Remove cover, sanding, masking, spray metal primer




3 layers rescue orange spraypaint and 2 layers clear gloss



Bolts black



cardboard, masking tape, measuring, cutting

cardboard attached to cover and Cutting with Jigsaw fine metal blade






Adding thin rubber U profel inside ( unfortunately to short)


cover back on


Adding strenght and closing the gap with alu corner profel




Spraypaint black


Install with selftapping screws and some hybride sealant black


So for now it is accesible and neat, will buy later a HD undershield protection.

This solution works fine, one drawback it's like a scoop for mud.
So I did mount a piece of alu diamond plate behind.
The holes are present behind there, just tapping in some 6mm thread in the diamond plate and 6mm screws.

 

You could have saved me 500 bucks!

SOMEBODY SLEPT AT A HOLIDAY INN LAST NIGHT!

 

Nice work, definitely a cleaner version of the mod I had previously posted. I pulled a stuck truck out of the snow this weekend, sure was glad to have the front eye exposed to save me the 10 minutes of fiddling with the plastic cover! Well done-

 

Thx !, I'am aware that this is not an HD solution - but for let's say 90% of the owners of a New Defender it will do.

 

Sweet! Thanks for taking the time to post your solution. Looks great!

 

Old thread update.
After over 2 years with my cheap mod of the easy accessible towhook I can confirm it stood out pretty good in almost all conditions.

But accidental I ran into a brand new genuine undershield protection VPLEP0436 for under $ 150,- , so that was a no brainer.
Did have it powder coated first in a inox champagne color to match best possible to the Silicon silver skids,
a fresh layer of red paint for the towhook was also badly needed.
Let's scratch this one.. 😀

 

Looks nice. Under $150 is a bargain considering the overpriced retail of the OEM piece. Mine is getting an aftermarket skid plate for this reason.