Description:
Land Rover Discovery TD5 Front Recovery Points. As the name suggests these are for off-road recovery from the front. If you have found this web page you probably already know the problem. No one (at the time of typing) makes front recovery points for the series 2 Discovery.

There are several solutions if you are prepared to completely replace the bumper or replace the lower section of bumper but both affect the appearance. I like off-roading but I like my car to look fairly respectable the rest of the time. I managed to take the necessary measurements and draw up some plans. Luckily they fitted perfectly first time.

Download the plans if you want to make up your own. These are not tested and you use the designs at your own risk.

When you look at the plans the bolt holes are correct. It is a right angle and the bolt holes are in a straight line. Yet when fitted the brackets angle downwards and protrude at about the same place as the existing lashing point. This is because the bolt holes on the end of the chassis where these are mounted are not upright. The bolt holes are already angled with the top one being further forward than the bottom one, producing the necessary angle when the bracket is fitted.

You only need the 11mm hole and the 11mm slot. The two 9mm holes shown on the plans were just in case I wanted to mount any underside protection from the brackets.

Materials:
8mm thick mild steel
Zinc coated after manufacture
Costs:
I had mine produced by a local Land Rover enthusiast garage, Gratech , who in turn had a local metal fabricator make up the pair.
Even with two lots of mark up involved I was only quoted £25 plus VAT each (Total £60 the pair in Feb.2010)

Installation:
When cutting the slots to fit the brackets be very CAREFUL. There is a HOSE running just behind the bumper very close to where the brackets need to protrude. This runs on BOTH sides just behind the bumper. I drilled the top hole using a 10mm drill a lot lower than I needed and filed upwards carefully avoiding the hose. You can get the positions of the holes fairly close by eye. Start on the side with the existing lashing point so you can see through to where you need to be and then mirrow the position on the other side. The brackets mount on the inside of the chassis members.

From under the vehicle, remove the underside cover to get at the bumper mounting bolts. This cover may have to be cut slighty to be able to replace it neatly once the new brackets are in place.

Remove the existing lashing point on the side where it is fitted and fit the new recovery points using the original bolts.