DIY towbar (1 Viewer)

[GMLS]

We are collecting our Rapido 854f in 3 weeks time and will need a towbar fitted to take a bike carrier.Everyone recommends M Parkinson but I think he is busy and not responding but also a long way from Surrey.Best price so far elsewhere is £1750 which seems a lot.It needs chassis extensions (see picture) but it's only 800mm.Anyone done a DIY fitment on a non PVC? Seems pretty straightforward looking at the connection point and I'm pretty comfortable with general DIY.The extensions will have to drop down under the well of the garage floor but I guess this is a standard dimension?Thanks

 

[Sue and Rick]

The extensions normally slide into and bolt to the ends of the vehicle chassis so with your floor being lower I don’t know how you will do it. Unless there are other extensions for this version ?
Once the extensions are fitted it’s very easy bolt on job. Dedicated wiring loom just plugs into the vehicle loom at the rear of the rear wheels. (Passenger side)

 

[Sue and Rick]

I assume this is a Ducato/ Peugeot chassis?

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[Brains]

Why not talk to the resident experts for the south East ?
Trident Towing in Maidstone

 

[gus-lopez]

Anyone done a DIY fitment on a non PVC?

What year is it ? Has to be homologated after 2012.Can't be diy

 

[GMLS]

I assume this is a Ducato/ Peugeot chassis?

Yup.Fiat

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[GMLS]

What year is it ? Has to be homologated after 2012.Can't be diy

2023. I understood it to be the design needed to be complaint but will dig further although seen many examples of DIY fitting to recent vans.Thanks

 

[andyman]

What year is it ? Has to be homologated after 2012.Can't be diy

Are you sure.

 

[whiskyman]

Hi did mine about 4 years ago on the extra long chassis, had to have good nose weight as we used it to carry a mobility scooter, sold it about a year later to a guy who always took a toad with him. I have seen him since and he hasn't had any issues with it.

Cheers Colin

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[gus-lopez]

Are you sure.

Yes.
Any motorhome registered 2012 and onwards must have an EC Type approved tow bar fitted, motorhomes older than this may need a made to measure one. Motorhome towbars and the fitting of them are more complex than fitting to a car.

https://www.trailertrek.co.uk/motorhome-towbar-fitting/


https://towtal.co.uk/type-approved/
It has to be homologated with the Ec** plate. I do not know any company that will supply for self installation when chassis leg extensions, which also have to be homologated to the installation, are required

 

[Pausim]

Best check with your insurance company if they would be happy with a DIY tow bar. Some of them are getting iffy about DIY solar panels so I can’t imagine a DIY tow bar being acceptable.

 

[andyman]

Yes.
Any motorhome registered 2012 and onwards must have an EC Type approved tow bar fitted, motorhomes older than this may need a made to measure one. Motorhome towbars and the fitting of them are more complex than fitting to a car.

https://www.trailertrek.co.uk/motorhome-towbar-fitting/


https://towtal.co.uk/type-approved/
It has to be homologated with the Ec** plate. I do not know any company that will supply for self installation when chassis leg extensions, which also have to be homologated to the installation, are required

I will concede the first part, but Towtrust and Memo will supply towbars for self fitting with or without leg extensions.
As an aside light commercial vehicles don’t require type approval. So if not on the log book as a M/H you could get away without .

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[Gaston aires]

I can see why you are considering this. I have asked three local fitters about this and they have all shyed away from it. Too busy is the lame duck excuse. A home made one might be the only option.
Phil

 

[TheBig1]

Do you know that if it does not have the correct sticker/plate, it could fail the MOT because of the towbar now?

 

[jonnyace]

Hi did mine about 4 years ago on the extra long chassis, had to have good nose weight as we used it to carry a mobility scooter, sold it about a year later to a guy who always took a toad with him. I have seen him since and he hasn't had any issues with it.
View attachment 793629View attachment 793628View attachment 793631View attachment 793630View attachment 793622View attachment 793623View attachment 793626
Cheers Colin View attachment 793624 View attachment 793625 View attachment 793627

Hi there where did you get the steel bracket and support that opens up and locks in to to the galvanised base for the mobile scooter please

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[MisterB]

Is it only a towbar if it has a tow ball .....?
If so, removing two bolts and the ball for an MOT isn't too demanding...

