Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Russell on 15 February 2008, 18:02:03

Title: Tow Bar
Post by: Russell on 15 February 2008, 18:02:03
Hello,

I have purchased a used tow bar (breakeryard.co.uk). I know it came off an Omega 2.5 and I want to put it on my 1995 2.0 16v.

I do not know what make it is, but can email a photo if needs be.

Does anyone have any fitting instructions or diagrams?

Thanks in advance.

Russell :o
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Dazzler on 15 February 2008, 18:08:40
All depends on what kind/make of towbar it is, as to how to fit.
Wiring wise do a search on here as its been covered many times before.
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Dave-C on 15 February 2008, 18:10:03
As you say mate, post some piccy's, one of us will advise.  Theres a link on here somewhere for the wiring diagrams.... easy peasy to fit the bar, the hole locations for a standard bar are dot punched ready in the chassis.

DC
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Andy B on 15 February 2008, 18:49:05
There's not a lot of difference between fitting a Witter, 2" box section under the car type & a OE Bosal, plate in the boot swan neck type.
When you got it from the breakers, was it already off the car? If so have you retained to 2 tubes that go up through the rear chassis legs so that you're bolting to the boot floor?
You'll find some instructions here (http://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/towbars/vehicle_technical_details.aspx?VehicleTowbarID=1415)
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: bigall on 15 February 2008, 18:52:07
Go onto www.towequipe.co.uk  (This is a very good site for accessories you may need)enter your car details and a listing of towbars available will come up click on the description/name of the bar and you should find a facility to download a fitting sheet from the manufacturer.

Basically there are two types of towbar for a saloon one is a section of rectangular pipe bent to fit under the car with cross pieces at one end and about a foot from the flange end these fasten to the van floor .chassis member.
The other sits flat to the base of the boot and is much wider about a foot. It fits in the same places on the floor pan chasis member

The one for an estate is radically different


Oops too slow!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Andrew001 on 27 February 2008, 23:07:03
hi guys,
just bought a tow bar off ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200195276158&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

does anyone know whats the name if it so i could try to find some fitting instructions. many thanks.
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: bigall on 27 February 2008, 23:17:42
witter box section type  click on AndyB reply for a witter fixing sheet
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Andrew001 on 27 February 2008, 23:21:16
Quote
hi guys,
just bought a tow bar off ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200195276158&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

does anyone know whats the name if it so i could try to find some fitting instructions. many thanks.

by the way, the part number as far as i know is: vx842
thanks again
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Andrew001 on 27 February 2008, 23:25:48
Quote
witter box section type  click on AndyB reply for a witter fixing sheet
thanks mate, it looks very similar (if not the same :) )
does anyone knows how to access the electric instructions from the same website? :) cheers :)
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Entwood on 27 February 2008, 23:28:01
To those buying towbars off Flea-bay .....  PLEASE ensure that what you buy is "type approved" for your car. If your car was first registered after 1st August 1998 it MUST use ONLY a type approved towbar. You risk legal action and perhaps insurance being invalid if it is not.

http://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/quality_standards/EC_QandA.aspx

http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/EC94-20-and-what-it-means-for-towbars_W0QQugidZ10000000003262395

and numerous other sites as well  :(
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Andrew001 on 27 February 2008, 23:36:30
just read the addvert again and found out it's towsure part no- vx842.
entwood thanks for the point. do you know who is officially checking the tow bars? MOT? Do I need to have some documents? Thanks, and would be many thankful for electric instructions :)  
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Entwood on 27 February 2008, 23:50:40
The type approval number should be attached to the towbar, either a label or stamped into it. I don't know who is responsible for checking, probably VOSA, but in the event of an incident ... Police ?? H&S ?? Insurance Assessor  ?? who knows ...  :(

Quote
What can happen if you do not comply to this legislation?

If the towing vehicle falls in the M1 class, was first registered after 1st August 1998 and it is not approved to tow or the towbar is not EC approved, the implications can be very serious. Should you be found breaking the regulations, first of all you can be prosecuted for an infringement of construction and use regulations, and your insurance can decline a payout in the event of an accident claim.
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Russell on 28 February 2008, 22:06:31
Hi All,

Russell here again with a picture of the tow bar. Can anyone tell me who its made by?
(http:///Users/russellp/Desktop/towbar.jpg)

Cheers
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Russell on 28 February 2008, 22:07:55
Doh!

How do you attach a picture?

Russell
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: platty on 28 February 2008, 22:20:15
Hi Russell, you need to host the picture online somewhere - I use photobucket.com

Once it is hosted, it will provide you with an [img] code which you can paste into your reply - this will then show the image on here.

HTH Platty
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Russell on 28 February 2008, 22:50:48
Finally, the picture!
(http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii91/rpro59/towbar.jpg)

Regards

Russell
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Entwood on 28 February 2008, 23:03:29
No where near as many attachment points as mine has !! and mine also has a spreader bar inside the boot ..
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Andy B on 29 February 2008, 04:56:08
Quote
No where near as many attachment points as mine has !! and mine also has a spreader bar inside the boot ..

Mmm! :-/ I agree. there should be another 4 bots through the floor at the back of the car. The bar looks home made.  :-? I'm not sure I'd want a 'van on it.  :-/
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: jonathanh on 29 February 2008, 13:23:56
further agreement from me as well.  Definitely not enough attachment to the floorpan.  with two bolts on the bit at the back of the car instead of three, plus what looks like another 4 missing this cannot be type approved can it?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I wouldn't fit it
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Dave-C on 29 February 2008, 18:31:09
Quote
Quote
No where near as many attachment points as mine has !! and mine also has a spreader bar inside the boot ..

Mmm! :-/ I agree. there should be another 4 bots through the floor at the back of the car. The bar looks home made.  :-? I'm not sure I'd want a 'van on it.  :-/

Not sure about home made, but, certainly not as sturdy as my Towsure Eclipse (detatchable).  Pretty sure there should be a big lump of angle iron for inside the boot... it does look sturdy, I've e-mailed Russell for further info on what items came with it..

DC
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: achoo81 on 29 February 2008, 20:28:01
That looks very much like a towbar I fitted to a Mk2 cavalier many moons ago it's definately not made for a miggie I've fitted 3 of them 2 were towsure and 1 was a witter nowhere near the same!!!
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: davlad22 on 02 March 2008, 12:22:41
Russell, an omega estate one should have 2 long pieces that sit on top of the boot floor (underneath the carpet) that run parallel to the chassis (either side of the spare wheel well on estate), as mentioned this is bolted through the assembly in four places.

That bar could be from an astra?
Title: Re: Tow Bar
Post by: Andy B on 02 March 2008, 13:42:56
Are we talking saloon or estate? The picture Russel showed was a saloon of some sort.
This (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-TOWBAR_W0QQitemZ250220968525QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33653QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) is for an Omega saloon. NB 3 fasteners at the very back behind the bumper & 4 through the boot floor. The 'proper' Bosal towbar, although very different from this, uses exactly the same fixing points on the car.