Tow Hook

Hi,

Does anyone know if I can swap my Disco3 tow bar to accept a hook as in the picture please?

Google for NATO hitch and you will find loads

In short yes it’s doable how easy would depend what tow bar you have.

J

Thanks, that's great. My current bar is a ball as I'm the picture.
Is there a specific nato that I need?

I was afraid you were going to show 1 like that. Sorry it’s not easy now

You may need to get an aftermarket tow bar fitted.

I believe there are also adaptors that will connect to your hoop and crossover to normal ball.

J

marjon said:

I was afraid you were going to show 1 like that. Sorry it’s not easy now

You may need to get an aftermarket tow bar fitted.

I believe there are also adaptors that will connect to your hoop and crossover to normal ball.

J

Click to expand...

Plus 1 , there was a recall on those tow bars

See many have the proper fixed kit

Swampie said:

Thanks, that's great. My current bar is a ball as I'm the picture.
Is there a specific nato that I need?View attachment 172473

Click to expand...

Hi

Hope u dint mind me saying , don’t leave the towbar fitted or it will disappear, there is a way to remove them within 30 seconds regardless them being locked

Seen many that have the proper fixed towbar fitted

There’s also a recall on that towbar , if u contact ur local JLR dealer they will tell u and some have been replaced with fixed towbars FOC

You'd be better off sawing the attachment off the trailer and welding a standard ball hitch to it. Would need to be a good weld though or else good bye trailer.

Col

A ball and pin set-up would also do the job, as would a jaw and pin - but neither is an easy swap for what you have.

Is this type ur looking at, will try and find the part numbers for the towbar

https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/sale...-hitch-swivel-type-171561.html?highlight=NATO

See if this helps

https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/tow-hitch-170295.html?highlight=NATO

https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/nato-hitch-adaption-166472.html?highlight=NATO

https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/trailer-with-nato-moving-164306.html?highlight=NATO

Just had a look at those links from stuart and when reading there seems to be some suggestion of the legality of nato hitch’s on Modern cars?

Might be worth following up on that first and, maybe change the trailer rather than the car.

J

gstuart said:

Plus 1 , there was a recall on those tow bars

See many have the proper fixed kit

Click to expand...

The LR recall was to eliminate the tow hook falling out, should the receiver in the chassis rail have gone loose. For vehicles with a loose receiver, LR gave a choice of remedial action. They should have fitted a replacement rear chassis rail, if the tow bar was only used occasionally. Or if more extensive towing was being contemplated, then the bolt on fixed tow bar was suggested.

Our local LR dealer was pushing the bolt on bar, simply because it's easier to sort, than cutting out the bad chassis rail and welding in a replacement.

I don’t think the nato hitch is type approved for modern vehicles, you should check that out as if you were to use one andnhave a trailer related accident you may find your insurance invalidated

Oops, apologises , didn’t realise the nato hitch isn’t legal in the uk for the modern vehicles

https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/fitting-us-hitch-uk-disco-100804.html?highlight=NATO+legal

No apology needed. I only know this as a friend was certain my defender nato hitch wasn’t legal, even though it came fitted with it from landrover. I dig into it a fair bit at the time and found the type approval and the years it applies to - my 1992 defender is perfectly legal with its type approved hitch but his 1999 disco wouldn’t be. I can’t remember the cut off year but I thinknit was mid 90’s

Any ideas why the nato hitch isn't allowed on newer vehicles? Surely it's a better option?

kermit_rr said:

Any ideas why the nato hitch isn't allowed on newer vehicles? Surely it's a better option?

Click to expand...

I don’t know, I didn’t look further than ascertaining mine was legal. It will be some ruling that came in I would have thought rather than any material change to hitch or vehicles

Well its been great of you all to help with this discussion. I would have spent money on either option but the non legal hitch means I must go for a ball on the trailer I guess.

The problem is I am not yet the owner of the trailer, it is on ebay and is necessary as it is built to fit a specific piece of equipment I need.

Does anybody have any idea on my best way forward?

It appears LR would do some work, should I ask for certain work in order to be able to then fit a ball & pin? Which option should I ask for if the recall allows me to choose a correct way?

It may not be legal but the swivel hitch may do it?

Never mind, I am not spending close to £300
https://www.brit-car.co.uk/product.php/88266/4021/nato_swivel_type_tow_hitch__swivel_type_

Plenty of other good trailers out there.
Not sure what your specifics are.

J