Land Rover Defender 2020 Rear Bumper removal + Fitting Off Road Recovery Tow Hoops ( Defender X ) 

Completed! Rear end successfully removed and towing eyes fitted (complete with PowerfulUK inserts). A couple of revisions to your instructions if I can be so bold: 1) The wheel arch flares can be delicately removed and don’t need to be ripped off with consequent loss of those little white clips. With the wheel arch liner folded back, you can reach inside, squeeze the back of the white clips and gently remove the plastic trim. 2) Beware above: If you have the extended wheel arches (explorer pack etc), they are also attached with sticky foam on the leading edge - which you don’t want to be pulling off. Just release the white clips as above and the rear edge will free up enough to release the bumper. 3) The bolt pattern for the heat shield shown in this video obviously varies depending on whether you have a tow bar but also if you have a Diesel vs Petrol engine. Hence the asymmetry. Fewer 8mm bolts with the Diesel. Also, the rear crossmember with a tow bar looks COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! Lots more going on. 4) If you have rear mud flaps, these are also bolted through the plastic bodywork. You’ll need to remove the top 2 nuts + washers (captive bolts) to remove the bumper (to which the mud flaps remain attached). 5) I’m not sure what torque the towing eye bolts are done up to but I’d approximate >200Nm (I had to put all my weight on them to release them). Finally - you don’t need ramps, just raise the rear suspension up and lie on your back with a head torch. The instructions in this video are super-helpful and the whole job took me just over an hour (including some diagnostic for the rear mud flaps). The PowerfulUK inserts complete the look and make all the difference.

Thank you for these videos, they really help inspire people to take things apart on these newer cars where there's hidden clips etc as the fragility of them is a bit of a worry. Squeezing the white clips at the back of the wheel arch trim makes those come out easily. I did this on my MY21 D300 at the weekend , it has an electric tow bar fitted and there's lots of differences to yours, it certainly didn't take 20 minutes! For other D300 owners or tow bar owners the main differences seem to be the positioning and number of fixings holding the bumper in place. I questioned if the mud flaps needed removing first, they absolutely do. Once all the fixings were off, pulling off the bumper assembly was simple and I did this all on my own. I lowered the bumper down onto a big box covered in soft non scratching material till I was sure it would completely fall away. The biggest issue I found on reassembly was that the rear camera wash pipe is so damned short! Why Land Rover WHY? The way it goes together is rubbish, it wants to fall apart and then there's the fiddliest tiny U clamp clip to hold it together. Even with the rear wheel removed it was really hard as the pipe has no length to it. If they'd added 3-6 inches more it would have been much easier - Designers don't think about re-assembly! The other issue is the myriad of fixing types, you pointed out some but I found more on mine - Hex Head 8mm, pan head phillips screws, and also tiny torx star bit screws too. Seriously Land Rover, WHY? Why have 3 completely different heads all with the same length and size doing the same job in the space of 10 inches of bodywork. It's absolutely mental. All of these are right behind the wheel, where they will get pounded by mud and water, the heads will fill, corrode and they will prove impossible to remove in the future. I am amazed that even on the very latest designs, with the most technologically advanced and efficient production lines they think this variation is good! Thanks for your products and videos!

`` Did my Defender 90 hardtop with the red/orange hoops today took me around 4 hours start to finish. Video very useful - couldn't have done it without it. The diesel models or my model only had the heat shield on one side. It does take a leap of faith to finally pull the bumper off as its tightly fitted at the top on the clips - you have to give it a good tug ! Thanks gents.

Completed! Thank you powerfulukltd! Alan Davies feedback is all very good. I was also able to carefully remove the fender flares just enough without popping any clips. There is an adhesive you don’t want to tear as well. I experimented with removal torques and in U.S. I think the rear bolts for the tow hook receivers are around 80 ft/lbs. That is around the torque where they consistently released, so I used that to reapply. I think the threading is steel, but its important to not crush the aluminum bumper.

Just wanted to say thank you to you guys. I used your video to install my recovery points on 2020 defender. I did have a extra screw behind the wheel arch lining on each side I had to remove that I didn’t see in the video but they were pretty easy to spot. Maybe that was just in the USA models? Mud flaps do have to be removed if you have those fitted. I was able to disconnect the 2 wiring harnesses and the washer hose before pulling the bumper cover off. Also I have a towing hitch on mine so I had to remove the tow hitch cover so it would clear the hitch. I was able to gently remove the wheel arch trim without any damage by pushing the two white clips out from the backside. Your video was a great help!!! Only thing i was unsure about was how tight to torque the recovery eyes on. I guessed by how they felt when I took the bolts out for the original screw in type that was on there. I torqued them down to 70 ft-lb’s. I hope that’s close. Thank you!! I ordered some of the trim finishers from you and I’m looking forward to getting them. Still hoping you all will make a new front tow eye cover that leaves the tow eye exposed with out installing the entire Land Rover kit. Just one that fits the same as the factory cover but with a proper cut out that gives you access to the recovery point. That’s the number one thing I’m wanting right now. Thanks much. I appreciate all your videos and products. I see now that somebody posted the specs from Land Rover they are 125 ft-lb’s. I went back and corrected my mistake. Thanks to whoever posted that.

