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HitchRecovery & towingCommon

Dixon-Bate NATO rotating towing pintle (NRC2051)

Dixon-Bate · United Kingdom · dates not recorded

The rotating NATO pintle hook made by Dixon-Bate as original equipment for Land Rover, the standard fitment on British military Land Rovers for towing Sankey and other NATO-eye trailers, with a built-in lock to fix the pintle in the fixed or rotary position and four UNF countersunk assembly screws. Sold with locking pins and lanyards; 8.3 kg.

SourcesMore recovery & towing
PHOTOGRAPH WANTED
—MADE£479.99 (2026)CURRENT PRICECommonRARITY14LAND ROVER MODELS6SOURCES

Description

The rotating NATO pintle hook made by Dixon-Bate as original equipment for Land Rover, the standard fitment on British military Land Rovers for towing Sankey and other NATO-eye trailers, with a built-in lock to fix the pintle in the fixed or rotary position and four UNF countersunk assembly screws. Sold with locking pins and lanyards; 8.3 kg.

Military rear cross-member fitting; civilian Defenders take it on a Dixon-Bate drop plate.

Rarity. The standard MoD Land Rover hitch, fitted to Lightweight, Series III, Ninety/One Ten and Wolf military vehicles in their thousands and sold as a genuine part (NRC2051); secondhand examples are plentiful, often rusted solid.

Record: 6 sources; designation recorded; price recorded; production dates not established.

Specification

MAKERDixon-Bate, United Kingdom
DESIGNATION / PARTNRC2051
MADEdates not recorded
PRICE IN 2026£479.99 — RST Landrovers retail, new, with locking pins and lanyards
RARITYCommon — The standard MoD Land Rover hitch, fitted to Lightweight, Series III, Ninety/One Ten and Wolf military vehicles in their thousands and sold as a genuine part (NRC2051); secondhand examples are plentiful, often rusted solid.
WEIGHT KG8.3
LOCKfixed or rotating position
ASSEMBLY SCREWS4 x 1/4in x 28 UNF (older hitches)
OE STATUSOE to Land Rover, MoD standard
BOLT PATTERN4 x 12 mm holes, 85 mm x 45 mm
RATING KG5000
JAW40 mm hook gap, 66 mm opening
FEATURESrotating body, removable lock pin and chain, E-marked (Dixon-Bate)
ERA NOTEin service around 1958; introduction date not sourced

Fitment

LAND ROVER

LightweightSeries III 88Series III 109101 Forward ControlNinetyOne TenDefender 90Defender 110Defender 130WolfSeries II 88Series II 109Series IIA 88Series IIA 109

OTHER MARQUES

universal NATO hitchPinzgauerBedfordmost 4x4 and commercial vehicles with a flat rear crossmember

Military rear cross-member fitting; civilian Defenders take it on a Dixon-Bate drop plate.

Variants

Fixed pintle1970s-

Non-rotating military pintle

15,000 kg NATO pintlecurrent

Heavier truck version sold by Edwards Trailers

Sources

rst-landrovers.co.uk/shop/towing/tow-balls-hitches/land-rover-dixon-bate-brand-new-rotating-nato-towing-pintle-hitch-nrc2051/landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/dixon-bate-military-tow-hitch.45999/paddockspares.com/brands/dixon-bate.htmlroverparts.eu/products/nrc2051-towing-attachment-assemblyedwards-trailers.co.uk/trailer-parts/trailer-parts/security-accessories/nato-tow-pintle-hitch-5000kg/forum.militarylightweight.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2193Every source above was fetched and read when the record was made.