Approved towbar (1 Viewer)

May 1, 2009
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Another issue I have struggled with is finding someone who can fit a approved towbar to our new van.I am told this is required for vehicles registered after April 2012.Many have said they are still trying to get approval on their designs which is no good to me as I need one soon.One company called UK Towbars do a Belgium made approved bar which I intend to use after finding other companies also providing the same product such as Watling Engineers.Am advised that any country can provide European Type Approved bars and Belgium are one of the first to achieve it.
Any thoughts and suggestions welcome.

Thanks
 

Geo

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Jul 29, 2007
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Are not Vans and therefore motor homes outside this approval scheme
 

Mel

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Oct 6, 2012
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Cant say for the UK but i think its all the EU.

Here in Belgium they are very strikt at the test centre.


Mel

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Dec 28, 2011
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Are not Vans and therefore motor homes outside this approval scheme

I have a nephew that works for a towbar manufacturer in Sheffield and he assures me that it is for motorhomes. It is causing real problems in the industry trying to get type approval.

I have one from Watling sat in the garage waiting to be fitted. It is from here originally, www.autoproducten.com ,company called Memo.
I am loathe to fit it as it just doesn't look right to me. Nephew and his company are looking in to it.
 
Feb 16, 2013
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You could try these, I have one on my van but it is 07
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Dec 28, 2011
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You could try these, I have one on my van but it is 07
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It has to be type approved on new MHs and if you go onto Towtals site and click on Type Approved it is the same towbar as Watlings and Memos from Autoproducten.

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johnp10

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Oct 12, 2009
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Just had a good quote from Towbar Express.
They will even fit at your home.
Anyone know of them?
 
Mar 3, 2013
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PWS in Poole Dorset are proved manufacturers and fitters. We are on our second motorhome and towbar from them, would recommend them.
 
Dec 28, 2011
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Just had a good quote from Towbar Express.
They will even fit at your home.
Anyone know of them?

Yes, I do.
The owner of the company is a friend of mine, but don't ask for discount as even I can't get it :Sad:
Is it for a new MH or pre April 2012 ?

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OP
OP
mojo
May 1, 2009
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I have spoken to David at PWS over the last month and he is pulling his hair out trying to get type approval .Does not know when and if he will get it.Can not wait any longer .UK Towbars it will have to be.
 
Feb 16, 2013
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We've just had ours manufactured and fitted at Towtal.....I would highly recomend them...

Yes very good at towbars and motor homes they do both, so know everything about both, they will do any repairs, nothing to me, haven't even used them but seen stuff they have done and looked at vans there when we were after one
 

johnp10

Free Member
Oct 12, 2009
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Yes, I do.
The owner of the company is a friend of mine, but don't ask for discount as even I can't get it :Sad:
Is it for a new MH or pre April 2012 ?

2000 Reg (W).
They gave a really good quote for a bar fitted at my home.
Dunno about Type Approval, I assume new ones would have it?

Towtal is always reccomended, but is a fair way from here. Dont know if they fit at your address or not.
 

SandJ

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Sep 14, 2007
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Too long lol
Another issue I have struggled with is finding someone who can fit a approved towbar to our new van.I am told this is required for vehicles registered after April 2012.Many have said they are still trying to get approval on their designs which is no good to me as I need one soon.One company called UK Towbars do a Belgium made approved bar which I intend to use after finding other companies also providing the same product such as Watling Engineers.Am advised that any country can provide European Type Approved bars and Belgium are one of the first to achieve it.
Any thoughts and suggestions welcome.

Thanks

Have you tried Armitage in Ferrybridge?
This is from their website

ALL OUR TRAILERS ARE SOLD WITH A VOSA VEHICLE APPROVAL CERTIFICATE
Yorkshire's premier Box Van Trailer & Enclosed Trailer Supplier
We major in Motorhome towbars, both bespoke AND type-approved and are leading A-Frame specialists. We build or supply motorbike trailers, unbraked and braked goods trailers, plant trailers, tipping trailers, platform trailers, car transporters, horse box and cattle trailers, advertising trailers and bespoke trailers AND air assisted suspension for motorhomes and light commercials. FOR MOBILTY MATTERS, CLICK HERE.

http://www.armitagetrailers.com/

http://www.armitagetrailers.com/Typeapprovedtowbars.htm


:thumb:
 
Last edited:
Dec 28, 2011
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We've just had ours manufactured and fitted at Towtal.....I would highly recomend them...