Simon, I just ordered your tow hook kit, delivered in 4 days. Thank you. My dealer was impressed. They indicated that the bolts for the tow hooks need to be upgraded because the existing bolts are not capable of towing 7 tons. They have ordered new bolts at $110.00 Cdn. Thought you should know. I thought the existing bolts would be fine but apparently not according to Land Rover. I forwarded your You Tube link so they can learn how to do it. There is a marketing opportunity here for you with Land Rover dealers especially outside the UK. Most dealers are having trouble getting parts, you seem to have ample supply for most things. Cheers John

It’s worth noting that if you wish to remove the aluminium crash bar to fit the full Towbar, then there are 6 more bolts going up vertically above the exhaust. You can just drop the exhaust enough off it’s mounts to get them out. The new Towbar comes with 2 extra new bolts, so has 16 bolts holding it on in total.

Came back to the video to tell you I just ordered the red set from the U.S. Thanks for listening to your customers and providing the requested colors.

Love the channel 👍 I actually drive a BMW X5 but now want to sell it and get a disco to be part of your gang. 😂 excellent as usual..

Not quite the Defender of old is it . Watching this video as Simon pulls his car apart ! - Stunned !

I can see I'm going to have set up an account with your website! Additional things I'd like you to solve: 1) A curry hook attachment for the front passenger footwell. I looked at installing the plastic ones from Mudstuff, using the torx bolts. Would fit nicely but I think it would catch your leg. 2) Some form of enclosed storage for the front (you'd maybe need different version for 'walk though' and 'console'). I have the console but the enclosed cubby is a fridge. Great for keeping your water cool but no good for all those cables and bits of tat that float around in the front. A nice canvas bag that fits on the floor area and is accessible from the top would be good. 3) Device mounts that use the front rail to attach (the bar running along the top of the dash in front of the passenger that looks deceptively like a series of grab handles but isn't quite). Could mount phones, cameras, dash cams... Do RAM make them - might have to look into it? 4) Towing mirrors. This always seems to be a miss by manufacturers. The D5 is the worst - most commercial mirrors slide off their sloping flanks, The Defender is OK but a proper, robust solution would be ace (why they don't sell them as a factory designed accessory - possibly with a captive track pre-mounted on the mirror - is beyond me). Keep the videos coming and I look forward to your website incorporating more solutions 👍

Just fitted my recovery eyes with your red inserts this morning. Look great. And thanks for the video - most helpful. I make two observations: 1. I have the towbar fitted. Across the top of the towbar crossmember there are three steel plates - one centrally, and one vertically above each recovery eye. With the bumper refitted they lie about 1\4" below the bumper, and effectively provide three strong 'tread points' on the rear bumper that will hold your weight. (You can see them on step 20 of the towbar fitting instructions.) The top surface of the rear armature may add similar tread strength to the rear bumper for non-towbar cars. 2. My defender has a raised rear diff breather! I noticed a small open-ended black plastic pipe terminating near the fuel filler, up inside the RHS rear wheel arch, visible with the wheel arch liner removed. I traced this down to the top of the rear diff. The height of the breather is approx. 1100mm above the ground in off-road height. This is good to see! I have not checked to see if the front diff has similar. Anyone know?

Looks so much better with these recovery hooks, but needs a little finisher 👍

Hi 👋 Looks much better with new tow hooks I think 🤔 is a more strong 💪 better than the 🧵 hooks and you can make/ use a cover for drain in future. Not to loose parts/tools.very good video. I have ordered 🦶 footwell lights and I am awaiting . Thanks 🙏 🙏

These defender videos are interesting, so far I have seen several items that alarm me. 1, error on the way home from collecting it, 2, smaller cargo area than Discovery 4/3, 3. Plastic area on bonnet and A pillar cover, 4. Lots of plastic in places that an off road vehicle should not have.. I love my disco 3 but really not driving me towards defender purchase that I was thinking about.

The more I learn about the new Defender, the happier I am that I have an original.... 😁

Well done!

I really love your videos. Very easy to follow and no superfluous crap.... Can I just ask: I notice you have what looks to be Goodyear Duratrac tyres fitted. I have the same vehicle in Australia, but it arrived with Michelin tyres that may be great on bitumen, but would be pretty useless on the dirt roads we have here. My question: how noisy are the Goodyears? I had them on my Ford Ranger, and everything about them was great except for the road noise, which was pretty severe.

