Southdown Tank Guard

[grantc]

Looked at Southdown Tank Guard/towbar. They said that it is not Type Approved for towing. Does that mean that it is illegal to tow with? Help appreciated.

[s368 vop]

Depends which motor you're fitting it onto.

If the car was registered before the 1st of August 1998 then it is ok to tow with, if registered on or after that date then it is illegal.

You can fit the tank guard onto a later car and that is fine, but if you attach a tow ball to the drop plate then it becomes illegal. You don't even need to put a trailer on, just having the ability to attach one is illegal.

I know it's stupid isn't it...


I have checked all of this out properly as I have a 1998 Disco reg'd on the 15th of August.
I have just finished the prototypes of my own design removable towing bracket / recovery point which also protects the rear of the tank.
The problem is that it's really quite expensive to go through the type approval process when you consider that 99% of your market dosn't need it.


Jon

[s368 vop]

Forgot to say, I have the tank guard and recovery point fitted most of the time, but if I need to tow I have to remove it and refit my original tow bar.

It's a pain, but it's legal.


Jon

[grantc]

Depends which motor you're fitting it onto.

If the car was registered before the 1st of August 1998 then it is ok to tow with, if registered on or after that date then it is illegal.

You can fit the tank guard onto a later car and that is fine, but if you attach a tow ball to the drop plate then it becomes illegal. You don't even need to put a trailer on, just having the ability to attach one is illegal.

I know it's stupid isn't it...


I have checked all of this out properly as I have a 1998 Disco reg'd on the 15th of August.
I have just finished the prototypes of my own design removable towing bracket / recovery point which also protects the rear of the tank.
The problem is that it's really quite expensive to go through the type approval process when you consider that 99% of your market dosn't need it.


Jon

Thanks for that Jon. It's rather what I suspected but I wasn't sure if I had it right! My Disco is a 53 plate, so I think that I'll have to pass 'cause I tow a lot and although I would like the tank protection, the tank being plastic, I can't change the towbar every time Ineed to tow!! I'll just have to look round for another solution,perhaps a tank guard that I can fit with my existing towbar(if there is such a beast!) Thanks again for the help
Grant