Towbar fitting

I have done a bit of research and looked at a few towbars...

Like discussed before the late bay (Watling PVW15) uses two holes you have to drill in the middle of the back panel, but on a late bay this is double skinned and welded in so is a structural part of the van.

There is very little point in bolting through here on a Brazilian van, as its just a flimsy bolted in panel.

From what I can make out the Danbury supplied one, is a bit of a special one made for them by Watling, and they have just basically taken the late bay one, left off the bracket where it bolts through the back panel, and added two small brackets which you attach using the standard read panel bolts at either end.

It also seems to be made with a bit less offset, so the hitch sits higher up tight underneath the brazilian bumper, as obviously late bays had those deeper Europa bumpers.

I think I might buy a late bay one and modify it myself.

So on that basis wouldn't it follow that an Early Bay towbar would fit?

I dont know about all early bar towbars, but the Watling one for them doesnt bolt on using the bumper iron bolts, it uses three holes in the side of the chassis rail, which have three captive nuts in there ready.

Next door had an old Westy early bay towbar kicking about, which also used the same three holes, I offered it upto my van and there was one hole in the right place, but no captive nut.

So looks like early bay towbar is a no-go.

I have ordered a Watling late bay one now, and will either give it a bit of a tweak with the grinder when it arrives, or might just fit it and not worry about bolting through the middle bit.

Watling PVW15 towbar arrived this morning and its on the van already... I did chop of the bracket in the middle and ground it flat, but didnt see any need to add the extra brackets.

You use the two existing bumper iron holes, and then a third hole which is forward from them... The hole is in the chassis rail ready but it has no captive nut welded in, so had to stick an M10 rivnut in there.

Had to tweak the bottom edge of the bumper, as fouled the bit that drops down to put the towball on, but 30 seconds with the grinder, a clean up and some paint and all was good.

Just got to wire it up now... and am wondering if as its a legal requirement to have a warning buzzer for trailer lights, and as they are now testing towbar electrics on the MOT if I have the buzzer in behind the rear lights is it a fail if they cant hear it?

I'd imagine it is a legal requirement to have and hear the buzzer - why else would they be fitted otherwise .....?

I've got a light instead, I believe you can have either buzzer or light, I got a kit that replaced the original flasher relay and had a light come off that. I had a buzzer in my Jeep Cherokee drove me nuts around town "indicating" all the time.

Skytiger wrote:

I've got a light instead, I believe you can have either buzzer or light, I got a kit that replaced the original flasher relay and had a light come off that. I had a buzzer in my Jeep Cherokee drove me nuts around town "indicating" all the time.

It should only buzz/light up when the tow electrics are connected to something - not permanently. So that begs the question, will MOT test stations definitively test towbars and electrics?

The electrics are not part of the test yet, according to UK Campsite Info but I think it will come eventually.

Sorry I tell a lie as of January 2012 they are tested.

Hi folks
I'm sooo jelous of all you lucky ones who have got out camping this weekend - Batgirl has a stinking cold and wasn't up to it.

Oh well ....... she's making a start on the new covers for the rear seats for Robin - and I've booked him into a decent place for the new seat runners to be fitted.

And - next project - TOWBAR!
Is the Just Kampers J11370 still the best one to get for our buses?
I had a look under and after reading Skytigers excellent write-up (thanks for that mate) I'm feeling confident that it's in my realm of DIY! - I have a good drill, angle grinder and discs.
There is one on ebay at the moment - that would come in a few quid cheaper - but not sure if it would fit.....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tow-Bar-VW-T2-Late-Bay-And-Modified-Tow-Bar-For-Big-Bore-Exhaust-System?item=330701750988&cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7602071246976092135

Just a little update on my towbar.

Andy wrote:

I did chop of the bracket in the middle and ground it flat, but didnt see any need to add the extra brackets.

You use the two existing bumper iron holes, and then a third hole which is forward from them... The hole is in the chassis rail ready but it has no captive nut welded in, so had to stick an M10 rivnut in there.

Had to tweak the bottom edge of the bumper,

I have since chopped off this middle bracket from my Just Kampers J11370 towbar Andy and agree no need for extra one's. This is the way to do it.

For the third hole I used a seat belt mounting plate with a captive nut already welded to it and cut down the plate so it would fit inside the chassis through an access hole and used a seatbelt bolt to attach the towbar.

I also had to cut a little out the bumper but it isn't much.

Unfortunately I'm left with two holes in my panel, two rubber grommets will fix that though, however my panel was a bit rusty anyway but only found out that when it was at paint, so will probably get a new one anyway once it's totally rusted away.

You can see my holes in the highlighted area of the rear lower panel

I took a couple of pics of my towbar today.

Sorry if this is going round in circles, please could someone confirm that this is the correct Tow Bar kit from JK to fit our Brazis.

JK Tow Bar Kit

I'm happy to grind off the extra bracket and tidy things up, just need to know that this is the right one.

FYI This part is on special offer to members of the new Danbury Owners Club this month only.....Fits well too without having to cut brackets off etc . To join e mail your details to: beetlesukltd@yahoo.co.uk

Sounds good Jason, please can you provide the owners club price for a Tow Bar kit (brackets, electrics, tow ball etc), supply only and without courier costs (we will arrange to collect it.

Hi. A newsletter will coming out soon to all Danbury owners club members with this offer.. In the meantime Ill PM you....

Many thanks.

Hello ,
i want to asks for a "tow hitches" in the front of the car.
i have found here a toy for the axis in the frint
look here
http://www.aircooled-depot.de/Karmann-Ghia/Zubehoer/Zierteile-Aussen/Abschlepphaken-vorne-fuer-VW-Kaefer.html

do you know about this? i have this see the first time and want to asks you, if it is okay or good?
always when i need a garage, i must take my car at a trailer. so with this i could do this in the front axis, and take a metal tow bar.
so what do you think about this?
best to you all
michel

vergotten:
what is the width or diameter from the axis in the front, because this toy i could buid my self at working place now. :-)

since a few days i have a new information abaout the orginal towbar from our car.
i always heard before, that we didnt could buy a orginal towbar from the car.

but a "friend" told me he has bought a orginal! from brazil.
he ahs bought it and take 2 photos.
okay here they are for looking
all the best
michel
" />

" />

Looks great Michel, I especially like the chrome towball!

Yes, I like that. With all that chrome it doesn't need to be detachable. I wonder if we could find a source for import, maybe Danbury could get hold of them.

Alderley. We sell tow bars already at Danbury :-)

jj123vw wrote:

Alderley. We sell tow bars already at Danbury :-)

Do they look like that? I am thinking of fitting a towbar, but I want something which is either detachable or looks as good as the one in Michel's photo.

We offer fixed or detachable. They don't have a chrome look to the end but unless this is very very high quality it may tarnish and not look very good in time…? We've supplied 100's of our tow bars with no problems. We can fit for you at the same time as a service etc if easier or send it to you via courier . Just call the parts department on 01454 310000 and ask for Dave. Thanks

Alderley you can get a detachable towbar direct from Watling and take advantage of a discount by being a member of our Executive Club.

Search New Towbar on the Market.