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can a clio 172 or 182 have a towbar?
andrew-theasby - 20/1/10 at 09:28 PM

Just been to see one today and decided im gona get one. Decided to check now how much the towbar will cost (need one) and cant find any. They all say excl 172/182. Can anybody help PLEASE.


l0rd - 20/1/10 at 09:31 PM

you are supposed to tow a clio 172 or 182 to a track day on a trailer not tow a trailer with a clio.



Don't know.

I don't think so as they have dual exit rear exhaust!!!!

[Edited on 20/1/10 by l0rd]


JEPY - 20/1/10 at 09:34 PM

182 has the twin exhaust and horizontally mounted box so probably cant fit a tow bar.

But the 172 has a std back box and single exit exhaust so probably could...?


Russell - 20/1/10 at 09:38 PM

Check out
Witter towbars excel sheet

It says "Vehicle is not Homologated for Towing"


GregSL75 - 20/1/10 at 09:40 PM

Some manufacturers don't rate their sporty models for towing duties.


speedyxjs - 20/1/10 at 09:40 PM

so long as there is room (as said above) i dont see why not.

I have seen sevens with a tow bar and trailer!


davred - 20/1/10 at 09:43 PM

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try here www.bosal.co.uk hth david


Russell - 20/1/10 at 09:44 PM

Some shells haven't got the correct pickup points for a towbar installed from the factory, that's why.


GregSL75 - 20/1/10 at 09:45 PM

Check the above linked spreadsheet for-

Cooper S
Focus RS
Focus ST
Civic Type R

etc etc.


Russell - 20/1/10 at 09:47 PM

And more mundane models like the Ford Ka and Audi A2


PAUL FISHER - 20/1/10 at 09:52 PM

It does say in the handbook for my 172 you can't tow with it,but Ive seen a few 172's and 182's with towbars so I know you can get them to fit


GregSL75 - 20/1/10 at 09:54 PM

I wonder how do you stand legally / insurance wise if the manufacturer has no stated maximum weights, GTW etc.


JoelP - 20/1/10 at 09:56 PM

totally OT but i saw a fourtrak yesterday that had 4 towballs on it! Well cool.

Lots of cars arent allowed to tow, which isnt such a problem since the police arent likely to know either, but if it does come up (say, Gary Hart style) you could be in a spot of bother.


JoelP - 20/1/10 at 10:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by GregSL75
I wonder how do you stand legally / insurance wise if the manufacturer has no stated maximum weights, GTW etc.


it would be the offense of not complying with const and use regs i think.


andrew-theasby - 20/1/10 at 10:10 PM

that link says there not homologated for towing Paul fisher dont suppose you know of any details do you? Could it possibly just be the cup chassis thats not homologated? Either way i cant find one for sale anywhere


PAUL FISHER - 20/1/10 at 10:35 PM

Mine is just a 172,not a cup,and it says in my handbook you can't tow so it can't be just the cup models,Ive just had a search through the Cliosport forum,and again there a few on there have them fitted to tow small trailers for motorcross bikes etc,so its not that the standard Clio towbars don't fit.


will121 - 20/1/10 at 10:36 PM

i had a simular issue when i looked at getting a Mondeo ST220, thought it be an ideal car and good for towing but they are not listed. i was told issue was the ECU programmed for performance not low down pulling power and hence not designed for it, and perlonged towing would triger ECU into fault code limp home. As to get the most out of a 182 takes some rev's might be simular issue let alone practacality of actually mounting it.


andrew-theasby - 20/1/10 at 11:29 PM

So theres still a chance then whats the clio forum you use? ive only been able to find one reference to one through google but id love to hear from someone whos actually done it? Especially on a 182. Thanks for replying so quick guys. Especially like to know more about the possible ecu problem. Ps its a sit and ride grass cutter i have to tow, would you class that as heavy?? Rescued attachment imagesCAGLZQHQ.jpg
Rescued attachment imagesCAGLZQHQ.jpg


PAUL FISHER - 20/1/10 at 11:40 PM

You could ask on here,Cliosport forum.

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/


tommyab - 21/1/10 at 12:23 AM

Im pretty sure I can't fit a towbar to my 182 - due to the exhaust position. I shall have a look in the book tomorrow.

The exhausts also run through the spare wheel space so you cant fit one of those either. That was a bit annoying a while ago getting a split tyre about 100m away from work one morning.....


aitch - 21/1/10 at 12:34 PM

seems to me the manufacturers have designed a "sports" car so just dont consider tow bars for the limited number of cars theyre going to sell and small proportion of those cars that would ever have a tow ball fitted.. by definition a "sports" chassis is probably stonger/stiffer than a standard chassis!!

surely it wouldnt be so hard to fabricate your own ..... its just a case of identifying suitable mount locations...

aitch


andrew-theasby - 23/1/10 at 06:47 PM

Its a possibility, but i struggle to find time to build the 7, i only plan to keep the clio for a year or two to fill the gap until its finished. One place i contacted said it could invalidate your insurance too if you made one fit and the car wasnt homologated for it