Have you tried Armitage in Ferrybridge?
This is from their website

ALL OUR TRAILERS ARE SOLD WITH A VOSA VEHICLE APPROVAL CERTIFICATE
Yorkshire's premier Box Van Trailer & Enclosed Trailer Supplier
We major in Motorhome towbars, both bespoke AND type-approved and are leading A-Frame specialists. We build or supply motorbike trailers, unbraked and braked goods trailers, plant trailers, tipping trailers, platform trailers, car transporters, horse box and cattle trailers, advertising trailers and bespoke trailers AND air assisted suspension for motorhomes and light commercials. FOR MOBILTY MATTERS, CLICK HERE.

http://www.armitagetrailers.com/

http://www.armitagetrailers.com/Typeapprovedtowbars.htm


:thumb:

If you look on all of the sites for type approved towbars you will find that they are all the same ones from www.autoproducten.com

As I said earlier, this type approval is causing a major headache in the UK, and I have spoken to Armitages, Watling etc and they all say the same thing. When a UK one is produced, let me know.
The one they are selling is a "one towbar fits all " make, as it is not solid and is multi adjustable via bolts. You have to drill your own holes out to suit. The towbar is tested at it's extreme limits, so therefore it is type approved for virtually anything, as opposed to individual makes. It is the cost of making type approved towbars for each and every type of MH that is the crippler. Seems Autoproducten have stolen a march on the rest of the manufacturers and it is probably patent protected.
 
Dec 28, 2011
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For those who have AlKo chassis I have been on their web site and they are selling a towbar to fit. I have asked them if they are type approved (which I would hope they would be for their own chassis) and made an enquiry re buying one.
I am now waiting for their reply and will post as soon as I know anything.
 

MikeD

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Dec 21, 2011
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Yes, I do.
The owner of the company is a friend of mine, but don't ask for discount as even I can't get it :Sad:
Is it for a new MH or pre April 2012 ?

My Autotrail Tracker FB is a March 2012 but the local companies will not fit a tow bar that is not type approved. :Sad::Sad::Sad::Sad:

Autotrail advise that they will have a tow bar in September 2013. :thumb::thumb::thumb:

but local companies advise probably £1200 instead of previous quote of £600 :Eeek::Eeek::Eeek::Eeek:
 
Dec 28, 2011
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I can't understand why they won't fit a non type approved if your MH was registered before April 2012.
A cut off date is just that, and as such, it would be perfectly legal to fit non approved.
My "sources" in the towbar industry confirm this. Perhaps someone is just trying to make more money out of you. :whistle:

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MikeD

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Dec 21, 2011
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I can't understand why they won't fit a non type approved if your MH was registered before April 2012.
A cut off date is just that, and as such, it would be perfectly legal to fit non approved.
My "sources" in the towbar industry confirm this. Perhaps someone is just trying to make more money out of you. :whistle:



took about 15 seconds on google to find this.... :Doh:.

http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/typ...e_towbars.html



Neither can I - Watling towbars is only about 12 miles from me, I visited them and they stated anything with a 12 plate is considered to require a type approved towbar.
They would not fit a non approved towbar to my Autotrail!!!

:Sad::Sad::Sad::Sad:
 
Dec 28, 2011
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took about 15 seconds on google to find this.... :Doh:.

http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/typ...e_towbars.html



Neither can I - Watling towbars is only about 12 miles from me, I visited them and they stated anything with a 12 plate is considered to require a type approved towbar.
They would not fit a non approved towbar to my Autotrail!!!

:Sad::Sad::Sad::Sad:

Their own web site seems to confirm what we have said, doesn't it.
Registered before April 2012 is fine for non type approved.

Wonder why they can't make their mind up ?
 
Dec 28, 2011
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For those who have AlKo chassis I have been on their web site and they are selling a towbar to fit. I have asked them if they are type approved (which I would hope they would be for their own chassis) and made an enquiry re buying one.
I am now waiting for their reply and will post as soon as I know anything.

I have had a reply from Al-Ko and they assure me that all of their towbars for Al-Ko chassied vehicles are type approved.
The cost for fitting one to our Auto-Trail Comanche would £849 and include a 13 pin plug and wiring and vat.
This is to be fitted at their factory at Southam and is subject to filling in a form with the measurements of the skirt from chassis and ground and also the chassis measurements. All the required measurements are on the downloadable form. If the skirt is in the way, they would then require permission from the owner to cut bits off to make the towbar fit.

So there is an alternative out there, as long as you have an Al-Ko chassis and are prepared to have lumps cut off your MH.

Hope that information is useful to someone out there in Fun land :thumb:

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Bailey58

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Jun 23, 2010
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Yes, thanks from me too. We have an Al-Ko on our Bailey and now with 2 ebikes to find room for are thinking of something mounted on a tow bar rather than having to lift them up on to a rack a metre or more off the ground. I doubt if we'd ever tow so it seems we could still have a non-approved bar fitted according to Watlings. Depends on the cost difference with the electrics etc. which way is best.

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Dec 28, 2011
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Yes, thanks from me too. We have an Al-Ko on our Bailey and now with 2 ebikes to find room for are thinking of something mounted on a tow bar rather than having to lift them up on to a rack a metre or more off the ground. I doubt if we'd ever tow so it seems we could still have a non-approved bar fitted according to Watlings. Depends on the cost difference with the electrics etc. which way is best.

I have had a word with them that know, and it appears that as long as the tow bar is used for anything BUT towing it does not have to be type approved.
So if you have a bike rack fitted you don't need type approval. (y)
 

Bailey58

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Just had a good quote from Towbar Express.
They will even fit at your home.
Anyone know of them?

Now seriously looking at options I contacted them and they don't do motorhomes, did you forget to mention it was a quote for a car? o_O :Smile:
 

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