towbars on lpg converted bongo

[mikeWalsall]

Mine in the above picture is an A1 fitted by LPGImports in Coventry ..

Looking through my link again .. I am not sure the cheapo £73.94 is an A1 ..

[g8dhe]

No its a Towsure the type that relies on the standard Bongo nearside plate and 3 spot welds if your lucky!

[mikeWalsall]

Always been well pleased with my LPG / A1 Tow bar .. but I've never towed a caravan with mine .. just 'up the tip' and motor bike trailers ..

So I don't know if the welds would have given up and the back end 'dropped' ..

This is the guy who did mine (but not now trading as LPG Imports)

http://www.bongoforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/for ... 321436105/

[xt600]

??????

Three years ago they where £125 .. I paid £85 .. now they are £73.94 (inc VAT) in the above Google link ..

https://www.towbars-uk.co.uk/product/66 ... er-cut.%29

Mine ..

But these are the TMZ168, and I want the A1 MA465

[Simon Jones]

Yes, the website mentioned earlier no longer does the MA465. I'm sure with some research you will be able to track down a cheaper supplier than the A1 link I previously posted (£172 + VAT).

[mikeWalsall]

This is mine ..(or at least the instruction sheet is that was with the LPG / flash lube fitting instructions left by the LPG /Towbar fitter) ..

http://www.towbars-uk.co.uk/fitting_ins ... 4d9ab2.pdf

[xt600]

I haven't been able to find an A1 towbar (apart from the very expensive one) hence my question here.
Looks like I shall have to go for the cheap version and get my welder out

[orangepeel]

Just to add to the thread with an answer to my own question - I found a bongo supplier here in Newcastle (http://bongocampervans.com) who agreed to order up a towbar to see if would fit around the lpg tank. They did, and it fitted fine without moving the tank. Petr and Andy there were really helpful, as was Victor, the mechanic in Throckley who fitted it. It's an Anker Towbar and cost me £235 fitted, including twin electrics.

I had taken it somewhere else and been told that it would need some fabrication to get a towbar to fit, and was quoted £500 ish to do it. Glad I didn't go for that option.

[mikeWalsall]

Some one with more knowledge than me may confirm me right or wrong ..

Was it the Anchor tow bar that with the 'ponding' when towing a caravan, split the spot welds on the chassis and also caused bumper droop .. ??

The solution was to seam weld along the chassis ..

[Simon Jones]

I had an Anker towbar previously & it was nice & compact, but did rely on the weak spot weld. It's fine for regular towing duties but not so suited to rear racks as they tend to bounce a bit which is probably why the spot welds pop. I removed it in favour of the A1 version.

[orangepeel]

Ah, ok, thanks for the info. Would you recommend the extra welding for towing a small caravan? I've already got a bike rack on the rear door so I wouldn't be using it for that.

[weebrian]

This may be the A! site in Sheffield.

http://www.a1tow.com

[Simon Jones]

Don't buy direct from A1 as you will pay full retail price.

Their price £172 +VAT = £206.40 http://www.a1tow.com/Product.aspx?ID=483
Club shop £150 http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/mercha ... m#Exterior