I am exploring three options:

1. Use an aerosol tyre filler if I get a puncture and carry no spare

2. Mount on existing roofrack (but what mount do I use?)

3. Mount on after-market swing away rear carrier (http://www.duckworthparts.co.uk/acatalog/Off-road_Preparation.html)

I think the most elegant solution is the rear swing away. It has been seen on G4 vehicles, it is easy to access and a conventional method tried and tested on 4x4s and lambretta scooters.

The downside is that it may foul the removable NATO hitch I use for towing or worse I may no longer be able to fit the NATO hitch when needed.

The Roof option I think is out... I had a 110 double cab with this arrangement, it made a ridiculous amount of wind noise at anything over 45mph and getting it down was a farce when on your own. Putting it up again was never accomplished on my own.

I'm not keen on the aerosol arrangement as this is only any use on relatively minor repairs and is short term.

Has anyone else tried the swing away carrier?

Personally if I were doing the LPG thing (which I am probably not now as the second car scenario seems best for work) I would probably get the aerosol for day to day, strap it down in the boot if I was doing a long trip/off road, or put it on the roof if it was long trip with the 3rd row seats being used. The lights and plaque make enough noise  that I doubt a tyre on the back half of the roof would make a huge difference.

Because of the normal position of the spare would be completely inaccessible if off road /in ruts/ stuck in sand, I know many of the serious D3 guys keep the sapre in the boot anyway.

looks cool as well i would go with the swing away

regards

martin

You do have to say good bye to multi storey car parks but you normally have anyway with the lamps and roof rack...

Mark

Cheers

mark,

would that fit under the rack between the roof?

i was thinking it would be some kind of tube with a base plate and ability to padlock the whole assembly.

regards

martin

Best regards Chris

My spare wheel roof rack mount is a two bolt through the roof rack (was very fiddly to bolt up due to low clearance between roof and rack - no one could possibly steal it!) and a single stud up through the wheel bolt hole (hole in it to put a padlock through)

Cheers

I'm not the original driver!

None of you wear spandex pants and paddle a kayak to work (I trust) just to keep the faith.

Practicality has to take presidence over the ideals of vehicle preservation and the moment a fat middle aged Landy enthusiast like me buys one it's all gone to the dogs anyway.

While I have no intention of installing a third axle I do not think it is unreasonable to relocate the spare wheel - especially given you could never get the damn thing out from underneath. I reckon it was only ever put there as a perverted qualifying task for G4 competitors.

If someone abseils into my office window having ran, swam, paddled and sweated to stop me; the order for the swing away goes in first thing on Monday.

If you do make an attempt to prevent me, spare me the spandex; regular multi-pocket action slacks will do fine.

A bit like this....

Errrm, take a look at the pic in my profile :w00t:

Anyway, yes it's you car to do with as you please. Personally I feel that moving it too far away from the G4 spec would be a shame. Certainly my car has had subtle mods done to it to make it better/easier to live with, but all of them are easily reversable and don't change the appearance of the vehicle as the wheel carrier would.

LPG is a difficult one, done properly it doesn't adversly change the appearance, however from what I've read/been told there are a lot of problems with LPG converting the D3/RRS engine, to the point that some companies will not touch it. It also depends on the miles you do, you would need to cover quite a lot to get the cost back in relativley short time.

Bottom line though, it's your car and your money......

Cheers,

I'm just jealous... I wish my office was like that.

around £40 if i remember

Mark

thats the piece i thought mark was describing, hence my question woud it fit under the rack or is it a somple bolt on top of rack and use it as intended with locking nut, having looked at the picture i guess ive answered my own question, top fix and use as designed:blush:

regards

martin

I have included a sketch for the bracket for those DIY'ers as it would be easy to make.

If anyone wants it send me a message include an email address as I am unable to upload.

Hope this helps

Mark

If using the LR spare wheel carrier ensure you get the right one. Disco 1 and Defender ones are the same. Disco 2 is different having a smaller stud pattern 120mm dia as opposed to 165mm dia. The 6 mounting holes are in the same place though.

I do not think 2003 racks had wheel mounts on them as wheels appear in all sorts of different places on the roofrack.

Adrian

It's the same plate that also were used on the camel trophy cars for the sandladders and spare wheels.

Roel

Cheers

Jules

Brackets are the same for all vehicles in 2006 inc Freelander. Could well be same as used on Camel.

Adrian

http://www.thelongranger.com.au/discovery3longrangefueltank.html

http://www.oppositelock.com.au/redesign/department/productDetails.aspx?deptID=1&catID=39&itemID=RMAWM

REGARDS

MARTIN

http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic10853-420.html

I was one of the first to fit the Mitchell Brothers Hitch and its is brilliant. $495 in Oz so whats that 220 quid??  Its engineered at 350Kg ball down force and 3500kg towing weight - same as factory hitch;