disco / rrc tank guards with detachable tow packs.

[Guardian.]

hi everybuddy, can i have a few opinions on,
if you were going to buy a nice new fully enclosed fuel tank guard, chassis mounted, fully seam welded, muc clear out holes, etc, smart bit of kit, would you want to have it with the detachable tow pack, or not?
not sure what the demand is for these tow packs.
please no phone calls ! im not selling as yet, only just got it sorted, i now have my laser profilers to haggle with monday.
thanks
spence
guardian.

[Mudlark]

I like the idea of a demountable tow pack as it makes great sense I'm not one that likes ploughing when I'm off-roading. However I shan't be buying one from you as I've no intention to get either a RR or disco  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[John T]

I may be wrong, but probably worth a check before you build any...

I'm sure I read somewhere it is now ilegal to fit 'towbars' that don't have  type approval  to cars built after 1998.

You may well be aware of this, or you may be only building for pre-98 Discos,  but just thought I'd mention it..

[Guardian.]

as you said, these are for disco 1, or rangey classics, but i am looking into type approval also, not for vehicle age concerns, more for load ratings.

[gords]

I voted "with" because I had the tow-kit when I bought my Southdown one. I used it to tow a few times ... and a few more times minus the towing part, as my recovery point. It was excelent being able to remove the towbar bit in just a few seconds :)

Are you proposing to produce the same thing as Southdown, or will it be different somehow?

[Guardian.]

not sure what im allowed to say on here, already had a bolguking for advertising, when thats not what i was after, but to keep it brief, to be honest it will be very similar to theirs, added a couple of extra kinks, or bends whatever you want to call them to make much more rigid on the big panel part, be less likely to get bent up that way.
basically the same bit of kit though, how else can you do it!

[jjsaul]

definately with

my rrc offroader has a tow hitch now but its way too high to be useful...would love a tank guard with detachable but cant afford southdowns prices!

[smo]

Yes i would, but i want one for a TD5 defender!

[baileys_1984]

if price is right we will most poss b after one as we fedup with looking back and thinking we need to go put seeds in them lines we leave thats is when the damn towbar dont get us stuck :lol:

[discojames]

I'd be interested, depending on the price!

James

[barnhill4x4]

I would have to have  the detachable tow point but I would need the guard made slightly deeper as I have 2 40litre LPG tanks where my petrol tank used to be, would this be possible?

[Guardian.]

it would be a posibility, however, it would be a custom build job, you cannot get 1 of something laser cut, needs to be like 50 / 100 at a time.
wouldnt cost much more though to fabricate a deeper one.

[landyworld]

I would definately be interested, will the Tow bar drop plate be able to accomodate a 2"lift?

[Lewis Bernard]

i would be interesed if the price was right, although i have heard of people having issues with small stones getting between guard and tank and wearing away at the tank, maybe something to combat that, layer of rubber/neoprene? not an mechanic so dont know if it will work!

lewis

[Guardian.]

holes or no holes, another decision!
was going to put rows of 2 inch holes across in a couple of places, but a couple of people have said that as the muc slices of through it it will crush the fuel tank eventually, this is a valid point, but i would have thought a jetwash would also clear it out, that was my thought.
job to know with this off road gear, people have opposite opinions, and both points valid, for everything you do.
any way, for now left the holes out, shame, i thought it would also make them look a bit smarter.
price im not sure yet, plus i got told off when i put my guestimate on th origional listing.
once they come back from the laser profilers il get one on the releases bit for all to see, with a price.
and thanks to all who have done the poll, looks like the tow hitch part makes these a popular item.
will try and make them a bit more affordable now!

[Eeyore]

If your profilers won't do a one off, I'd change suppliers. Plenty of cutters out there are prepared to work with low volumes, and for sensible money.

Cheers
 8)
Eeyore

[UKJeeper]

What connection are you going to use for the towhitch? A 2" square tube like the septic's use as an industry standard?

If so, let me know where in the UK you found 2" od and 2" id square tube?

[Guardian.]

there is nothing special about what you require, any steel stockholders will cary it.
your after 60mm x 4.5 or 5mm wall thickness depending on how tight you want it, and then a decent wall thicknes 50mm (5mm i suggest).
this is what i used to use with our quarry machines tow packs, but not what we will be using for these tank guards, it will be plate.

[UKJeeper]

Problem i've found with 50mm od square tube is that it is just not quite a snug enough fit in existing 2" receiver hitches. I have septic hitches on two of my Jeeps and plan on making one for my 3rd Jeep. There is more slop with 50mm than with 2" tube. Not much, i know, but i'd rather not have loads having excessive movement in the hitch. Its just a touch different. Same reason i had to ditch my 2" towballs for 50mm balls when i came back here. PITA!  

I and several 4x4 shops have tried contacting several steelyards in the UK. No-one makes 2" square tube. Only metric is available over here. I had to buy what i needed last time i was in the US. Made the suitcases REALLY heavy!  :shock:

[mmgemini]

If your're bothered about mud getting between the tank and the guard.
Do what we used to do on the rally car. Fit a foam sponge between the tank and the guard.
OR a bin bag. Fill it with expanding foam. Nothing will get in there then.