Overland Journal: Discovery I, 5-speed

[R_Lefebvre]

I like the way the Greg Davis bumper design moves the hitch up, and it would be beneficial on a D1 as well I'd think. The only trouble is, as I discovered, the bumper isn't very torsionally stiff. Moving the hitch up to use as a recovery point is probably fine, or if you have a real high tongue on your trailer so it's a straight pull. But if you used a drop hitch without backstays to the frame, the whole bumper twists.

Does Scott's truck have a body lift?

 

[rovertech]

Rob,

Agreed on the bumper/hitch. If you are going to use the towing capability frequently the stock hitch is optimal.

Scott

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I mean, I had my bumper beam bolted up to the frame horns with the 4 factory bolts. I also had it bracketted back to the rear crossmember using the original hitch mounting bolts, which some bumpers don't even do. When I have my drop hitch installed, I could move it 1/4" either way just by hand. There was no slop in the system, it was the horns flexing. The frame horns just aren't stiff enough to support a hitch.

So it seems to me, if you are going to tow a trailer, keep the stock hitch. If you're not, cut it off. Scott does so, that's fine. It's just tragic how low it hangs.

 

[muskyman]

Rob,

Agreed on the bumper/hitch. If you are going to use the towing capability frequently the stock hitch is optimal.

Scott

until it tears off the frame:Wow1:

 

[rovertech]

Touche. It pays to actually check the welds once in while eh? Haveing worked on Rovers in the NW (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) I don't see a whole lot of trouble with rust and corrosion.

Scott

 

[Antichrist]

Does Scott's truck have a body lift?

Looks it to me.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Ok, I saw those after you mentioned it the first time, but wasn't sure if it was standard on a D1. No mention of it I could find in this thread.

 

[bobtail4x4]

The bobbins are standard on a D1.
its not got a body lift,

 

[Antichrist]

Yeah, you're right. I had to go out and look at mine. The body lift spacers are larger around and sit on top of the stock ones (it's been a while since I installed mine). I guess it was an optical delusion combined with the bumper being higher.

 

[muskyman]

Touche. It pays to actually check the welds once in while eh? Haveing worked on Rovers in the NW (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) I don't see a whole lot of trouble with rust and corrosion.

Scott

yes it does...I now know of 6 that have torn off all total...three that I have seen with my own eyes.

 

[Scott Brady]

yes it does...I now know of 6 that have torn off all total...three that I have seen with my own eyes.

WOW!

I still have the details of reinforcing that draw bar. Close inspection certainly shows it is necessary. Imagine having a 5,000lb. horse trailer connected to that. :Wow1:

 

[Steveb]

WOW!

I still have the details of reinforcing that draw bar. Close inspection certainly shows it is necessary. Imagine having a 5,000lb. horse trailer connected to that. :Wow1:

Are the details for the reinforcement of the hitch posted somewhere?

 

[Scott Brady]

Lots of updates coming

 

[craig]

Damn Scott, that Disco is coming along nicely eh... I love the new Lights, and the Tank Skid looks to be really nicely done... Is that from Colombia Rovers here in Portland??? Not being a rover guy they don't have anything for me to drool over, but they do make some VERY nice things for Rover folks eh.

Cheers

Dave

As "Columbia Overland", they just started getting into the Toyota Market.

 

[JSQ]

Lots of updates coming

Sweet.