Advice on 'Towing Bars' Needed!!

Owen850 · Aug 27th, 2007, 22:42

Hello everyone I need to pick your brains and tap into your experience!

I do a lot of towing and recovery of vehicles up to a max of around 2tonne

Many of these being poorly volvo's!!

Does anyone have any tips on buying a secure metal bar for towing?
If so pro's and con's.....

Best make to purchase etc.....

It is a stop gap for the time being..... I sold my car trailer before christmas last year due to family and space constraints....

Any pointers would be greatly recieved.....

Would you suggest anything else for the job......

Apart from a low loader

stegreg · Oct 31st, 2007, 14:52

there are some quite substantial "rigid bars" available, even through someone like "machine mart". they are a self assembly 2 or 3 section unit, complete with a "damper spring" to take brake/drive off loading. These are reliant on having a driver in towed vehicle, otherwise you will need to go for a "A" bar type, which clips onto the towing vehicle via the 50mm ball, then attatches to the disabled motor via the other end of the "triangle" via 2 ratchet straps.
These are a bit scarcer on the ground and only usually available through a good "commercial trailer stockist".

its a case of how bigs your pocket as an a bar can cost almost as much as a trailer, whereas a straight bar wont go much over the 40.00 mark, even for a decent one.

cumbrianmale · Nov 3rd, 2007, 22:51

Basic but cheap

JIM C · Nov 3rd, 2007, 22:53

I have bought one of these LIDL bars and it looks well enough made for all the use I will give. Great for the cash.

cumbrianmale · Nov 3rd, 2007, 23:09

German company so therestuff is usually TUV tested so pretty good, not cheap china rubbish.

Rooster · Nov 25th, 2007, 01:58

I've got one of those 3 bits clip together ones alot its box steel and not like the machine mart ones and i've modified one end and put a 50mm tow hitch on it,

I've towed all sorts with it and i've even used it at work rather than using a rope as its alot safer as you are closer and fixed to each other,

don't know how much its designed to pull, but i've towed a xc90 and a big reno box van with it and it coped okay,

Aug 27th, 2007, 22:42	#1
Owen850 Volvo 850 Last Online: Jan 18th, 2009 21:45 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pontypool	Advice on 'Towing Bars' Needed!! Hello everyone I need to pick your brains and tap into your experience! I do a lot of towing and recovery of vehicles up to a max of around 2tonne Many of these being poorly volvo's!! Does anyone have any tips on buying a secure metal bar for towing? If so pro's and con's..... Best make to purchase etc..... It is a stop gap for the time being..... I sold my car trailer before christmas last year due to family and space constraints.... Any pointers would be greatly recieved..... Would you suggest anything else for the job...... Apart from a low loader

Nov 3rd, 2007, 22:51	#3
cumbrianmale Forum Support Team Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2024 12:22 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep in Makem territory	Basic but cheap __________________ Current 04 S80 D5 SE Auto 03 S80 D5 SE Man Previous Volvos 90 240 GL B230FB Auto 96 940 CD 13 V40 D2 R-design 89 745 GLE 98 V90 3.0 24v 98 945 Celebration Auto 96 965 SE Auto 86 744 GL 81 244 DL

Nov 3rd, 2007, 22:53	#4
JIM C Forum Support Team Last Online: Jul 4th, 2021 16:28 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Scotland View Photos By: JIM C	I have bought one of these LIDL bars and it looks well enough made for all the use I will give. Great for the cash. __________________

Nov 3rd, 2007, 23:09	#5
cumbrianmale Forum Support Team Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2024 12:22 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep in Makem territory	German company so therestuff is usually TUV tested so pretty good, not cheap china rubbish. __________________ Current 04 S80 D5 SE Auto 03 S80 D5 SE Man Previous Volvos 90 240 GL B230FB Auto 96 940 CD 13 V40 D2 R-design 89 745 GLE 98 V90 3.0 24v 98 945 Celebration Auto 96 965 SE Auto 86 744 GL 81 244 DL

Nov 25th, 2007, 01:58	#6
Rooster Speed freak Last Online: Apr 3rd, 2020 22:04 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Yorkshire	I've got one of those 3 bits clip together ones alot its box steel and not like the machine mart ones and i've modified one end and put a 50mm tow hitch on it, I've towed all sorts with it and i've even used it at work rather than using a rope as its alot safer as you are closer and fixed to each other, don't know how much its designed to pull, but i've towed a xc90 and a big reno box van with it and it coped okay, __________________ 04 XC90 D5 --- Big bus 00 pug 306HDi --- Run about 88 pug 309GTi --- Project track car 07 CB600 Hornet --- 2 wheel fun

Oct 31st, 2007, 14:52	#2
stegreg VOC Member Last Online: Nov 11th, 2023 15:09 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wolverhampton	there are some quite substantial "rigid bars" available, even through someone like "machine mart". they are a self assembly 2 or 3 section unit, complete with a "damper spring" to take brake/drive off loading. These are reliant on having a driver in towed vehicle, otherwise you will need to go for a "A" bar type, which clips onto the towing vehicle via the 50mm ball, then attatches to the disabled motor via the other end of the "triangle" via 2 ratchet straps. These are a bit scarcer on the ground and only usually available through a good "commercial trailer stockist". its a case of how bigs your pocket as an a bar can cost almost as much as a trailer, whereas a straight bar wont go much over the 40.00 mark, even for a decent one.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)