There's no swan-neck on my tow ball, it's aftermarket.

I changed the swan-neck for a 2" receiver like they use in the US. It is a genuine L/R part.
I have a removeable 50mm ball hitch that fits in the receiver for towing which is secured with a locking pin.
I also have a shackle to to fit in the receiver if ever I need to be pulled out of a ditch or mud hole or more likely pull someone else out.

mad-as wrote: PS the last video showed a reverse tow , this is not recommended with any 4wd as the diffs are not designed to be loaded in reverse especially diffs with collapsible spaces,

In all my years, I've never given that a thought. It does make sense though. I've certainly pulled numerous vehicles out in reverse, and I've also needed the odd tow in reverse myself. Sometimes there doesn't seem to be a good option. How important is this?

I don't think it matters at all. There's numerous people running around with 4 pin diffs from the rear axle fitted to the front (so they are rotating in the opposite direction) and other than some people saying they are slightly noisier, nobody has ever broken one that I know off.

Thanks Richard. The diffs on the P38's and Disco's seem pretty tough (at least compared to my Series 2, in which I've broken 3 diff's, and a few more half shaft's).

land cruisers are notorious for blowing front diffs , just ask the owner to put it in low range and pop the clutch in reverse and that will do the diff in (collapsible spaces). with the spacers removed they are better but it is not a recommendation to pull in reverse approach with caution as sometimes there is no option just be careful its an FYI comment.

Yes but that's a ToyMotor, not a Land Rover.......

i was waiting for that comment , i don't look at the badge on the back i look under the bonnet and under the car , they all have motors , gearboxes and diffs etc and they all brake, they all have their achilles heal . my achilles heal is electronics but i am getting better thanks to sites like this . all my comments are based on life experiences not hear say. considering that i have old VW beetle powered buggies and range rovers need i say more

Dave 3d, your tow hitch looks awesome

yes that's the hitch i mentioned in the first comment and then Richard said it was illegal over their so i left it at that as your rules are very different to ours

I was going on the regulations for an Individual Vehicle Approval test for a vehicle imported to the UK that doesn't meet normal UK type approval.

The IVA manual says:

1. Any towing device fitted must be of the correct type and be fitted with a 50mm diameter tow ball
   2 The coupling frame must bear an ‘e’ or ‘E’ mark to ensure the construction of the device meets the appropriate approval criteria.
   3 The coupling device(s) must be securely mounted to the vehicle
   4 The coupling ball and / or towing bracket must be installed to the correct height
   5 Towing attachments that do not incorporate a 50mm ball are not permitted e.g. Military style hook type fittings and pin types.
   Minimum Height 375 mm
   Maximum Height 500 mm
   Coupling height requirements measured (vehicle unladen) to the top of the ball

Note 2: Modular coupling receivers, typically found on vehicles produced in North America are integrated into the construction of the vehicle during manufacture and are therefore outside of the scope of this Section.

The advice given to me when I enquired about taking a Range Rover Sport that had been imported from the US and was fitted with a US style towbar was that I could either remove it completely or weld a plate over it so it couldn't be used. I didn't think any more about it at the time and welded it up so it couldn't be used. Although reading those rules now as it was a factory approved towbar, but for the US market, had it been fitted with a 50mm ball I would have thought it would have been fine

It's a shame they're not used over here, they're a versatile mounting point for all sorts of useful things from bike racks to spare wheel carriers. Hey ho.

mad-as wrote:

land cruisers are notorious for blowing front diffs , just ask the owner to put it in low range and pop the clutch in reverse and that will do the diff in (collapsible spaces). with the spacers removed they are better but it is not a recommendation to pull in reverse approach with caution as sometimes there is no option just be careful its an FYI comment.

Only the 100 series apparently :)

its relevant to all models with the small 8' diff in them ok i ment 8'' diff :)
import rules don't make sense halve the time , its just another ploy to get you to spend money on dumb ideas so its not worth the effort . some of the stories i've heard are outrages how a car was prept in japan sent to melbourne and held on the dock because it has some fluid of some description in. pay money to fix to have the car sent another 300kms to have it arrive with bits missing . the cars are sealed up to prevent this from happening so any excuse to get into it and no body knows anything about it.

8 foot diff! Small???

;)

Morat wrote:

8 foot diff! Small???

;)
Lol

hang on i'll just go and get my glasses
that's right the little one ha ha
now that i have my glasses on i can see your smiley face is cock eyed :) ha ha