Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: b19sin on 23 June 2010, 20:38:20

Title: tow bar!
Post by: b19sin on 23 June 2010, 20:38:20

hi all,

where can i get a tow bar from? how hard are they fit?? (as in are the holes already drilled in the chassie) i ask because i have found one on ebay.

Thanks,
Si

Title: Re: tow bar!
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 23 June 2010, 20:40:49

Have a little look at this thread mate it maybe able to help ya :y

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1277050212

Title: Re: tow bar!
Post by: dizaster on 23 June 2010, 22:10:53

Hi,

Well , Ive been looking into the murky world of towbars of late,  Okay  its not murky really  ;)

This is that i have found.
For my R- reg Saloon , there are basically two fitting styles.

(a)  First has straps or a plate that fit in the boot of the car , under the carpet,  6 mounting holes need to be drilled in the boot floor and 3 need to be drilled behind the bumper
 one example of this type is
 http://www.just-tow.co.uk/A1/VH840.pdf

(b) A square section bar runs under the fuel tank , and the same holes as previously need to be drilled , example
http://www.discount-towing.co.uk/home/pdf/844E.pdf

Of course if its an estate ,  then a different fitting is needed, but to be honest as I have a saloon ,  Ive not looked into these.

As for wiring the elsectrics , someone esle has covered this  ;D
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1190477322/4

Hope this helps

Title: Re: tow bar!
Post by: Entwood on 23 June 2010, 22:16:40

Please remember that since 1st January 1998 any towbar fitted must be "type approved".

So if your car was registered after 1st August 1998 it must only use a type approved bar.

Many of those sold on fleabay are NOT, or the approval number is not legible, this makes the use illegal.

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/towbars/type_approval.aspx

Title: Re: tow bar!
Post by: maximoke on 25 June 2010, 20:44:41

I bought a towbar of the famous auction site, and fitted it today.  It was second hand - luckily I found the fitting instructions on the web.  I have not done the electrics but the mechanical part fitted in two hours.  There are no holes but dimples where they need to be drilled.  I would say though some of the dimples were hard to locate under the mastik.  Still easy enough.

Title: Re: tow bar!
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 June 2010, 21:59:59

The mastc around nthe towbar mountings needs to be removed first with a hot air gun and a decorating chisel. Leaving it in place means it could compress under the clamping force of the towbar fittings and cause the towbar to work loose.

Kevin

Title: Re: tow bar!
Post by: b19sin on 03 July 2010, 19:02:45

Thanks all for your time.

I have since brought and fitted my tow bar including all the light wires apart from the second electrics for the caravan plug and im am not sure where this goes to.
any advice please?

thanks
Si

Title: Re: tow bar!
Post by: Andy B on 03 July 2010, 19:33:08

Quote

.... apart from the second electrics for the caravan plug and im am not sure where this goes to.
any advice please?

thanks
Si

The only wire you'll find that GM fitted for your 12S is the big thick red wire in the multi-pin plug/socket at the back of the boot, under the trim, you'll need a fuse under the steering column (Fuse 29 in my book). You'll still need a relay to use this to power your caravan's fridge & charger. The easiest way is to use a Smartcom voltage sensitive realy.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SMARTCOM-HEAVY-DUTY-30-AMP-SPLIT-CHARGE-TOWBAR-RELAY-/220626219796?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item335e58f314

This may help too ........  ;) http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Trailer_Caravan_12N_12S_wiring_diagram.html

Title: Re: tow bar!
Post by: b19sin on 13 July 2010, 18:05:26

that was a great help thanks.