classic car forum header
Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 
Register     Posting Photographs     Privacy     F/book OCC Facebook     OCC on Patreon

Bespoke tow bar build/fit
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> Classic & Vintage Cars, Lorries, Vans, Motorcycles etc - General Chat
Author Message
old iron



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 185

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 3:37 pm    Post subject: Bespoke tow bar build/fit Reply with quote

I’m looking for a business or individual who can make and fit a tow bar to my
Austin 16/6 of 1934 vintage. I do know of a business in Norfolk but they are a 140 mile round trip, hope to find somebody closer to home in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Leads appreciated Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 6:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Bespoke tow bar build/fit Reply with quote

old iron wrote:
I’m looking for a business or individual who can make and fit a tow bar to my
Austin 16/6 of 1934 vintage. I do know of a business in Norfolk but they are a 140 mile round trip, hope to find somebody closer to home in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Leads appreciated Very Happy


Any blacksmiths in your area?

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 7:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't tow bars now have to be "certified". ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6282
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 9:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Peter_L wrote:
Don't tow bars now have to be "certified". ?

Only applies to tow bars fitted to vehicles registered before August 1st 1998. Before that anything goes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4748
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ray White wrote:
Peter_L wrote:
Don't tow bars now have to be "certified". ?

Only applies to tow bars fitted to vehicles registered before August 1st 1998. Before that anything goes.


Ray don't you mean:
AFTER Aug 1st 68?
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6282
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penman wrote:
Ray White wrote:
Peter_L wrote:
Don't tow bars now have to be "certified". ?

Only applies to tow bars fitted to vehicles registered before August 1st 1998. Before that anything goes.


Ray don't you mean:
AFTER Aug 1st 98?


Sorry, my mistake. AFTER Aug 1st 1998 all vehicles are required to fit a legally approved tow bar. Before that you can, if you want, fit a tow bar to your own design. It might be advisable, however, to check with your Insurance Company first. Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4748
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 11:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
The method that seems to have been used a lot was a piece of steel mounted behind the bumper (between them if it only had quarter bumpers) that looked like it was the same stuff as leaf springs. This would be bolted to both the bumper support brackets on each side and then the hitch was bolted in the middle, through the bumper if it was a full width one.
That way any impact from behind is generally being pushed onto the chassis fore and aft members but a spring steel cross member would also take some of the shock out if hit in the middle.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
alanb



Joined: 10 Sep 2012
Posts: 516
Location: Berkshire.

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 1:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It would very much depend on what you want to tow, a small light trailer May we’ll need nothing more the a bracket made from angle iron attached to the existing bumper bracket, if you want to tow something heavy like a caravan then you will need something designed by someone who knows what they’re doing. Many years ago my father towed a camping trailer with his series IIa Hillman Minx all he did was fit a piece of 2in wide 1/8” thick mild steel bar about a foot long behind the rear bumper and tow ball, he never carried more the 5cwt and never had a problem, though anything heavier might well have caused damage to the bumper and its anchorage. The tow bar on my modern Mercedes is a very substantial affair with multiple point fixings but it is designed to tow up 1,500kg and 75kg down force.
_________________
old tourer


Morris 8 two seater
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
old iron



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 185

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you to all respondents, unfortunately I do not have a blacksmith in our area Rick.
I’m going to be towing my vintage caravan it weighs in at around 9cwt I reckon.

Looks like I might have to o the long drive into deepest Norfolk, but I know they will do a good, albeit expensive job.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
alastairq



Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 1950
Location: East Yorkshire

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 3:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The other problem is, will the prime mover be happy stopping the whole shebang?
_________________
Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
----------------------------------------------
Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
alanb



Joined: 10 Sep 2012
Posts: 516
Location: Berkshire.

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stopping a vintage caravan is not such an issue if the overrun brakes on the van are working as they should, once the tow car starts to slow the caravan brakes start to work. I found that even just changing down a gear was enough to apply the brakes on my old early 60’s sprite alpine.
_________________
old tourer


Morris 8 two seater
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

alanb wrote:
Many years ago my father towed a camping trailer with his series IIa Hillman Minx all he did was fit a piece of 2in wide 1/8” thick mild steel bar about a foot long behind the rear bumper and tow ball, he never carried more the 5cwt and never had a problem, though anything heavier might well have caused damage to the bumper and its anchorage.


I hope old iron will forgive the OT reply..
I did the same to my Series II Minx and towed my father's boat with it.


Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
old iron



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 185

PostPosted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 1:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

alastairq wrote:
The other problem is, will the prime mover be happy stopping the whole shebang?


It’s a good point, I have used vintage cars previously towing vintage caravans and have learnt to drive to the limitations accordingly. Of course if a dog runs out into the road under the wheels nothing is going to stop in time. So it’s bigger gaps and watching well ahead what’s occurring Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
RotaryBri



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 465
Location: Warwick

PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 12:52 am    Post subject: Towbars Reply with quote

You need to contact Watling Engineers as they will make a towbar to fit any Vintage or Post Vintage car.

Contact them at https://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/towbars.html
_________________
Keep Torqueing,

RotaryBri

1976 NSU Ro80
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
old iron



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 185

PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 5:29 pm    Post subject: Re: Towbars Reply with quote

RotaryBri wrote:
You need to contact Watling Engineers as they will make a towbar to fit any Vintage or Post Vintage car.

Contact them at https://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/towbars.html


Thank you for link, I have emailed them and await reply. Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> Classic & Vintage Cars, Lorries, Vans, Motorcycles etc - General Chat All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
OCC Merch link
Forum T&C


php BB powered © php BB Grp.