Sourcing and Fitting a Towbar (1 Viewer)

[Clickem]

Hi, I am considering a towbar to carry a Thule Europower 916, or similar, cycle carrier. I have about 700kgs of spare payload and rear axle weight

The van is a 2013 on a Transit chassis and appears to have pre-drilled holes and an electric socket already taped to the chassis member. As far as I know it has never had a towbar fitted

Appreciate that a towbar needs to be type approved. Van already has a Fiamma 3 bike rack on back wall

Is it likely that I could buy a towbar off the shelf that I would fit myself?

Any recommended suppliers/fitters in Newcastle/North East area?

TIA

 

[pappajohn]

I would think the vans rear skirt would prevent an 'off the shelf' transit bar being fitted.
It would need to be one designed for the van and I believe, but may be wrong, many are made to order needing the van to get dimensions from.

 

[Doctor Dave]

Hi, I am considering a towbar to carry a Thule Europower 916, or similar, cycle carrier. I have about 700kgs of spare payload and rear axle weight

The van is a 2013 on a Transit chassis and appears to have pre-drilled holes and an electric socket already taped to the chassis member. As far as I know it has never had a towbar fitted

View attachment 147250

Appreciate that a towbar needs to be type approved. Van already has a Fiamma 3 bike rack on back wall

Is it likely that I could buy a towbar off the shelf that I would fit myself?

Any recommended suppliers/fitters in Newcastle/North East area?

TIA

If your intended use of the tow bar is not actually towing then type approval in not necessary http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/type_approved_motorhome_towbars.html

Can't help with suggestions for fitters in your part of the country though.


Dave

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[Kool Kroozer]

I purchased an fitted one to our old PVC, all holes pre drilled in chassis and very easy to fit, just had to cut a piece out of the plastic bumper trim underneath.. So not noticeable anyway, bought it from a place out in the sticks cheshire way for about £100 with all the fittings needed, sorry unable to locate the name of the place but found them on ebay, its actually a petrol station that also sells leisure stuff too.

 

[tinks703]

Hedley tow bars, Durham.

 

[Kevan]

If your intended use of the tow bar is not actually towing then type approval in not necessary http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/type_approved_motorhome_towbars.html

Can't help with suggestions for fitters in your part of the country though.


Dave

Agree but could cause problems when due for mot, type approved would be better then no worries

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[Clickem]

If your intended use of the tow bar is not actually towing then type approval in not necessary http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/type_approved_motorhome_towbars.html

Dave

If you fit a NON type approved fitted can you have a towing ball attached, as many of the cycle racks appear to fit onto the ball?

(Sorry clashed with previous post)

 

[Doctor Dave]

Sorry, I am not an MOT examiner so can't comment on that. All I did was provide a link to what I hope is accurate information.


Dave

 

[maxi77]

Many vans have an extension on the base vehicle chassis, mine is transit based but has a substantial extension fitted to the main chassis and yes it has the tow socket taped to the chassis. Up till now I have bought tow bars and fitted them but for various reasons I had a professional job done on my Honda. I was most impressed by the slick operation from a towbar specialist even the rear parking sensors are suppressed when the towing socket is connected and a free service during the first year. Even though you may not be towing you will be loading the towbar so you need to be sure that the installation will cope with the weight applied

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