how to find towbar fitter for motorhome? (1 Viewer)

[Joe@san]

Hi
We're trying to find a competent and approved fitter to add a towbar to our motorhome and having no luck because, apparently, our van doesn't have an 'off the shelf' part. Can anyone please advise? Thanks

 

[Dogeared]

Mick Parkinson, just outside Preston, 07887997653, is good, he also does the fitting for most reputable dealers in our area. Takes about 4 hours to do, so we just get the bus to st Annes for a browse.

Alternatively FP Jones, Manchester is good, but not sure if they can adapt to meet your needs.

 

[Cal54]

I agree, Mike Parkinson fabricated and fit one for me on a previously owned coachbuilt MH

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[davejen]

Another vote for Parkinson here...
ps he is in Freckleton, near Lytham
Cheers, Dave

 

[chaser]

Towtal in Stoke

 

[Chris51]

Hi
We're trying to find a competent and approved fitter to add a towbar to our motorhome and having no luck because, apparently, our van doesn't have an 'off the shelf' part. Can anyone please advise? Thanks

What is your base van?

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[sdc77]

If your van is a 2016 one then the towbar has to be type approved .. I think

 

[chaser]

If your van is a 2016 one then the towbar has to be type approved .. I think

http://towtal.co.uk/

 

[Joe@san]

Thanks for all your advice.
My Chausson Flash 510 is based on a 2015 Ford Transit.
Do I have to have a specific Ford wiring loom and multi pin plug, or can I just have an old fashioned plug as I am only going to put a bike rack on the towbar?

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[irnbru]

http://towtal.co.uk/

Same as who done ours.

 

[Kevan]

Towtal did ours and made the extensions for our long overhang, we stayed overnight on electric hook up.

 

[scotjimland]

http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/motorhome_towbars.html

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[tonka]

If your van is a 2016 one then the towbar has to be type approved .. I think

FYI (As the young en's say)
April 2012 registered motorhomes and onwards need a type approved towbar

I suspect the poster has a van prior to that and being in Warrington has the answer already.
Mike Parkinson at Preston as he will fabricate one to fit..

 

[Joe@san]

If I am only using for carrying a bike rack does it have to be type approved??

 

[gus-lopez]

If I am only using for carrying a bike rack does it have to be type approved??

the sensible answer would be yes as if you sell it how does the next person know that it cannot be used for towing ?
Then if they do & it all parts company it doesn't bear thinking about. As far as I know if it is post 2012 then it has to be type approved, regardless of what you are going to do with it.

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[tonka]

If I am only using for carrying a bike rack does it have to be type approved??

You never answered the question above.. What year is the van ???

If before April 2012 you can fit any and they have to be fabricated to the van if it's a coachbuilt / A class style.
A normal converted van you should get one off the shelf.

After 2012 must be type approved and some off the shelf kits are available..
You would need to check but my understanding is that if you fit a towball then it's classed as being used as a towbar..
You could have a bar only as rear protection and have a slot in or other fixed bike rack attached..

How anyone would ever query a type approved is a mystery to me.. BUT you never know in the event of an accident or at MOT time.

 

[gus-lopez]

post # 9 said 2015

 

[walburga]

Another thumbs up off me for Mike Parkinson...He's modified the tow bars on my last 3 vans, and fitted a brand new one to a fourth.
2 of the mods were to beef up the steelwork, as he agreed with me that they didn't look right. The 3rd mod was to fit a slightly longer 'neck' to allow the tow ball to sit a little further away from the bumper.
The vans varied in age from 1998 to 2005, so no worries with type approval.

regards
Allen

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[tonka]

post # 9 said 2015

WHOOPS.... Totally missed that one.. Sorry...

Type approval then... More cash

 

[Joe@san]

If it's modified then is it type approved???

 

[Sue]

We used. ( can't remember the guys name..recommended by a local fiat dealer) tel 0770900886. He came to our home, he was reasonable and did a great job.

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[Robert Clark]

We used Watling Engineers on our first van.
Great tow bar - found out later that the fitter had lost many of the screws when removing panels inside the van.

Fitting was sub standard and amateurish

 

[Sandancers]

Thanks for all your advice.
My Chausson Flash 510 is based on a 2015 Ford Transit.
Do I have to have a specific Ford wiring loom and multi pin plug, or can I just have an old fashioned plug as I am only going to put a bike rack on the towbar?

Our Flash 10 has all the electrics already in place and tucked up under the rear skirt, so you probably have the same.