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[Markie]

..to have one fitted.

I already have the towbar - many thanks to Big Rod and Bob Dent for rescuing it from Bobs Blue Beast  

Its now about to go on Bobs old estate as i send it out to work...now that ive sorted that misfire.

I wont do it myself as firstly i have too much work on and secondly i dont like electrical stuff.

So at what point does a quote to fit my already supplied towbar cross the line from reasonable price to down right rip off.

[Martin_1962]

Bite the bullet and DIY

[nixoro]

I've removed one before but never fitted one it didn't look very complicated how it was wired in though.

Surely if you could get your hands on fitting instructions you'd be able to DIY it and save yourself some money.

[TheBoy]

..to have one fitted.

I already have the towbar - many thanks to Big Rod and Bob Dent for rescuing it from Bobs Blue Beast  

Its now about to go on Bobs old estate as i send it out to work...now that ive sorted that misfire.

I wont do it myself as firstly i have too much work on and secondly i dont like electrical stuff.

So at what point does a quote to fit my already supplied towbar cross the line from reasonable price to down right rip off.

Nice and easy to do electrical - its the mechanical fitting that worries me.  If you don't need the twin 'caravan' electrics, its mega easy, though I think you may need a relay for the check control.

[miggy]

..to have one fitted.

I already have the towbar - many thanks to Big Rod and Bob Dent for rescuing it from Bobs Blue Beast  

Its now about to go on Bobs old estate as i send it out to work...now that ive sorted that misfire.

I wont do it myself as firstly i have too much work on and secondly i dont like electrical stuff.

So at what point does a quote to fit my already supplied towbar cross the line from reasonable price to down right rip off.

Just to give you an idea, I paid £170 for a whitter with double electrics fitted at my home. If you are not sure let the pros fit it, it doesnt bare thinking about if it should come loose, by the way the EU law also says it has to be an approved one with a plate on the bar.

 

[nixoro]

..to have one fitted.

I already have the towbar - many thanks to Big Rod and Bob Dent for rescuing it from Bobs Blue Beast  

Its now about to go on Bobs old estate as i send it out to work...now that ive sorted that misfire.

I wont do it myself as firstly i have too much work on and secondly i dont like electrical stuff.

So at what point does a quote to fit my already supplied towbar cross the line from reasonable price to down right rip off.

Just to give you an idea, I paid £170 for a whitter with double electrics fitted at my home. If you are not sure let the pros fit it, it doesnt bare thinking about if it should come loose, by the way the EU law also says it has to be an approved one with a plate on the bar.

 

Good job I removed the one off my dads car then as the electrics were hidden behind the bumper and the only thing visible was the hook and no backplate.

[miggy]

..to have one fitted.

I already have the towbar - many thanks to Big Rod and Bob Dent for rescuing it from Bobs Blue Beast  

Its now about to go on Bobs old estate as i send it out to work...now that ive sorted that misfire.

I wont do it myself as firstly i have too much work on and secondly i dont like electrical stuff.

So at what point does a quote to fit my already supplied towbar cross the line from reasonable price to down right rip off.

Just to give you an idea, I paid £170 for a whitter with double electrics fitted at my home. If you are not sure let the pros fit it, it doesnt bare thinking about if it should come loose, by the way the EU law also says it has to be an approved one with a plate on the bar.
 

Good job I removed the one off my dads car then as the electrics were hidden behind the bumper and the only thing visible was the hook and no backplate.

Sorry mate, when I said plate i meant a stamped plate like a vin plate.

 

[Kevin Wood]

It really isn't a difficult job. The mechanical side of it is to drill 7 (IIRC) holes in pretty much pre-marked locations on the floorpan (maybe slightly different on an estate), then bolt the towbar on and torque up. As long as you get the torque settings right, discard any obviously knackered bolts rather than re-using and check the torque after a few towing miles there are no significant safety implications of doing it yourself as far as I'm concerned.

As far as the electrical side is concerned the easiest solution is probably to get a wiring kit from towsure or similar and follow the destructions, which will probably be to connect the towing electrics to the rear light clusters.

