Mini Tow-bar

[Billy]

Has anyone ever fitted a towbar to their Mini? This looks interesting.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... SS:GB:1123

Billy

[The Marcos Graveyard]

The angles look a bit odd, where do the middle bolts attach to ?

[Goose]

There is an article on fitting them in this months Mini-world iirc !

[woody]

Looks like it bolts to the rear subframe and the bottem of the sparewheel well bypassing the rubber mounts on the subframe.

[The Marcos Graveyard]

It's probably bolted to the spare wheel well just to stop the vibrations

[DaveC]

Paul Coughlan had a towbar on one of his Minis at one stage. He had one of those Eriba Puch caravans for a while

[woody]

I think pauls towbar attached to the bumber lip as well. Was at a caravan show in NEC last week ,Eriba have a new Puck the same size as the old ones used with Minis. £11,000 sterling!!!

[wzd345]

There is a guy selling 2 different types on The Mini Forum at the mom, one is similar to the Ebay offering. Not 100% convinced re the fitting arrangements.

Towbars used be available from a UK manufacturer - Witter, I think, in the old days. If one of those could be located (or even a photo) would be a good template to have a batch made up.

[The Marcos Graveyard]

We could always ask Tom Kost from Mini Clique Wesermarsche who made his tow bar or if he has photos of it .

[Billy]

Here's another one for sale on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... SS:GB:1123

Billy

[Fatman]

Billy, I have an original Witter towbar. I can measure it and post some photos if you are interested
Eamonn.

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Billy, I have an original Witter towbar. I can measure it and post some photos if you are interested
Eamonn.

Yes please.


Nice to see you back on the forum Uncle Eamonn.

[Fatman]

Tahnks Neil. I will dig it out of my tidy garage tomorrow and do the necessary.

[Billy]

Howya stranger,

I'm toying with the idea of a traile so I'd need a towbar do photos woud be great.

Has anyone here ever fitted a towbar?

Billy

[Fatman]

Tow Bar details for all you budding welders. This is a genuine Witter tow bar. I have attached a NON TECHNICAL drawing and photos of the tow bar. The last two photos are of a home made tow bar removed from a Hornet or Elf. It was mounted to the bumper lip and the back of the subframe. Do not mount a tow bar to modern rubber mounted subframe for obvious reasons.

[steeo]

Looks a handy towbar to make, probally no more than €20 worth of steel there, but it is missing 1 measurement from what I can see

a measurement from the mounting plate to the ball hitch plate.

[Fatman]

Sorry about that. Its 120mm on the underside. I will correct the drawing.

Eamonn.

[steeo]

And another measurement would be the height of the ball hitch plate but judging by the measurements you gave it looks to be about 70-75mm height but it wouldn't be that important.

[Billy]

This thread is becoming relative again due to recent additions to the club fleet. Did anyone try making up towbars from Eamonn's drawings?

Billy

[steeo]

I'll have a look over the next day or 2 and see what metal I have out side, I would have most of the metal but I know I dont have the 50mm x 30mm box, would many people be interested in one ???

[Billy]

Woody and I could be interested. I need one for the Hornet and Woody needs one that will allow him open the estate doors. Both would need to have a longer neck that the saloon version.

Billy

[Billy]

Steeo,

Did you ever make up a towbar from Eamonn's drawings?

Billy

[steeo]

Never got around to it. 50mmx30mm box iron is not readily available
anymore and I dont have a mini to see if 40mmx40mm or 50mmx50mm box is a suitable replacement.

Another thing is that I have no way of testing the towbars first and if there was a fault with one of the
welds, etc and the trailer detatched from the car and god forbid killed someone it would be me up s**t
creek without a paddle.

Don't know about here but in the Uk there is a law coming (if not in already) ruling out homemade towbars
and trailers.

[Billy]

Eamonn's towbar shown above is a Witter B1A and Darran uses something very similar for his trailer.

I'm waiting on responses from a few Witter suppliers to get pricing and delivery. I'll post the details when I get them.

Billy

[Kenneth Murphy]

must try later see what i can do, i've a few old bars lyin around and i like to weld!! ha, i need one for my bike rack!