 

[busbuddy]

I'm sure the tow bar electric socket is part of the mot now as well.
Some insurers wont insure caravans unless the car towbar has a proper certificate for being fitted by a 'professional'.....not sure if that is the same for a motorhome towing something

 

[whiskyman]

Hi there where did you get the steel bracket and support that opens up and locks in to to the galvanised base for the mobile scooter please

Hi Jonny
I bought the whole carrier from a fellow funster a few years ago, I beleive it to be manufactured by Armitage, here is a link

https://armitages.uk/armitages-carriers/

An old friend who is an Engineer and manufactures / repairs fire escapes, agricultural machinery and plant made and fitted the tow bar with my help holding the other end and tea making

Hope this helps and welcome to Fun

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[jonnyace]

Oh brilliant thank you for the information, aye a brew goes a long way . It does help thank you
Jonny

 

[gus-lopez]

Is it only a towbar if it has a tow ball .....?
If so, removing two bolts and the ball for an MOT isn't too demanding...

No. It would then become an addition extending the vehicle beyond its legal length shown on the Certificate of Conformity.

I'm sure the tow bar electric socket is part of the mot now as well.

& if damaged, ie. no cover it should fail. as cover is a security item locking the plug to the socket

 

[TheBig1]

Is it only a towbar if it has a tow ball .....?
If so, removing two bolts and the ball for an MOT isn't too demanding...

It has to be type approved on any vehicle after 2012, so regardless if the ball is removed, like a detachable bar, it remains a towbar. Any accessory attached to the bar also has to comply with construction and use regulations. So any DiY platform etc bolted to the bar may not be legal

In 4x4s we used to have to abide by the rule that nothing should extend past a line drawn from the back of the rear tyre touching the rear bumper. But that was only a rule of thumb because there is an absolute maximum that no accessory nor load affixed to the rear of the vehicle can extend past

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[TheBig1]

This becomes a bigger issue with motorhomes with a large rear overhang, as the total must not exceed 60% of the wheelbase. (The distance between axles)

Extending a vehicle’s length behind its rear axle

www.gov.uk

 

[zac]

If fitting a DIY one and you have an accident it will just give the insurance company more wriggle room to invalidate the claim, just not worth it. If you want a towbar i would get a type approved one, yes it's expensive but a lot less hassle later on if needed.
Saying that everything is expensive on these darn things that's for sure, makes you wonder sometime's if it's worth it

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I think what you will need is the second part of what I've had fitted to up the pay load of the garage on our van.
This was supplied by Sawiko. They supply for Fiat chassis's.See my photo below. Watling Engineering used to be the go to fitters for this type of work, by they shut up shop a little while ago. It won't be cheap, but it does give the garage extra support.
Mike.

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[Landy Andy]

Never had my towbars, or electrics checked an either of my vehicles, even after accidents in them

 

[tonyidle]

We are collecting our Rapido 854f in 3 weeks time and will need a towbar fitted to take a bike carrier.Everyone recommends M Parkinson but I think he is busy and not responding but also a long way from Surrey.Best price so far elsewhere is £1750 which seems a lot.It needs chassis extensions (see picture) but it's only 800mm.Anyone done a DIY fitment on a non PVC? Seems pretty straightforward looking at the connection point and I'm pretty comfortable with general DIY.The extensions will have to drop down under the well of the garage floor but I guess this is a standard dimension?Thanks

View attachment 793543

My Parkinson version bolts to the vertical flanges on the ends of the chassis rails. From there 4x2 box extends forwards under the chassis rails and to the rear and is linked by a cross piece onto which the towbar mounting is attached. Mine is 5ft from the end of the chassis to the towball

 

[Pausim]

Never had my towbars, or electrics checked an either of my vehicles, even after accidents in them

If an accident was caused by a trailer or something carried on the tow bar they would look more closely, particularly if it caused a pile up.

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[Landy Andy]

If an accident was caused by a trailer or something carried on the tow bar they would look more closely, particularly if it caused a pile up.

Yes. But will it if it is made well, and doesn’t cause an accident. I’ve been stopped by VOSA, I’ve had many MOTs, and had accidents in vehicles with towbars. No one has ever looked at them.

Especially as the OP is just going to put push bikes on it.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

There's probably a cycle carrier that will bolt direct to the extended chassis rails, so no tow ball needed, but I haven't researched that. Have a look at the Sawiko PDF of their products, it covers a lot of bases.
Mike.