Hey Simon, at 17:11, I almost pi55ed myself laughing. That's my kinda luck.. When Tyler removes removes the bumper to put some no-crode between the steel eye and the Ali crash structure bet he doesn't loose the clip..

Done. Thank you for posting this video!

Excellent videos. Have already looked at several of them! Any chance you will do one on the tow bar?

What is to stop galvanic corrosion where aluminium, steel and cast iron are all bolted together ?

Any chance LR will sell the anodized aluminum front and rear bummer from the X line?

Simon quick thank you. Ordered parts Thursday night. Emailed Friday to say picked and waiting for courier. Arrived Monday. Used the video as a guide, some difference between models but 99% same. Didn't unclip any of the wires or water pipe just moved the bumper out of the way. Followed up someone's comments on the extended wheel arch clips and it worked just squeeze at back and push moves enough to get the tongue out. 👅 job done.

Got mine put on last week!

Simon, which tyres are you running on? They don’t look like what the car comes with

You will make a good boat captain telling people what to do

@powerfulukltd When will you have the hooks and the inserts back in stock? I ordered a set of hooks from LR here in Rochester/NY about 8 weeks ago and it is still on back order. Thanks

Nice video! But can you please specify a part number of these tow hoops?

Why don't I want to use the two screw in tow hoops? I know they only give you one, but I get a second, is that not sufficient? Especially with my tow package and using a hoop fit into that sleeve too?

This is a really useful video but having done this job l would like to add a couple of things. The wheel arch trims, the first and second clips will survive if you pull the trim off. However be careful as the third and fourth clips are a different type and they DO break if you pull the trim off too far round. When refitting everything, leave the wheel arch trim until everything else is done. lt will slot back in, locate the tab in the bumper end then line up the clips and press to secure. Reason for this is, the wheel arch liner locates between the wheel arch trim and the bodywork. lf you've refitted the trim, you'll not get the liner to locate in the space between trim and bodywork. lf you've got a towball, the bumper can be rested on that while you fit the recovery eyes, meaning you don't have to completely disconnect everything. AND, if you've got rear mud flaps fitted....be afraid, be very afraid. They have to be removed in order to take off the bumper. They are secured by four bolts. The upper two are captive in the mud flap, easy to access with a 10mm socket and come off easily. The lower two bolts are NOT captive in the mud flap and there's not enough space to get a socket on, so you need two spanners. The easy way forward is to remove the wheel. lt's possible without, but anyone in the vicinity is likely to hear some words they don't want their kids to use.

Hi powerful team tanks for delivery, maybe you now it already but I noticed that the Defender 2023 are slightly different

1: Anyone else think modern cars looks better without the bumpers? 2: That's some beefy recovery points 😯 3: FOCUS DAM CAMERA! 😂

Morning guys sorry to hassle you again... where can I buy these from?

Thanks for your nice videos. Enjoying them thoroughly . After 17 years in my 110 TD5 it is time for the next generation Defender. Although used to the unreliability with LR, by now I am a little scared with these tons of electronics. How is yours doing until now? Any information anybody? Enjoy your adventures! Gert Jan Hageman, 🇳🇱

Any thoughts as to whether removal of already installed wheel arch extenders would be a problem for taking off the bumper to install the tow hooks? I was worried that the adhesive may prevent the wheel arches from popping off like the smaller factory originals.. I saw a reference to someone's comment successfully doing this, but couldn't find it. thanks!

Does anyone know how to remove spare wheel holder?

Does the metal tow hooks affect the calibration of the rear parking sensors?. Great vlog as usual.

I wonder if the the Powerful UK website will also be stocking after market items for the new Grenadier when it comes to market, ?

At 19:42, Video shows a plastic clip. Do you think a mini R clip would fit to hold that in place?

Tyler I think your dad was very mean in not washing the rear before you started. Have really enjoyed this as new Defender owner in Australia and I think for the cost land cover should have them as standard fittings Alan

I could be wrong but your recovery tow hook looks stronger than the aluminum crush can bumper frame you bolted it too. When you dynamic load the hook will it not stretch and deform the aluminum?

The new Defenders now come with a finisher around the tow hook opening. No part # yet.

Hi and thanks mates for your interesting stuff! Do you know, would it be possible to install tow hooks on "normal" Defenders / non-X model???

So when is the tug of war? And I would like to see how a tow bar is fitted. Great Video. Thanks.

Please can you make another video where you can disassemble the Rear Bumper completely. I'd like to see how all the Rear Bumper parts fix together. Along with the body mounted brackets. Like a detail video on how to disassemble part by part of Rear Bumper. Please. 🙏🙂

Nice tow hooks ! They should have been standard on a defender 😉 Do you have the same tow hooks at the front of the car ? Why haven't you mounted a tow-bar at the back ?

