Might be wrong, but I thought that was for cars manufactured after a certain year???

If you had an old landy you can't possibly be expected to fit a type approved tow bar to it???
 
V8jon said:
Don't need to worry about mot, if it's removable take it off when you go for the test ;)
Click to expand...

That is a very valid point;)
Thats the legals put to bed.

Does anyone actually have one of these? have you or would you be happy to tow 3.5t with it? I will contact rock sliders as I cannot see how the other two would be any stronger - yes my wallet is also influencing my choice!

PS thanks for all the feedback so far. if i do buy one (very likely) then I'll post how easy they are to fit - with photos of course.
 
V8jon said:
Don't need to worry about mot, if it's removable take it off when you go for the test ;)
Click to expand...

agreed :)

Discodad The tank guards built by rock sliders are very good. The one in the picture actually belongs to one of the lads who works there and is regularly used to tow trailers full of steel, parts, deliveries etc. without a problem.

I havent used a guard personally but have had the sliders he makes on my disco and have a set for the 110 on order, there are quite a few on here who have bought from him and are happy with the quality.

if you follow the link in my sig or drop me or rock-sliders a pm I can give you his contact number.
 
Discodad said:
Hi all,
I have a 98 300 TDI Disco with no tow bar.
I need a tow bar to pull a boat (not yet purchased).

After reading countless posts on the LR tow plough and witnessing it do it best to stop a Disco. I have decided against one.
I like the idea of a tank guard with removable tow bar. So far I have found
a regular seller on eBay (link) looks good to me £150:confused: should i be concerned that its not been rated? I'm hoping to hire a trailer at some point and buy a project defender?.

I've also found one that Southdown sell, its rated at 3.5t but over £300 :( LINK

Guardian also sell one which is £300 by the time the drop plate is added
LINK

Anybody have any experience of these or know of others that are available.
Click to expand...
hi every one
to put the record straight
it is illegal to fit a non type approved tow bar to any vehicle manufactured after 1st aug 1998
any vehicle made before that there is no law in place to say you can not just simply make your own tow bar and fit it to your car

with your car been a 98 id be very cautious and possibly even contact dvla to confirm

I know this as I must get 5-10 calls a week for disco 2 tank guards but I refuse to make them for this reason

as for any other company claiming to sell tow hitches rated at 3500kg I strongly advise calling them and asking them to explain how they rate them as I have and I think you will be surprised by the answer

As ive been fabricating since day dot i know any thing that has been tested to specific weight has to carry a stamp
But don’t confuse a weight stamp with a type approval number as they are two completely different things
 
rock-sliders said:
hi every one
to put the record straight
it is illegal to fit a non type approved tow bar to any vehicle manufactured after 1st aug 1998
any vehicle made before that there is no law in place to say you can not just simply make your own tow bar and fit it to your car

with your car been a 98 id be very cautious and possibly even contact dvla to confirm

I know this as I must get 5-10 calls a week for disco 2 tank guards but I refuse to make them for this reason

as for any other company claiming to sell tow hitches rated at 3500kg I strongly advise calling them and asking them to explain how they rate them as I have and I think you will be surprised by the answer

As ive been fabricating since day dot i know any thing that has been tested to specific weight has to carry a stamp
But don’t confuse a weight stamp with a type approval number as they are two completely different things
Click to expand...

Well that's a bummer 'cos I seriously want one!
Funny thing is in a world of type approval just look at how many other aftermarket mods are both available and undertaken by D2 owners.

It's my guess that even without a T/A stamp D2 owners would still buy and fit them.
 
rock-sliders said:
hi every one
to put the record straight
it is illegal to fit a non type approved tow bar to any vehicle manufactured after 1st aug 1998
any vehicle made before that there is no law in place to say you can not just simply make your own tow bar and fit it to your car

with your car been a 98 id be very cautious and possibly even contact dvla to confirm

I know this as I must get 5-10 calls a week for disco 2 tank guards but I refuse to make them for this reason

as for any other company claiming to sell tow hitches rated at 3500kg I strongly advise calling them and asking them to explain how they rate them as I have and I think you will be surprised by the answer

As ive been fabricating since day dot i know any thing that has been tested to specific weight has to carry a stamp
But don’t confuse a weight stamp with a type approval number as they are two completely different things
Click to expand...

Hi Rock sliders,

Thanks for clarification.
I have just checked my V5 and my Disco was first registered in June 98:)

Been paid now, so will try and call tomorrow to discuss.

Thanks & regards
Nick.
 
is it not down to the end user if it is fitted by the end user?

I supply and fit towbars and cannot fit non type approved towbars to cars after 1997 but commercial vehicles (including motorhomes) can still be fabricated up untill next year.

It is of my understanding that the law is for towbar fitters or mechanics ect?
If you fit your own towbar yourself, you can only be prosocuted in the event of an accident. Not before one happens?
EG: Sold towbar as off road only towbar for DIY fit.
Driver chooses to use on road.

I could very well be wrong but i remember having a chat with someone at the NTTA (national trailer and towing assosiation) meeting about this very subject!
 
This looks like a really useful product. I was in the market for a tank guard but don't really want to remove my tow hitch due to the Disco's towing ability. Looks lke this solves that issue!
 
I will be going for one of these for the same reasons as above.

A quick question though, are the 2 eyes that are welded onto it OK for recovery points when laning or off-roading ?

Cheers
 
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