| New Tow Bar on the market | |
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+11irishman EJ Feliz michel_bonn AbsintheKombi harryhornet dizzylizard Happyhouse Tallulah Sunny TimV 15 posters |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
| Subject: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:24 am | |
| Fitting a tow bar to your BraziBay increases its versatility. Most owners are looking to either pull a trailer or attach a bike carrier that can take more than the 2 cycle version from Fiamma that attaches to the tailgate. The downside for me and Max is that a tow bar breaks up his 'clean' lines and if the tow bar gets infrequent use - do I really want it hanging off the back of my SportzKombi? Not really. I need to carry more than 2 bikes this coming Kombi Kaper to France, so I got in contact with Watling Engineers to see if they could provide me with a tow bar that could be out of sight for the majority of the time and easily put into operation when required. They came up trumps. I headed down to their workshops in St. Albans earlier this week. This is a family business that's been going for 60 years and their premises are in lovely traditional buildings. I discussed the job with Ben Babcock, who is the 3rd generation to run the business. Alongside Max, they were going to be fitting a tow bar to a beautiful classic Rover 3.5. I knew I was in safe hands. They have free wi-fi in the office so I spent most of my time there on my iPad, the weather wasn't great outside, but you could catch a bus into St. Albans or go walking in the surrounding countryside whilst your Kombi is being worked on. They set to work: By 3pm I was driving home and a very happy chap. The work was first class and I was delighted with the outcome. So what have we got? Here's Max sporting his new accessory: Detached: Attached: Detached: Attached: This is a brand new product from Watling for the Brazilian T2 Kombi as this is the first detachable tow bar that's been available. Here's how the attachment works: 2 heavy duty quick-release pins hold the tow ball section in place. These can be padlocked. When not required, you simply pull the pins out and slide out the tow ball section, replacing it with the rubber bung. Now Max can wear his new bike carrier I picked up in our charity auction at the Sleepover this year: ... and when we don't need this facility, it all gets hidden away. Fantastic! The job Watling did was top notch, I am delighted with the care and attention to detail they put in. The new detachable tow bar itself costs £250 + VAT. On top of that you'll need ancilliary items such as the electrics and tow ball, cover etc. A bit more than a standard tow bar, but apart from the detachable function, the receiver section now opens up a realm of possibilities for other accessories. In the US, the vast majority of tow bar users have a similar, slightly larger receiver, and they fit an enormous number of accessories to their vehicles, using the stability made available by the tow bar receiver: tables, chairs, other types of carrying racks etc. So now we open up a new avenue of versatility for our Kombis. What would you design to fit into that square hole? I'm thinking electric shower powered by the tow bar electrics! Over to you. If you want to order one of these new detachable tow bars, contact Watling Engineers on 01727 873661. Even better, members of our Executive Club get a 5% discount on their purchase, contact me for details. PS: please note in the photos of the attached tow ball, that also includes the base for the cycle carrier I now use, so it looks larger than if you were to just have a tow ball, hence my desire for it to be detachable. ________________________________________________________________________________ Max SportsKombi - The Bay Racer @brazilianvwbay
Last edited by TimV on Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:01 pm; edited 1 time in total | |
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Sunny
Cabin : Exec 050 Location : Wiltshire Posts : 1743 Join date : 2012-01-22
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 12:15 pm | |
| Seriously impressive stuff. Well done. Shame I have one as that would be brill. | |
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Tallulah
Cabin : Flight 011 Location : South Somerset, UK Posts : 5101 Join date : 2011-06-05
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 12:44 pm | |
| Very nice. ________________________________________________________________________________ www.alpinegrovetouringpark.com Twitter: @AlpineGrove Facebook: facebook.com/alpinegrovetouringpark
| | Former owners of the amazing Tallulah (2011 to 2021) Proud winners of Spikes Trophy, 2016. Freedom, in style... |
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Happyhouse
Cabin : Exec 007 Location : New Forest, Hampshire Posts : 256 Join date : 2011-10-02
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 1:16 pm | |
| Tidy job and nice cycle carrier !! | |
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dizzylizard
Cabin : Exec 018 Location : Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts and Bristol Posts : 2241 Join date : 2011-09-20
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 1:47 pm | |
| Lovely job, I have always baulked at the idea of fitting a tow bar for the same reasons, but I could be tempted now. As usual, a couple of questions, sorry It looks they use the bolt holes holding the panel on, is there other welding or bolting involved to the bumper irons, and on the aqua bays there is a rear engine mount fixed to this cross-member, will it clear that ok. (Very envious of their ramps, do they do a discount on them as well ) | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 1:59 pm | |
| The two bolts on the rear panel are the originals - I asked this - they make use of these to give a vertical support to the bar. The bumper is removed, the tow bar offered up, it makes use of a further hole in the chassis leg, and then the bumper is offered up again and adds in 2 further extended bolts. Yes this will fit an AquaBay. ________________________________________________________________________________ Max SportsKombi - The Bay Racer @brazilianvwbay | |
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harryhornet
Cabin : Exec 027 Location : Fair Oak, Hampshire Posts : 2849 Join date : 2012-04-19
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:19 pm | |
| Looks like a very neat job. Are you concerned by the amount of weight on your rear when carrying 3 bikes? | |
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dizzylizard
Cabin : Exec 018 Location : Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts and Bristol Posts : 2241 Join date : 2011-09-20
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:19 pm | |
| Thanks for that, I'll have to start thinking of what can be fixed to a spigot. | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:22 pm | |
| - harryhornet wrote:
- Looks like a very neat job. Are you concerned by the amount of weight on your rear when carrying 3 bikes?
