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Mil Defender front bumpers


Mean Green

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I need need some advice on the military type front bumpers - the ones with the tow pin built into the bumper.

How strong are these bumpers?

Where can I get one ... and how much?

The reason I ask is that I am about to purchase a Civvie LR for work. It is going to be used as an airfield "tug", ie moving equipment around the airfield and it helps to have a towing eye on the front as well as rear to make manouvring easier.

So I was thinking about the mil type bumper. Would these be up to the job of moving anything up to about 3 tons? bearing in mind it is all on tarmac and flat surfaces. Would I need to strengthen it in anyway?

Thanks

Greg

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The mil pattern front bumper that has the towing pintle fitted, is reinforced around that position. Some have a double thickness box section there. others have a slightly different arrangement.

Bearing in mind the all up weight of a laden military spec 110, the mil type bumper should be capable of towing a 3 ton weight on tarmac without any modification.

As for where, try PRB services in Leeds, they are closing down and getting rid of all their stock. Failing that, the usual suspects for mil vehicle bits

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The mil pattern front bumper that has the towing pintle fitted, is reinforced around that position. Some have a double thickness box section there. others have a slightly different arrangement.

Bearing in mind the all up weight of a laden military spec 110, the mil type bumper should be capable of towing a 3 ton weight on tarmac without any modification.

As for where, try PRB services in Leeds, they are closing down and getting rid of all their stock. Failing that, the usual suspects for mil vehicle bits

Thanks 110.

I tried PRB, but didnt get an answer on the phone. In the mean time is there anywhere else to try?

Are the mil suppliers the same as civvie suppliers? or are there specialists to contact? (Can you tell I am not really up on my Mil LR's!!)

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It is going to be used as an airfield "tug", ie moving equipment around the airfield and it helps to have a towing eye on the front as well as rear to make manouvring easier.

I'd strengthen the existing one & bolt a nato pintle on. the mil bumper pin is meant for on road towing & it's inside the bumper not clear of the outer vertical face, it might restrict turning with a a/c towbar attached.

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Guest diesel_jim

They're not that strong really. if you're "pulling" a LR with one on the front, then they arn't too bad, but if you "push" with one, they the strengthening is on the wrong side of the bumper and they just bend in.

pretty much every one in my old unit was bent in and touching on the front radiator panel! :rolleyes:

far better, IMO, to fit a towbar or NATO hitch in line with one of the chassis rails, or get/make a very HD bumper out of 4 or 5mm plate.

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As has been noted about using a NATO hitch, I would go that route as it's the most flexible, least chance of loosing bits (loose the pin, your duffed, loose the NATO hitch, HOW?!?!?), it has 360 roll capability in the jaw and it's been happily used by the RAF/FAArm/AAC/MoD for years to tow around multi-million pound aircraft of a multitude of sizes and weights with no problems

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  • 5 weeks later...

just another idea, with a little work a dixon bate adjustable height tow kit can be fitted to the front of a defender, braced back to the lifting-eye holes, i've seen this done on some utility trucks, and those used on the railway.

a secondhand dixon bate kit is about £30... if you track down a couple of extra sliders you can have whatever fitting you like, where ever you like...

hope this helps.

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i have a dixon bate style adjustable bit for sale with the support brackets to fit rear of defender and upto 4 of the front facing plates. one for cl2 receiver, 1 drilled to take a NATO, 2 drilled for std ball hitch.

i purchased the base bit off M005 to get the combination hitch that came with it at the time, hence now have the other bits available if needed.

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  • 2 months later...

I would agree with the Mil front bumper being made of cheese,(not best suited to KERR recoveries on the plain)

best to modify a normal bumper, fit a load spreading plate across the whole front section of the bumper inbetween the mounting bolts first though !(to shop it flexing forward and backwards etc)

fit a nato hitch, or if more suited a drop plate(involes a bit more work, but well worth the effoert

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  • 2 months later...
just another idea, with a little work a dixon bate adjustable height tow kit can be fitted to the front of a defender, braced back to the lifting-eye holes, i've seen this done on some utility trucks, and those used on the railway.

a secondhand dixon bate kit is about £30... if you track down a couple of extra sliders you can have whatever fitting you like, where ever you like...

hope this helps.

Done this on our Defender with the Dixon Bate adjustable height multi hole bracket bolted in line with the chassis dumb iron.

Haven't got round to fitting bracing but still manage to push and pull our 1 ton caravan and 1 ton trailer up hill on grass and gravel with the ball hitch/nato hitch below the bumper line, and with no flexing!

Having this fitted to the right hand dumb iron means the driver can have a good equal view down each side of the caravan or trailer when pushing. If fitted to the left hand dumb iron, the driver will have a much clearer view to the right side of the caravan or trailer.....useful if you regularly park your caravan tight against a wall for example. The steering is also more precise than when reversing, to enable accurate positioning.

Just food for thought.....

Toodle Pip....

Bob.

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