towbars

[nicstrike]

thats ideal , just what i was looking for & my kind of prices too. briwy , is that one zinc plated/galvanised or have i just got sparkly-vision?

I also got this one i use it to tow a horse box total weight with horse 1400kg no problems at all, but i did mig weld the bumper bracket.

am i right in saying that this type is visible below the bottom of the bumper though?

[silvern]

have you used the bar in anger yet? seen some other posts refering to major issues with the anker bar. i still really dont want a bar that is visible below the bumper line , they end up looking like ground anchors!

I've used it a few times over the summer. I have a small trailer and a bike rack (2 bikes) which I use together. I'm not towing anything like a horse box or a caravan so I can only comment based on my own experience - no problems at all.


As far as I can see, there are two possible problems (not unique to the Anker bar):

1. Nearside bumper fixing point weakness (an issue with the Bongo, not the towbar itself)
see here: http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... oping+rear

2. The centre fixing for the Anker bar requires drilling through the floor section just to one side of the tailgate catch (hidden by the plastic trim). A spacer tube is inserted into the floor section and the towbar is then bolted through. If the centre mounting is missing, or if the spacer tube is missing, then the installation will be weak and prone to bending. The Bongo floor section is very thin wall steel and the spacer tube is essential.

I can't really comment on the problems that others have had with the Anker bar as I have not seen any photos of where it failed. But the two items above would be the first things I would look at. '1' is related to the Bongo, and '2' is related to correct installation.

As I said, these are just my own observations but I have had no problems with the Anker bar and I can see no major weaknesses with it. Having said that, for my own peace of mind I would like to see a photo of one that failed so I can compare it to my own.

[Northern Bongolow]

thanks for the heads up on the rear nearside mounting braket problems, im fitting one for someone this weekend so will run a weld on the bracket first.

[snips]

thats ideal , just what i was looking for & my kind of prices too. briwy , is that one zinc plated/galvanised or have i just got sparkly-vision?

I also got this one i use it to tow a horse box total weight with horse 1400kg no problems at all, but i did mig weld the bumper bracket.

am i right in saying that this type is visible below the bottom of the bumper though?

The towbar is level with the bottom of the bumper so not visible.

[nicstrike]

have you used the bar in anger yet? seen some other posts refering to major issues with the anker bar. i still really dont want a bar that is visible below the bumper line , they end up looking like ground anchors!

I've used it a few times over the summer. I have a small trailer and a bike rack (2 bikes) which I use together. I'm not towing anything like a horse box or a caravan so I can only comment based on my own experience - no problems at all.


As far as I can see, there are two possible problems (not unique to the Anker bar):

1. Nearside bumper fixing point weakness (an issue with the Bongo, not the towbar itself)
see here: http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... oping+rear

2. The centre fixing for the Anker bar requires drilling through the floor section just to one side of the tailgate catch (hidden by the plastic trim). A spacer tube is inserted into the floor section and the towbar is then bolted through. If the centre mounting is missing, or if the spacer tube is missing, then the installation will be weak and prone to bending. The Bongo floor section is very thin wall steel and the spacer tube is essential.

I can't really comment on the problems that others have had with the Anker bar as I have not seen any photos of where it failed. But the two items above would be the first things I would look at. '1' is related to the Bongo, and '2' is related to correct installation.

As I said, these are just my own observations but I have had no problems with the Anker bar and I can see no major weaknesses with it. