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gresham flyer
Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 1435
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 Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject: Can You Still Buy Towbars For Classic Cars.? |
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I was thinking of fitting a towbar on my Humber Sceptre MK1 1964 or .Sunbeam Rapier MK1V 1964 to tow a 12 foot classic caravan to shows.
Can you still get hold of towbars ready made or should I fabricate my own.?
Have not seen any secondhand for ages.
Gresham Flyer |
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welshrover
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 326
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| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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i made my own for my morris oxford from a pattern of a 60's witter towbar no longer available.
there is a maker of classic towbars but the quality is poor i cant say the name becuase of the legal bull**** .i sent it back as i knew i could do a better job 
im going to make one for my wifes hillman minx in the new year. 
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1480
Location: Netherlands
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welshrover
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 326
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| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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these are the ones i couldnt mention 
i had a full refund postage money returned and compo when i sent this towbar back to the suppliers when i threatened them with the trading standards .would you put this level of craftsmanship on your motor .the painting on it looked like it was done with a frayed stick.these are the mounting brackets to the chassis the main bar was even better.
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Roger-hatchy
Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Posts: 2135
Location: Tiptree, Essex
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| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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They look like bits of scrap metal salvaged from a skip.
Gresham
Would it not be cheaper to fabricate your own |
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clan chieftain
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Posts: 2041
Location: Motherwell
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:26 am Post subject: |
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Is it legal to make your own. .I know that the 7 and 13 pin socets are part of the MOT. I am not so sure about the towbar. Does it not need to have a manufacturers plate on it. I seem to remember reading somewhere that if you have an accident whilst towing with a home made towbar the insurance will not pay out.
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The Clan Chieftain |
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Mog
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 663
Location: Sydney
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| In the past I have made a tow bar or two in Australia. But... these days you need to have it inspected and tested be fore you can put it on . This also applies to trailers but varies from state to state. I was quoted $1,000 for a tow bar for the BMW, I decided against it.... |
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Brian M
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 783
Location: Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:24 am Post subject: |
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When I bought my Amazon I noticed a genuine Witter bar on another Amazon at the restorers and it was part of my purchase deal. A friend did some detailed drawings before I fitted it and got a local engineering shop to make him a copy.
My MOT tester just checked it was securely fitted but did not look for the manufacturer's plate.
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Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4287
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:51 am Post subject: |
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| marina estate wrote: | | Is it legal to make your own. .I know that the 7 and 13 pin socets are part of the MOT. I am not so sure about the towbar. Does it not need to have a manufacturers plate on it. I seem to remember reading somewhere that if you have an accident whilst towing with a home made towbar the insurance will not pay out. |
You only need an approved towbar on post 1998 vehicles, if you have a home made one and it failed, then like any other repair or modification who ever did it would be responsible that the mod/repair was completed properly.
Only the 13 pin sockets are tested at the MOT, but the condition of structure and mountings of all towbars are part of the test.
There was some confusion at the beginning of the year when the trailer electrics became part of the test, as all the VOSA approved test tools were only 13 pin, so many NT's used one of the off the shelf 13 to 7 adapters on the 7 pin sockets. This inevitably indicated a fail!, although when they plugged a lighting board in all was fine. VOSA later clarified only 13 pin sockets were subject to the test.
Dave |
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welshrover
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 326
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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mine was mot'd with my towbar on and was no problem .i asked before i made it. i showed them the drawings of what i was making and when i showed up he said i thought you were making your own towbar i said i have ,this is it, then he asked me to make one for his own austin 10 .so there's a job on the cards .making towbars for classics .  |
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Richard H
Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 2154
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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That towbar you have made for your Oxford looks brilliant Welshrover. I'll have to have a go at making one for my Cambridge!
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Richard Hughes |
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1480
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| welshrover wrote: | | would you put this level of craftsmanship on your motor .the painting on it looked like it was done with a frayed stick.these are the mounting brackets to the chassis the main bar was even better. |
Depends on the price, rmember these tow bars are cheap @ < 150 pounds.
I am sure these are well able to cope with the loads, being such hefty angle steel.
The finish is a bit crude I admit, but were you expecting laser cut or CNC finish? They did not do that 40 years ago and this supplier seem to use the old methods, which should work well.
I do not think if you would have bought a tow bar new in the fifties/sixties the finish would be much different.
Yes, I too would refinish the tow bar to somewhat better standards.
I once had a cheap Watling towbar under one of my cars and was happy with it. I had a go at making one myself but I do not have the means to make the heavy steel main bar across under the bumper to match the curved bumper correctly. The Watling bar has a good fitting curved bar.
Regarding your Oxford tow bar - I suggest cutting the edges at the back?
Nice car by the way (I owned an Oxford automatic years ago - with home made tow bar!). |
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JohnDale
Joined: 19 Mar 2008
Posts: 790
Location: Kelvin Valley,Scotland
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| Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, I have had a Watling towbar on the Triumph for four years,which was/is nothing like what Welshrover was supplied. I cannot understand why any professional company would let that out of the workshop - what a load of rubbish. The towbar I was supplied was perfect with a first time fit,most of which is hidden by the bumper. The only bit I added was a spreader plate where it mounts to the spare wheel well in the boot floor,even though I only tow a wee trailer to carry the toolbox when required.
It would appear standards of manufacture have slipped somewhat since I got mine,cheers,JD.
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1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia. |
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gillberry
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 702
Location: Norwich
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| Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
We had a tow bar fitted to our Mk2 sceptre but being automatic it was not up to the job even after having the gearbox rebuilt so gave up and swapped car for the amazon which we then bought a new tow bar for as they still make them to fit - good luck
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1968 Volvo Amazon estate (Gracie)
1967 Cheltenham Nyala caravan |
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Keef
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 371
Location: Sheerness Kent UK
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| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:23 am Post subject: |
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Tow bars on all my classics. They tend to be expensive if you buy new, but most of mine were second hand.
towbar2 by hk11_yah, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/towbars/
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Keef - Sheerness Kent UK
62 A40 Farina, 65 VDP 1100, 74 Maxi 1750, 76 Maxi 1750, 77 Maxi 1500HL, 79 Maxi 1750HLS, 80 Maxi 1750
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustinMaxis/
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