Towbar fitting

[Kwai-lo]

I am thinking about getting a tow bar for the stag and just wondering what it involves and how easy it would be to fit if I was to pick up a second hand one?

[1959terry]

There is one on ebay at the moment

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tow-Bar-for-Triumph-Stag-/182222898804?hash=item2a6d54c674:g:jE0AAOSweXhXmisP

[len]

i have a towbar that i would sell. i have never used it , pretty sure its got electrics on it, PM me if interested
len

[Dave M]

Fitted one to mine a few years ago, fairly easy to do but I seem to remember removing the fuel tank as I needed to drill through the boot floor under the tank. Back bumper also needs to come off to allow fitment of the support bracket and then refitted obviously.
My tow bar is removed at the moment and I've welded the fixing nuts and cross braces to the boot floor so that I can fit it and remove it easily from underneath with one socket.
If you buy a second hand one make sure you get the cross brace peices with it.

[new to this]

Fitted one to mine a few years ago, fairly easy to do but I seem to remember removing the fuel tank as I needed to drill through the boot floor under the tank. Back bumper also needs to come off to allow fitment of the support bracket and then refitted obviously.
My tow bar is removed at the moment and I've welded the fixing nuts and cross braces to the boot floor so that I can fit it and remove it easily from underneath with one socket.
If you buy a second hand one make sure you get the cross brace peices with it.

that's a good idea,on mine some one had hit the back end, and where the support bar goes behind the bumper it has damaged the rear valance, when i put it all back ill put packing washer behind the support bar,also going to see if there's a way off making the towing ball removeable

dave

[mjheathcote]

also going to see if there's a way off making the towing ball removeable

Would like to fit my towbar, problem I have is that my double garage has a long and shorter side, and the Stag lives in the shorter side.
The garage door misses the rear over riders by quarter of an inch.
So a removeable ball would solve this problem....I guess it already is if I unbolt it though.
Spoke to a garage who specialises in towbar fitting...did not want to know on any modifications. Understandable I guess.

[new to this]

Would like to fit my towbar, problem I have is that my double garage has a long and shorter side, and the Stag lives in the shorter side.
The garage door misses the rear over riders by quarter of an inch.
So a removeable ball would solve this problem....I guess it already is if I unbolt it though.
Spoke to a garage who specialises in towbar fitting...did not want to know on any modifications. Understandable I guess.

Mike

there's a T4 VW Transporter that has a removable tow ball,that's what gave me the idea

Dave

[mjheathcote]

Google searching I think these guys could come up with a design.

http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/index.html

Basically no type approval required on vehicles before 1998, and they appear to do one off's.

[Stagsongas]

Google searching I think these guys could come up with a design.

http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/index.html

Basically no type approval required on vehicles before 1998, and they appear to do one off's.

Mike,

How about a square tube, a sliding fit into a larger square tube with a couple of cross drilled holes for bolts to secure?

Regards

Steve

[mjheathcote]

Mike,

How about a square tube, a sliding fit into a larger square tube with a couple of cross drilled holes for bolts to secure?

Regards

Steve

Yes something like that, but possibly looking down then a swan neck attachment with the ball.
I really could do with someone with a tow bar fitted to measure how far the ball sticks out from the back of the car.
If it sticks out further than an inch beyond the centre of the rear bumper I have a problem.
I do have an original tow bracket kit, but a bit of a pain to fit it to then discover I have no chance of closing the garage door!

Anyone care to measure for me please who has a tow bar fitted?

EDIT: looking at the attached pictures, I think it will be more than an inch! But if the under boot bar was shortened, and the Z plate changed for a flat plate, they would be room for a removable section.

[stag8manod]

Hi, I have made a number of towbars over the years including the one now on the Stag. The more recent ones I've made I've used 75x16 flat bar for the tongue with the ball bolted through it. The other end is drilled and bolted to the main towbar frame with two 16 mm high tensile bolts and is removable. Hope this helps.
Cheers Ian A

[mjheathcote]

At the end of the day one could just unbolt the flanged ball off the tow bar when not using it, and slip a polished stainless steel cover over the exposed plate to cover the holes, I guess.