Front Tow Bar

[Hightower]

I'm going to desisn and build a front tow bar for the Monty. Is there anything I should be aware of before I start? Offset/central, how heavy duty the structure should be etc.

[Bigmuz7]

Well it should certainly be able to be lighter than a rear one since it wont be subject to the high loads of acceleration, heavy breaking etc. The fixing point to the chassis and how the load is spread would be my biggest concern, any way you can get a look at one for it, and then decide "not to buy it" ?

[Jizm]

what towcar is it for andy?

[codprawn]

This may give you some ideas.

http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acat...h_Towbars.html

[fred bolton]

This any good ? http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...=front+tow+bar

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Well it should certainly be able to be lighter than a rear one since it wont be subject to the high loads of acceleration, heavy breaking etc. The fixing point to the chassis and how the load is spread would be my biggest concern, any way you can get a look at one for it, and then decide "not to buy it" ?

I have the ends of the left and right chassis members to work with, they're not generous but might be able to get a couple of U bolts on or to bolt a U shape bracket with a bolt though the middle, clamping it on. I then have to clear the bottom of the bumper before fixing a box or RSJ section to it.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Jizm

what towcar is it for andy?

Isuzu Trooper/Vauxhall Monterey

[Hightower]

Codprawn and Fred, I have looked at these links. The Western Towing one I was looking at before I started this thread. I understand about the towbar being offset the the near side so the driver can see where he's going. However in my situation I have to get the trailer around a tight left bend and need to get the hitch as close to the right (offside) as possible. So will mount the towbar in the centre.

I also want to mount the bull bar I've taken from the Kia and a RSJ or box section will do a treat.

[Jizm]

bolting it to the bullbar not an option?

[chewy]

I bolted two to my Series 3 Landy's bumper, couple of big washers on the back.
Got it completely stuck ie get a lift home and go back the nect day with a tractor and remove it, the bumper did bend a little but the Landy was stuck on its axles.

Did the job and was great for pushing boats around the yard.

[Bigmuz7]

I still have an 04 plate trooper from new which my local Isuzu stealers wanted to pay poor money for in a trade in so I've kept it , as its a grand towing machine .. It has a factory fitted hook and latch attached to one of the front chassis formers ,.. i'll try and get a photo of the fixing for you mate

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

I still have an 04 plate trooper from new which my local Isuzu stealers wanted to pay poor money for in a trade in so I've kept it , as its a grand towing machine .. It has a factory fitted hook and latch attached to one of the front chassis formers ,.. i'll try and get a photo of the fixing for you mate

That'll be really cool, thanks!

[Hightower]

The bull bar isn't strong enough for a front towball, the bull bar is off of my Kia and I need some form of bracket to fit this to the front anyhow. I thought I could kill two birds with the same stone and make a bracket for both.

My bumper's plastic so mounting it though that isn't an option

[JABS]

I had one fitted at Watling Engineering http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/

I tink you will find that legally, it needs to be removable, danger to pedestrians ad all that.

Have it offset to the near side so that you can see past the boat on the drivers side.

It i a grea aid to manoevering a large caravan into a small gap!

[kwil]

Just a couple of points about a front towbar, I have one on my Nissan Xtrail, best thing since sliced bread for manouvering boat in tight places. But here is the mistake I made originally fitted offcentre towbar so that I could see past boat, worked great in boat yard, wide slips etc. Failed misserably on narrow slips and trying to park in my drive. Drive past house 2.9 mtrs, boat 2.4mts + offset = no room to steer, boat touching fence car touching side of house. Solution re-think and centre hitch on front of car = happy camper can now put boat into gap only a couple of inches wider than boat.
It is also very easy to weave through traffic that would normally block the slip.
Downside is that when boat is on the trailer in busy areas I need someone walking alongside the nearside to make sure I do not run people over.

Keith

[Richard Selman]

The one I have on the Navara has the ball and stub removable on a pin leaving just the crossbar tight under the bumper. I can fit it either centrally or offset.

Richard

[Tony Hill]

RIB is 11m. full 12 passenger cabin
Removable front tow bar from Scorpion Racing fitted centrally
Works fine for us

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Hightower

That'll be really cool, thanks!

Here ya go

Pic 1 & 2 show where they attach the hook onto the cars RHS chassis leg, Pic 3 shows two pre drilled bolt holes with captive nuts on the inside of the LHS chassis leg, so it look like this is the place to make the mount HTH

It would be a scooshy wee job to knock up a bracket for that, and as they guys have said, you could have it pre drilled so you could move the ball to 3 positions Left Middle or Right

Sorry about pic three quality, damn flash was either too bright or no good at all

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Tony Hill

RIB is 11m. full 12 passenger cabin
Removable front tow bar from Scorpion Racing fitted centrally
Works fine for us

Ahh the Ballyhellish bridge in the back ground I used to get porridge pumped into me from a flask as a nipper, as we waited for the old car ferry to take us from one side to the other on our journeys North before the bridge was built .... what memories

[9D280]

I were there only yesterday without Rib