Tow bar electrics mounting

Why do land Rover mount their tow bar electrics on a plate, bolted to the towball? The Rear Crossmember is designed with a cutout to allow the socket to be fitted, meanings it is protected and much less susceptible to damage...

The older defenders had a cutout with a round hole in it ( to allow the older pin type connections)

The newer defenders have a cutout with a rectangular hole in it ( to allow the newer socket, with modular connector to fit)

Why bother designing the cutout, only to bolt the socket onto the towball as an afterthought?

I'd have though more people would have realised and relocated theirs...

Probably because a full towing electrics pack has two sockets and its easier for the installer to fit the mounting plate when they bolt the hitch on.
My single socket is located where you mention as I reckon it is completely protected from accidental damage. I did move it from the flimsy rusty pressed steel plate.

Older ones (Pre TD5) do not have a cut out for the electrics.

G

My old series had a circular hole in the x member for the rear pto shaft. I made up a backing plate and moved the socket for the same reasons.

Mines didn't have cut out (200Tdi)...





And it certainly ain't got one now...

Somebody has nicked your tow bar as well
What were/are them square cutouts for?

Shifty1962 said:

Somebody has nicked your tow bar as well
What were/are them square cutouts for?

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HAHAHAHA! Went fur the cleaner look.....



and cut, drilled shaped a new socket bracket out o' 2 - 3mm steel

The square cut outs were where the old xmember decided to start rottin' out. Was goin' tae patch them in but decided to replace the whole thing plus chassis legs

Griffdowg said:

Older ones (Pre TD5) do not have a cut out for the electrics.

G

Click to expand...

My 200 has the cut out

My electrics are mounted at the side of my nato hitch, I use to have them on a pltae below just like the above pic but i ripped it clean off when playing in the mud.

andy mcd said:

My electrics are mounted at the side of my nato hitch, I use to have them on a pltae below just like the above pic but i ripped it clean off when playing in the mud.

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Ah moved mine below as ah was sick of it gettin' knocked off or broken by gettin' in and out o' the back!

andy mcd said:

My electrics are mounted at the side of my nato hitch, I use to have them on a pltae below just like the above pic but i ripped it clean off when playing in the mud.

Click to expand...

Got a pic???