Bump

Well-Known Member

Events Planner

• Jun 23, 2011

• #1

Hi,

Can anyone with a series 2 or 3 do me a quick favour? I need to know the depth of the rear cross member - my tow bar mounts directly onto the rear cross member, however, the person who put it on used standard bolts, and, consequently i ripped the tow bar off when someone winched off the back of me.

In my usual last minute approach, i've realised that going off-roading at the weekend will require a rear recovery point (tow bar) so I need to go and buy some bolts from the trailer shop at lunch... but never thought to actually measure the size of bolts i need to go through the bulk head!

Hears hoping for a quick response from someone (who deserves a :beer2

 

R

RobertP

Active Member

• Jun 23, 2011

• #2

1974 S III station wagon - about 3 1/4" (or just over 8 cm if you're post-imperial)

 

B

bobbler

New Member

• Jun 23, 2011

• #3

can you not just fit a jate ring?

 

Bump

Well-Known Member

Events Planner

• Jun 23, 2011

• #4

Thank you Rob.

Bobbler - not found anywhere to mount my Jate rings on the Series (I do also tow with it so the tow bar is useful) - my understanding was it is not possible cus of the springs.

 

J

=jon=

Active Member

• Jun 23, 2011

• #5

The box section of the rear crossmember is about 3" on mine too - not including the lip underneath it.

Mike - does your towbar have the extra reinforcing plate behind the crossmember? I'd be interested to know as I removed the drop plate from mine so now the ball hitch is directly on the bulkhead - but I didn't appear to have any plate behind the crossmember to spread the load - would be good to know if it's required or not!

 

Last edited: Jun 23, 2011

Bump

Well-Known Member

Events Planner

• Jun 23, 2011

• #6

Jon - no mine doesn't - the previous owner had installed it with very long bolts and about 8 washers on each bolt. This was fine for towing anything (towed 3 tons once), but, when I had a heavy defender winching off my tow bar and i was fastened to a tree the bolt thread failed and started to strip so the tow bar parted company with the body. It didn't completely strip, but, obviously needs replacing.

There's no damage to the Cross Member though so i'd say it is strong enough without the reinforcement plate

 

J

=jon=

Active Member

• Jun 23, 2011

• #7

OK - cheers for that - good to know it's not needed!

 

Davec

New Member

• Jun 23, 2011

• #8

There should be spreader plate on the back (? the gearbox side) of the crossmember. Genuine crossmembers also had reinforcing tubes to prevent the crossmember getting squeezed. Some of the non genuine replacements don't have this feature.

 

J

=jon=

Active Member

• Jun 23, 2011

• #9

Mine doesn't appear to havet the spreader plate, but does seem to have the internal tubes. I didn't realise there should have been anything there until reading something about needing it for heavy duty towing, but it doesn't appear to be available separately. It doesn't feel like there would be a lot of room in there for anything very heavy duty!