Towbar paranoia

asallen · Post by **asallen** » Sat May 26, 2007 8:20 pm

Some time ago I fitted a Towsure towbar.
At the the time I wondered about the strength of the mounting points on the Bongo. The towbar bracket itself is plenty thick enough! Would'nt be out of place on the forth bridge.
But the pressed steel mounting points on the bongo seem very thin and appeared to be spot welded to the main bodyshell.
I now have visions of looking in my rear view mirror and seeing my beloved caravan (not yet purchased, but planned for longer holidays)
disappearing in the distance still attached to said towbar!
Any structual engineers out there to put my mind at rest?

2sticks · Post by **2sticks** » Sat May 26, 2007 8:53 pm

My Bongo was fitted with a Towsure bar 4 years ago and we tow a caravan (about 900 kilos).
It's been up some really steep hills under full Bongo power on many occasions and It's never
parted company without my permission.

I'm not a structural engineer either, so can't say if it may happen one day, but I'm too old to
worry about it any more.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Sat May 26, 2007 8:55 pm

There are loads of towsure towbars out there dragging all sorts of loads around. Fear not !! one hasn't been pulled off yet.

P.S. there's aways a first time for everything ( as the actress said to the towbar maker )

Richard D · Post by **Richard D** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:33 pm

I fitted an anker towbar a few years ago and the missus has borrowed the bongo to tow the horse box with ponies in several times with no ill effect to bongo or towbar.

neil/di · Post by **neil/di** » Sun May 27, 2007 9:28 am

We have towed trailer tents, hog roast stands and boats without any problems yet. Towing the trailer tent down to Tenby next month then over to the I.O.W.so hope it will be O,K
Neil

asallen · Post by **asallen** » Mon May 28, 2007 7:57 am

Thanks for replies. As I said in the subject title, it's my paranoia.
I'll find something else to worry about now! Like the roof lifting up at high speed and ripping off

madmile · Post by **madmile** » Mon May 28, 2007 7:17 pm

I have towed several cars on a A- frame.... no problems.
Several cars on a trailer(not all at once)..... no problems.
A Bongo on a trailer - total weight approx 2500kg... lots of snaking...much sweating..... brown trousers and vowing never again.... but towing bongo and towbar perfectly OK.
Your biggest worry about towing should be balancing your caravan load centrally over the axel and getting the nose weight right. The towbar will be fine if you put it on correctly.