Which Towbar

[Jim]

Hi All,

 

Looking to fit a towbar to my 2000 (post facelift) Galaxy with parking sensors. The towbar MUST be ball & flange type - swan neck is no use to me as I have to be able to carry bikes and tow at the same time.

 

Have been looking at Witter, Bosal, Brink etc.

 

I am wavering towards the Bosal bar as the electrics on this are mounted on the shaft leading to the flange and no on the flange behind the ball. I am thinking this means the bar is less likely to interfere with my parking sesnors.

 

Fitting instructions here. Once thing I don't like is drilling a small hold in the bumper to attach it to the towbar, but maybe this is not strictly necessary?

 

Anyone know more details on Witter and Brink regarding where the electrics are mounted?

 

Thanks, Jim

[CasaPaulo]

The Bosal diagram you supplied seems 98 % identical to my swanneck Brink, I know the chassis fittings must be identical BUT the Bosal doesn't appear to have a facility for a 'flange' ball fitting, though clearly there is one in the diagram, just what does it and the electrics plate bolt to? The M12 x 70 bolts accept a swan neck fitting, as does mine. The diagram seems flawed. My Brink electrics are designed for the Euro 13 pin plug, a single welded plate on the swaneck, I misguidely bought it from Halfords, it involved cutting a chunk (easy) out of the bumper. Subsequently the Trailer Hire people up the road said I'd bought a 'bad' design and the bumper cutting could've been avoided. Dunno which brand.

[CasaPaulo]

I'll answer my own question, headplate C. This is the only variation to mine that I can see. I thought C was the flimsy electrics carrier. Incidently, although my Halfords Brink tow bar was easyish to fit. I'd not bother again, for the few pence saved. I'd let the pro's do it next time, I saved a pittance after forking out for electrics and hadn't factored in the 13 pins problem.

[Jim]

The electrics on the Bosal towbar are attached to plate C - there is no need for the "traditional" mounting plate for the electrics that normally goes between the flange and ball. A friend actually has the Bosal bar fitted to his Alhambra, so I will get a closer inspection before deciding.

 

The advantage of the setup is that as the electrics are on plate C and this plate is mounted at the lowest point of the towbar (via 2 bolts on the L shaped bits welded to the bottom of the main U shaped structure), effectively below the height of the bumper, this should hopefully not interfere with my parking sensors as per other posts.

 

I guess my question really was do Witter, Brink etc use have something similar to plate C for the electircs, or do they expect the electrics to be mounted behind the ball and therefore potentially cause problems for the parking sensors?

[Keithb]

I have the Bosal fitted to my Galaxy by the dealer when supplied new. The electrics are very neat but the towball height is higher than the witter ( by about 2 inches). Towing a caravan makes it ride 'nose high' so I had a drop plate made.

I also have a witter cycle carrier which fixes to the towball. In the original position this interfered with the parking sensors. With the drop plate and the cycle carrier fitted the parking sensors work about 50% of the time (don't know why they're sometimes more sensitive).

However, the ball and associated fixing is secured by 2 bolts so I remove this when not needed which leaves a much better view of the rear!

 

Keith

[handy andy]

Jim you mention that you wish to carry Bikes whilst towing. Just remember that the maximum loading (down force ) on the tow bar is approx 80KG (from memory). Therefore this is the limit of the weight of the noseweight of the trailer/caravan + Bike carrier + bikes.

[Jim]

Hi Andy. I know about the nose weight issue (75 kgs I thought?, but you may well be correct). When towing, I only try to have one bike on it and the others on (roof mounted) cycle carriers on a carry rack mounted on my trailer tent. Of course, the one bike on the carrier is the heaviest steel one that does not fit the carriers on the TT. :rolleyes: I always try to keep the nose weight of the trailer reasonably low though.

 

Back to the towbar. Had a good look at the Bosal fitted to a 2002 Alhambra today. Looks neat, and I am pleased to say that there was no requirement to drill holes in the bumper. The two little metal bars (marked B on the diagram) can be attached with screws to the bumper using the existing holes that on my car are used to hold the cables for the parking sensors.

 

Any more info on other makes of towbar?

[Jim]

Hi Keith, forgot to mention in last post, the Bosal was fitted by a Seat dealer to the Alhambra, but I checked the electrics and these are connected the cheap and nasty way - using these cable connectors. The proper electrics kit must be even too expensive for the dealers to use - I believe thay are over

[Jim]

Brink fitting instructions here. Even includes a picture, albeit for a swan neck.

 

Instructions and pic show that the electrics is also below the parking sensors. My experience of Witter (fitted by me to my Passat), is you need a mounting plate for the electircs between ball and flange and according to other posts on this forum this can cause problems.

 

My choices are Bosal or Brink then.

 

Any opinions on which is best?

[Tigger]

Have had a witter fitted recently. This is a fixed towbar and electrics. Have had no problem with parking sensor. The guy was very good when talking me through it. Will try to fit stablizer bracket before I tow the caravan.

[Jim]

Hi Tigger,

 

Am I right in assuming your electrics are mounted using the following mounting plate?

[Jim]

However, below is my cycle carrier mounting bracket, with the electrics mounted on either the left of right hand side using the plate also shown in the pic. I think it would be a miracle if the electrics mounted in this way did not interfere with the sensors, which is why I want to get them mounted below the bumper if possible.

[Tigger]

The electrics are as you say I have single electrics but as I use a stablizer. I was not aware that this has to be fitted in the right hand side so electrics have to be on the left. If a ball stabalizer is used I assume this is not a problem. The bracket of the electrics is bent back to help the sensors not pick it up. I assume with your picture of the cycle carrier, then you have to have a towing plate to fix to. This would probably rule out a detachable tow bar.

 

I went for a witter as this can be changed to a detachable if you have a problem with you sensor, this is about another

[Jim]

The bracket of the electrics is bent back to help the sensors not pick it up.

That's why I think the Bosal or Brink is a better option. See the attached picture of a Brink - although it is a swan neck, the electrics are in the same position as the flange & ball.

I assume with your picture of the cycle carrier, then you have to have a towing plate to fix to. This would probably rule out a detachable tow bar.

The carrier (made by Pendle) goes between the flange and ball, in the same place as your electrics and yes my towbar cannot be swan neck.

 

I have no stabiliser as my trailer tent does not require it, but you could look at www.ukcampsite.co.uk for advice/tips on that.

[Tigger]

Not sure what the arrow is pointing at? The bracket on this seems rather proud. Is this your car? Or another car?

[Jim]

No idea what arrow is pointing at - it was already on the pic, which is from the Brink fitting instruction - see earlier link.

 

Not my car - mine is a much nicer colour. :o

 

I've yet to see a car with one fitted to see what it looks like in real life, but I think the electrics bracket would be about level with the bottom of the bumper - same as the Bosal, which I have had a good look at.