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Towbar
Posted: Mon May 14, 2018 10:15 pm
by Markas
Evening all!
My Bongo had a towbar fitted by a previous owner - from the look of it it's never been used. I've read somewhere, possibly on this forum, horror stories of towbars stressing the rear of the chassis leading to fractures of the welds.
Mine is a Tow Trust towbar. Can someone more technically minded than me cast an eye over the drawing and installation instructions in
this link and tell me if this is one of the sort that will ultimately lead to chassis damage or not if I dare to use it!
Re: Towbar
Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 9:10 am
by g8dhe
Unfortunately that is the type that suffers the problem, it relies on the spot welds alone on the nearside mounting

The current towbar with the same number has had the design altered and now includes an additional support bar to the main chassis.
Re: Towbar
Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 12:40 pm
by Bob
I've an idea it's not a big job to reinforce the welding.

Re: Towbar
Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 12:51 pm
by g8dhe
My garage welded in a support and bolted it to the main chassis after having a chat with them and showing them how the other designs worked, it was quite a cheap option to go down.
Re: Towbar
Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 9:20 pm
by Markas
g8dhe wrote: Tue May 15, 2018 9:10 am
Unfortunately that is the type that suffers the problem, it relies on the spot welds alone on the nearside mounting

The current towbar with the same number has had the design altered and now includes an additional support bar to the main chassis.
As I've never towed anything with it and don't have any particular plan to do so, it's not a problem. Is the additional support bar in the revised design a bolt-on part or is it welded to the main towbar structure? Just wondered as if it's a bolt-on bit I might be able to order it separately direct from the manufacturer.
Also makes me feel a bit better about declining to offer having a go at pulling a stuck Ducato Moho off Chester Racecourse over Easter, citing the fact I didn't want to destroy my chassis!
Re: Towbar
Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 7:35 am
by g8dhe
Its bolt on look at the newer factsheet from their site.
Re: Towbar
Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 2:16 pm
by Doone
It's bolt on and can be ordered seperately. You need to also ask for the bolts and spacers. It's best to phone them.
Re: Towbar
Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 7:43 pm
by Markas
g8dhe wrote: Wed May 16, 2018 7:35 am
Its bolt on look at the newer factsheet from their site.
That's excellent news!

Re: Towbar
Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 7:44 pm
by Markas
Doone wrote: Wed May 16, 2018 2:16 pm
It's bolt on and can be ordered seperately. You need to also ask for the bolts and spacers. It's best to phone them.
Cheers Doone, I'll give them a call

You never know when it would be useful to be able to tow something without ripping the a**e out your Bongo!!