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Checking the tow bar

in We've got it down to a T Tue Aug 09, 2016 11:54 am
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

I know it sounds sensible now, but did you know that tow bar specialists recommend that you get your tow bar checked out annually.

I noticed before our trip to Corby, that there was a slight up and down movement on our tow bar when I was struggling to pull off the very tight tow ball cover. Unfortunately it is impossible to see what's going on under the car where the bar is fixed as the back end of our car had a fixed cover hiding all the gubbins.

I thought it was part of the MOT now but according to our VW Main Dealer, apparently it's not (or at least, they don't check it).

Randa

1999 Eriba Troll 530 pushing a VW Touran 2L TDi Match

Last edited Thu Jul 13, 2017 4:44 pm | Scroll up

RE: Checking the tow bar

in We've got it down to a T Tue Aug 09, 2016 12:20 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #1
I thought it was part of the MOT now but according to our VW Main Dealer, apparently it's not (or at least, they don't check it).

You're right, and they're wrong on both counts.

Section 2.2 here.

I'd be having a word if I were you. I appreciate that MOT charges are broadly the same across the board, but I wouldn't be too chuffed to be paying the same franchised dealer over a hundred quid an hour for everything else if they either don't know what the MOT rules are or can't be arsed to find out.

It's a bit of a poor do, I reckon.

Can't you find yourself a good independent place to get your car worked on? It'd save you a small fortune

yy-R56kh

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Last edited Tue Aug 09, 2016 12:29 pm | Scroll up

RE: Checking the tow bar

in We've got it down to a T Tue Aug 09, 2016 1:10 pm
by Agger (deleted)

When I refitted ours to the Shogun (it was initially fitted by a Bosch dealer in Germany, who thoughg it sensible to leave the "audible warning box" hanging loosely over the back wheel !!!) I wrapped the tow bar in 2" electrical tape, as these things really do corrode, it was an easy enough job to remove the tape and renew when you wanted to "inspect" the tow bar. I know a lot of tow bars are now removeable or "swing" out of the way, BUT the older towbars start to look really shabby after a short time. Just a thought for anyone having a new "older" type tow bar fitted😎

Likes to wax and have a smooth finish! 😎

I am above no one and no one is below me

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RE: Checking the tow bar

in We've got it down to a T Tue Aug 09, 2016 1:50 pm
by Deeps (deleted)

The section 2.2 link given above will open up the MOT Inspection Manual. If you then click on the link next to Document and then skip to Section 6.6 this should make for interesting reading of which I've taken a screen shot and attached here. The rules for this are pretty much the same over here which in a nutshell is stating that if the towball is fitted it will be tested and if not, then it won't. Pretty much stands to reason eh?

I ran into this during the testing of my previous VW Touran which, having a detachable towball the fitting of which prior to the test never crossed my mind, merely warranted a note on the certificate along the lines of 'towball not fitted'.

MOT.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

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RE: Checking the tow bar

in We've got it down to a T Tue Aug 09, 2016 1:53 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Agger wrote in post #3
I wrapped the tow bar in 2" electrical tape, as these things really do corrode, it was an easy enough job to remove the tape and renew when you wanted to "inspect" the tow bar.

There is an alternative, Gray, and that's using Plastidip liquid tape.

I got it primarily to properly waterproof the exposed electrics on our car's hitch - the rear of the 13 pin socket and the wiring into it - but while I was under there I used it on the socket swivel plate and all the hitch receiver fixings vulnerable to water and crap chucked up off the road.

It's ace stuff, and I wish I'd come across it sooner. Apart from proofing the electrics it's kept rust at bay, including the bit of cosmetic surface rust on the hitch stem itself. It's infinitely easier than wrapping miles of insulating tape round things, and it doesn't come unstuck. Just apply it to dry components and it covers everything with a flexible rubber film which you can peel off if it's gone in the wrong place.

Truly whizzo.

I'm sure regular Plastidip would be equally effective - it just so happens that I bought the liquid tape variety first.

.

yy-R56kh

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Last edited Tue Aug 09, 2016 2:19 pm | Scroll up

RE: Checking the tow bar

in We've got it down to a T Tue Aug 16, 2016 10:24 pm
by Randa france •

| 13.283 Posts

Took the car into the tow bar centre we've used for the past 20 years for them to check it out. They had to take the rear bumper and rear lights off to see what was going on.

Zounds, there were two bolts missing and some of the others were loose. It was almost a re-fit. It may have been loosening over the 6 years since we had it fitted but I believe most of the damage was done during this year's trip over some really bad roads in Norway. The rear tyre shudder we experienced through Sweden and Denmark may have helped as well.

Anyway, a lesson has been learned. Check the tow bar ANNUALLY.

Randa