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Towbar fitters
flange nut - 7/4/08 at 10:38 PM

Anybody know of a good cheap towbar fitter around the Northampton, Wellingborough area?
Thanks.

Geoff

Hugh_ - 7/4/08 at 11:05 PM

The last few cars I've had I've fitting them myself. You can get the kits on eBay from £60 upwards (new) depending on make/model. Fitting it is basic mechano stuff & a bit of wiring. The first one I did took me about 5 hours, the most recent was done in about 2

graememk - 7/4/08 at 11:53 PM

try k33ts on here

coozer - 8/4/08 at 07:23 AM

Got mine from the scrappy. Newish car with brand new towbar. Taking it off yourself makes it dead easy to fit to your own car. £40, sorted.

Steve

Mr Whippy - 8/4/08 at 07:25 AM

I find the hardest thing these days is trying to take the bumper off without destroying it

carpmart - 8/4/08 at 08:12 AM

DIY - they just bolt on and then scotch lock the electrics - pretty easy to do!

MikeRJ - 8/4/08 at 08:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by carpmart
DIY - they just bolt on and then scotch lock the electrics - pretty easy to do!


As long as you don't want the electrics to last very long. Or you could do it properly. Scotchlocks are evil things.

DarrenW - 8/4/08 at 08:28 AM

Agreed - dont ever use scotchlocks. i did years ago and learnt to regret them. Much easier to bare back some wire and solder in properly then insulate.

Dangle_kt - 8/4/08 at 08:59 AM

dead easy to fit the tow bar, BUT be warned!!

The electrics are not always easy, especially if you have a car with sensors on the lights (you know the ones that tell you if a bulb has blown) the wiring picks up the "extension" you have made as a fault. I have an audi a4, and whilst I got the towbar for £40 2nd hand, the electrics STILL don't work....

You might be fine, but look into it first, it isn't always very easy.

indykid - 8/4/08 at 10:27 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Dangle_kt
dead easy to fit the tow bar, BUT be warned!!

The electrics are not always easy, especially if you have a car with sensors on the lights (you know the ones that tell you if a bulb has blown) the wiring picks up the "extension" you have made as a fault. I have an audi a4, and whilst I got the towbar for £40 2nd hand, the electrics STILL don't work....

You might be fine, but look into it first, it isn't always very easy.


i think you need a different kind of relay in such a system. i know they are available for cars like taht anyway. think halfords sell one for about a tenner, so somewhere online will probably be cheaper.

as for scotchlocks, they do work if they're sized correctly, but the old style single blade ones made of cheap plastic are pretty crap. 3M make some though that are brilliant quality and come with a double blade. a much more secure locking mechanism too. work first time every time and remain reliable. can't find them anywhere to buy though. they came in the dension icelink i pod adapter kits i used to fit and i think the harmon kaardon one too.

tom

MKMike - 8/4/08 at 10:44 AM

Yes, on most of the modern cars you need to fit a relay kit and take a feed from the battery/ignition (not sure what's recommended).

flange nut - 8/4/08 at 12:29 PM

Thanks for all the replies. Yes I could fit it myself, but it looks like most of the towbars need a hole cut in the bumper. I don't fancy doing that as knowing my luck it will end up in the wrong place.