Hi Simon, Love your RU-vid channel. Are these tow hooks genuine LR or other manufactory? If not LR are they rated to the same? Cheers Antony

You guys not got an battery impact/driver? You'll be there all day. Oh, you were. I guess you found those tow eyes in the parts list on the LR Parts computer?

I'm interested to see the part availability for these. Thanks for doing the video. This is on my to do list.

Hi whats the LR part# ? Thanks

Had a drive in the new defender today, it was OK, certainly has some good performance statistics.... But it feels small inside, the D3 and 4 seem larger inside...? I will be keeping my D 3, I did not leave the dealer thinking ' I must have one'

Interesting...

Hi do I have to remove the bumper in order to replace the fog lamp ? If no , do you know of the best way to replace the rear fog lamps ?

Is there a cover that covers the exhaust box for the rear similar to the front skid plate?

Quick question.... Are you planning on adding dual batteries, lift kits etc

Giving the part number would be helpful when you do these videos. Do you have any plans to add a tow hitch?

Simon, do you know anything about towing bar? Is it possible to fit it in garage, or it must be ordered with the car from factory? Employees at local dealer can’t answer me this question. Thank you in advance.

If you have extended wheel arches and pull them out will all the clips break and need to replace the whole arch? They are not cheap.

Hey Simon, do you have a link to the bumper removal instructions? Thanks in advance

Is that hose in the end of the video connected to anything else besides the bumper??

I noticed you added them to your website but they are “out of stock”. Did they sell out instantly?

Great video! Do you by chance have a link to the official Land Rover instructions for this installation?

Hmmm...there are a lot of plastic bits that look to be “just about strong enough” and plenty of electrical connectors in places where mud and rocks might fly...it just seems a little designed to look the part but is marginal and works if untouched. Weight saving I guess!! 🤭🧐😐😐😀

Hows about a video on fitting a Fixed Tow Ball/Jaw pintle and Electrics

i have a 2022 and no matter how hard i pull on the bumper its just wont come off, and i'm not about to do something that might break it. is it confirmed that the 2022s are exactly the same?

Have you got a part number for these tow hoops or a website to buy them from? Many thanks

Seems unless I am blind there are no parts for the new defender on your site (110 Decal is an exception) Will these be made available?

What's the torque spec for those bolts?

are you going to the serious off road?

Oh Ineos Grenadier....I cannot wait.

Can I fix RR wheels on the new Defender ?

Do you sell the inserts only? I need a set if you can provide a link please.

Where is that copart range rover, will it feature on channel again?

My disco 3 has the points already on it..

What's his name?

I wish there is s garage do it for me in UAE

Is there a link to where we can buy the tow hoops?

When will you have them back in stock please

I have sent some photos via the main email address from the Defender 2023

Think you need a Set of Ratchet Spanners😃

Rather than make a finisher, why not just dremil a slot in the original blank?

Did you design the trim for around the tow kit? I would like to purchase that as LR missed this on the factory spec. Thank you!!! @powerfulukltd

9:10 ratchet spanner time. 10:06 even more so

What a faff! Why didn't they simply make the cover plate large enough to put the tow hoops through and screw them in, with a replacement cover plate with a hole in it for the loops to protrude through. I like my Defender (apart from the low battery warning after 2 days and CarPlay only working intermittently) but it is far too cosmetically over designed and I wonder how much (little) input they had from those who might want to use it off-road. Taking a bumper off should be no more 5 or 6 easily accessible bolts and one cable plug. If a vehicle is not designed for easy DIY it is not meant for real off-roading, farmers, etc.

Sorry but i cannot see the point, why not just screw the standard tow eyes in ?

Just saw the part of this video where you remove the last bolt, the exhaust silencer box is too close to the rear bumper, there is no way this Defender would last offroad, any drop into a hole would rip that off, compare it to the D3 or D4,.. I like the look of this car but feel it has become an SUV and not an Off road king or Farmers utility

What an absolute disappointment the new Pretender is. This is a Discovery not a Defender.

Sorry, the amount of flimsy plastic makes me want to wait a bit longer to buy the Ineos Grenadier which seems to offer a lot more than the new Defender Land Rover addition to the Chelsea tractor set, in the meantime, I will go back to the FC101 and wait.

Mate, the new upcoming ford bronco seems well placed to blow the new defender out of the water

Unfortunately, the rear bumper cannot be removed as easily as in the video. I tried in vain to pull the bumper off after loosening all the screws. Here I would like to show more precisely how the bumper is removed from the upper docks in the Video. In the end a Landrover Car service had to do it for me.

its a Land Rover... more likely to need them for a recovery truck....too many ECUs

Bla bla bla bla bla

What a cheap plastic bumper this is.

Watching this video has put me off buy a new defender guys, too much plastic, and why do you need to do all this to fit recovery points to an off road designed vehicle? Very disappointing to see this,