Phil_the_pom

I have the Westfalia removal tow bar on an Octi Scout - have hardly ever removed it, so would go for a solid fit next time... Get the factory wiring loom, it sorts out the rear parking sensors when you plug the lights in - good for bike racks and trailers, and if you unplug the lights with the vehicle locked it sets the alarm off...

I swapped from a 110 Defender on Cooper STTs to a 2011 Octi Scout. It came with Hankook icept evo2's - a snow tyre. I do a lot of driving on farm tracks, back roads and the odd foray into fields. I was cautious how the tyres would perform, but having just swapped them for a the same again after 45,000 miles of varied driving I would suggest a look at them, unless you like leaving braking from speed to the last minute. Fuel economy is good (45+mpg unless on short runs). Towed a 1.4 tonne trailer through a wet grassy field lambing field (notoriously greasy) last spring without any hit of slippage. Coming from a Defender, I am impressed with how it has performed. You are looking at £100-110/tyre in 225/55R17, not sure about your sizes. I leave them on all year round - the cost of having a second set of tyres/rims is equal to the alleged fuel saving, but I don't have to swap them and lose lots of room in an already crowded garage. Hope that helps.