4×4S.ORGTHE REGISTRY BODY, RACKS & PROTECTION · CARRIER
CarrierBody, racks & protectionCommon

Wolf swing-away spare wheel carrier conversion kit (Hobson/Mantec)

Hobson Industries, Mantec · United Kingdom · 2015–2017

A conversion set to move the Wolf's spare wheel from its high passenger-side body mount to a rear swing-away carrier: a Mantec wheel carrier, side-swing tailgate hinges, revised rear-light wiring, blanking plates, a rear access step and a fitting kit. Issued to units around 2016 for better weight distribution and access, but a health-and-safety finding that a standard military trailer could not be towed with it fitted led to roughly 6,000 unissued sets being sold as surplus.

SourcesMore body, racks & protection
PHOTOGRAPH WANTED
2015–2017MADE£140 (2017)PERIOD PRICECommonRARITY1LAND ROVER MODELS1SOURCES

Description

A conversion set to move the Wolf's spare wheel from its high passenger-side body mount to a rear swing-away carrier: a Mantec wheel carrier, side-swing tailgate hinges, revised rear-light wiring, blanking plates, a rear access step and a fitting kit. Issued to units around 2016 for better weight distribution and access, but a health-and-safety finding that a standard military trailer could not be towed with it fitted led to roughly 6,000 unissued sets being sold as surplus.

Wolf TUL (90) and TUM (110); Mantec carriers of the same pattern fit civilian Defenders

Rarity. Over 7,000 conversion sets supplied; about 6,000 were never fitted and were declared surplus by July 2017 and sold off cheaply, so kits are plentiful.

Record: 1 source; designation recorded; price recorded.

Specification

MAKERHobson Industries (kit) with Mantec Engineering (carrier), United Kingdom
DESIGNATION / PARTWolf TUL/TUM rear swing-away wheel carrier conversion set
MADE2015–2017
PRICE IN 2017£140 — MoD disposal price per complete unissued set at living-history events, estimated at under 20 per cent of the original cost; original contract price not stated
RARITYCommon — Over 7,000 conversion sets supplied; about 6,000 were never fitted and were declared surplus by July 2017 and sold off cheaply, so kits are plentiful.
CONTENTSMantec swing-away wheel carrier, side-swing tailgate hinges, rear light wiring update, blanking plates, rear access step, fitting kit
SETS SUPPLIED7000
SETS SURPLUS6000
PROBLEMprevented towing a standard military trailer

Fitment

LAND ROVER

Wolf

Wolf TUL (90) and TUM (110); Mantec carriers of the same pattern fit civilian Defenders

Sources

joint-forces.com/utility-4x4/53362-wolf-swing-away-wheel-carrier-shenanigansEvery source above was fetched and read when the record was made.