Guys, I messed up! I assumed all defenders came with hitches so I didn’t add it for $750 when I ordered my car. I thought the optional tow package was some fancy software upgrade like a trailer assist or something!

That said, where can I buy a fixed hitch that I can install myself? I did that with my RRS a couple years ago with a hitch I got off of etrailer and it worked great but they don’t have an option for the defender. I could have the dealer do it but I would rather not spend $2k on the retractable elephant tail if I can find a fixed one I can just install myself. I figured if anyone knows, the forum will! Thanks!

 

curious about this also i told my dealer i wanted the 750 hitch but he kept on insisting they do it when it comes in , i just checked and saw its 1500$ b4 install now im pissed and looking for same info

 

The problem is... to install the hitch means removing rear bumper and trims, putting a new rear subframe-ey crash element in to replace what's there, and then adding the hitch and the electrics and coding it. So that's why the cost.

LR has been doing this since like 2013/2014. I bought a dealer stock launch time 2014 RRS V8 SC Dynamic that was at the time hideously expensive (but I didn't order it / spec it), and then had to pay $3500 at LR Buckhead to have the hitch installed a few mos later when I realized there was no hitch on the car (I incorrectly assumed from owning prior RRS/Disco/LR3/4). I had them do it, and showed up at the dealer to see the entire back part of the car apart just to install it and understand why the costs are so high.

Anyway hitches should be stock on these Defenders. But the reason the cost is so high is the # of components that get replaced and added.

 

I made the same mistake when purchasing. Just buy the parts and install them your self. I promise it's not to difficult. It only took me a couple hours. The dealer also only charged me $100 to program the tow module.

 

any videos on the subject im kind of handy

 

Man you are an accomplished mechanic!! It took me that long to get my rear bumper off and back on after installing the tow loops !

 

https://landroverforums.com/forum/20...ctures-108710/

​​​

 

After seeing how much work is involved installing the hitch (or even the top loops), I've been kicking myself for not shelling out the money for the hitch to start with. I'm pretty sure I could do it myself, but it's a lot of work. I'm sort of waiting to see if I end up buying a trailer or not. Earlier in the year I did a long road trip with the wife and two dogs, but we're recently down to one dog and I don't know if we'll end up road tripping again (but glad we did it when we could with both). I'd just like to add the tow loops but at this point it's not worth the trouble to just add them without the hitch (in my opinion).

 

Same here. I didn’t order my 130 with the towing package thinking I could just add it on myself. We don’t do much towing at all with my wife’s car, I have a truck that I tow with all the time, but I’d like to have the option of towing with the defender. Wish I’d have just shelled out the money for it. I do plan on buying the gap tool, though, so if I add the hitch, I can program the computer myself.

 

after seeing how much it cost for hitch and dealer set up im not sure its worth the time and effort thanks racepeter for info , im really kicking myself for not insisting it be done at factory for 700 i thought it would be close to that at dealer and i didnt argue much because i got car for msrp when other dealers wanted between 10 and 20 gs over msrp