2020 First Edition Defender. I use a Thule hitch mounted bike rack. Any way to disable the backup alarm when the rack is on the vehicle?

 

Try plugging something into the trailer harness. You can get "test plugs" that allow you to test the plug with little lights - that would work.

(Just a disclaimer, I'm not 100% sure that will work but it would track with the experience I had towing my M1102 with the Defender)

 

Good idea. I'll give it a try.

 

I can confirm by plugging in a working harness or one that emulates one, it will 100% work - if you force the car into trailer mode, backup protection (slamming on the brakes thing) and rear sensors are disabled. Have towed a trailer quite a few times w the Deefer.

 

Also, in addition to the recommendations above, you can turn off the speaker volume when backing up with the hitch bike on.

 

You pull an M1102? That seemed oversized for a Defender. I have a Canadian M101 (M416 sized). Doesn’t carry all that much, but wasn’t made for a Humvee-sized vehicle…

 

I don't normally tow the M1102 with the Defender. It's the Hummer's camping trailer - however the H1 is often ... uhh... "under the weather" (as it is right now with a timing idler gear that exploded inside the engine) and so the Defender pulls the trailer around when I need it to. While it definitely falls within the Defender's weight range (it weights about 2000lbs fully loaded with all of the stuff shown below) because its weirdly dimensioned it does "wag the dog" quite a bit. Clifford doesn't even really know its back there when he's pulling it - which makes sense because its designed for that truck.


Anyways - sorry for the diversion.

 

I have a 1-UP hitch rack with the accessory brake light that plugs in. (Drivers around here tailgate like Nascar)

One thing to be aware of, is that when I plug into the trailer socket, it also disables the blind spot warning lights on the rearview mirrors.

 

Great pair of rigs!