No - it feels like I've got power steering! ________________________________________________________________________________ Max SportsKombi - The Bay Racer @brazilianvwbay | |
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Sunny
Cabin : Exec 050 Location : Wiltshire Posts : 1743 Join date : 2012-01-22
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:45 pm | |
| - TimV wrote:
- harryhornet wrote:
- Looks like a very neat job. Are you concerned by the amount of weight on your rear when carrying 3 bikes?
No - it feels like I've got power steering! Or on ice =8-0 | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
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Sunny
Cabin : Exec 050 Location : Wiltshire Posts : 1743 Join date : 2012-01-22
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:15 pm | |
| - TimV wrote:
- No not the mother-in-law. Not got one of those at the moment.
:-) So glad I don't have memories of a hippo to worry about anymore. (Some will and some won't get that as a TV reference.) | |
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AbsintheKombi
Cabin : Exec 013 Location : Leyland, Lancs Posts : 5654 Join date : 2011-07-25
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:23 pm | |
| CJ: "I didn't get where I am today, thinking about hippos" ________________________________________________________________________________ Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder
Blog: C13MPR
Finalist in the Caravan Club Caravanner of the Year Competition 2016
Star Kombi Winner 2015
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Sunny
Cabin : Exec 050 Location : Wiltshire Posts : 1743 Join date : 2012-01-22
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:26 pm | |
| Might've guessed you'd be first | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
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AbsintheKombi
Cabin : Exec 013 Location : Leyland, Lancs Posts : 5654 Join date : 2011-07-25
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:31 pm | |
| - Quote :
- Might've guessed you'd be first
- Quote :
- The Old Ones are the oldest
Ok, so, I'm old... ________________________________________________________________________________ Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder
Blog: C13MPR
Finalist in the Caravan Club Caravanner of the Year Competition 2016
Star Kombi Winner 2015
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Sunny
Cabin : Exec 050 Location : Wiltshire Posts : 1743 Join date : 2012-01-22
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:36 pm | |
| I remember my grandfather telling me "like a vintage port, I get better with age". | |
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AbsintheKombi
Cabin : Exec 013 Location : Leyland, Lancs Posts : 5654 Join date : 2011-07-25
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:41 pm | |
| - Quote :
- I remember my grandfather telling me "like a vintage port, I get better with age".
I'm more like this ruined port; ________________________________________________________________________________ Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder
Blog: C13MPR
Finalist in the Caravan Club Caravanner of the Year Competition 2016
Star Kombi Winner 2015
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Sunny
Cabin : Exec 050 Location : Wiltshire Posts : 1743 Join date : 2012-01-22
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:49 pm | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
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Sunny
Cabin : Exec 050 Location : Wiltshire Posts : 1743 Join date : 2012-01-22
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:15 pm | |
| Certainly enough rehashing of old material. | |
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michel_bonn
Cabin : Club Location : Germany, near Cologne- Bonn Posts : 946 Join date : 2011-08-31
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:50 pm | |
| that looks good, tim, i wish i could buy this in germany, but thats a dream :-( cool car, very cool michel_bonn ________________________________________________________________________________ http://www.t2-c.de
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:52 pm | |
| - Sunny wrote:
- Certainly enough rehashing of old material.
Boom Boom ________________________________________________________________________________ Max SportsKombi - The Bay Racer @brazilianvwbay | |
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TimV Admin
Cabin : Flight 001 Location : Brighton, East Sussex U.K. Posts : 14334 Join date : 2009-09-27
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:52 pm | |
| - michel_bonn wrote:
- that looks good, tim,
i wish i could buy this in germany, but thats a dream :-( cool car, very cool michel_bonn You can order one from Watling michel. They will send overseas. ________________________________________________________________________________ Max SportsKombi - The Bay Racer @brazilianvwbay | |
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michel_bonn
Cabin : Club Location : Germany, near Cologne- Bonn Posts : 946 Join date : 2011-08-31
| Subject: Re: New Tow Bar on the market Wed Jul 31, 2013 7:07 pm | |
| Wow, thanks for the information tim, i will looking for that. because i am looking for this since the bought from my car. i will show this before the germany´s TÜV for asking before. but i havent found before a tow bar for our t2c. best to you michel ps i will be ansering at this post when i have the answer for the tow bar. lets look for it. :-) ________________________________________________________________________________ http://www.t2-c.de
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