The added bonus of doing it yourself is that you can pay proper attention to sealing the holes against rust and making a decent job of it, whereas the gibbon who will otherwise get the job won't .

Kevin

[nixoro]

..to have one fitted.

I already have the towbar - many thanks to Big Rod and Bob Dent for rescuing it from Bobs Blue Beast  

Its now about to go on Bobs old estate as i send it out to work...now that ive sorted that misfire.

I wont do it myself as firstly i have too much work on and secondly i dont like electrical stuff.

So at what point does a quote to fit my already supplied towbar cross the line from reasonable price to down right rip off.

Just to give you an idea, I paid £170 for a whitter with double electrics fitted at my home. If you are not sure let the pros fit it, it doesnt bare thinking about if it should come loose, by the way the EU law also says it has to be an approved one with a plate on the bar.
 

Good job I removed the one off my dads car then as the electrics were hidden behind the bumper and the only thing visible was the hook and no backplate.

Sorry mate, when I said plate i meant a stamped plate like a vin plate.

 

no worries  

[miggy]

It really isn't a difficult job. The mechanical side of it is to drill 7 (IIRC) holes in pretty much pre-marked locations on the floorpan (maybe slightly different on an estate), then bolt the towbar on and torque up. As long as you get the torque settings right, discard any obviously knackered bolts rather than re-using and check the torque after a few towing miles there are no significant safety implications of doing it yourself as far as I'm concerned.

As far as the electrical side is concerned the easiest solution is probably to get a wiring kit from towsure or similar and follow the destructions, which will probably be to connect the towing electrics to the rear light clusters.

The added bonus of doing it yourself is that you can pay proper attention to sealing the holes against rust and making a decent job of it, whereas the gibbon who will otherwise get the job won't .

Kevin

Your exactly right, but fair play to the chap that came to my house, he was spot on, thats why I called them and did not leave the car with anyone, I have used the same chap for the past 8 years.

 

[Kevin Wood]

Your exactly right, but fair play to the chap that came to my house, he was spot on, thats why I called them and did not leave the car with anyone, I have used the same chap for the past 8 years.

Fair enough. If you know someone good, that's fine. I must admit I'm not very trusting with getting people in to do stuff, and it's galling to pay someone for stuff you can do yourself be it car work, decorating, etc.. I normally only do it under extreme duress from SWMBO when I've put the job off for as long as I can!

Kevin

[Marks DTM Calib]

bolt the towbar on and torque up

Which is something a fitter wont do....it will be 2 grunts on a bar.

[TheBoy]

bolt the towbar on and torque up

Which is something a fitter wont do....it will be 2 grunts on a bar.

That tight?    

[johnny.dee]

It really isn't a difficult job. The mechanical side of it is to drill 7 (IIRC) holes in pretty much pre-marked locations on the floorpan (maybe slightly different on an estate), then bolt the towbar on and torque up. As long as you get the torque settings right, discard any obviously knackered bolts rather than re-using and check the torque after a few towing miles there are no significant safety implications of doing it yourself as far as I'm concerned.

As far as the electrical side is concerned the easiest solution is probably to get a wiring kit from towsure or similar and follow the destructions, which will probably be to connect the towing electrics to the rear light clusters.

The added bonus of doing it yourself is that you can pay proper attention to sealing the holes against rust and making a decent job of it, whereas the gibbon who will otherwise get the job won't .

Kevin

But dont forget to install the spacers, or you will crush the bodywork or worse still rip the lot of when your towing.

[Markie]

Guys I wont be doing this job. More than anything else i simply dont have time.

I have SWMBOS new car to service and replace door straps and flush coolant.
I have the Bobs old estate to coolant flush and replace door strap
I have SWMBOS discarded vectra to replace brake sensors, outside temp controller and coolant flush after its water pump...before selling.

Then maybe, just maybe, i have that pesky radiator on the v6 veccy to remove. Mr DTM where are you  

Then theres the decking....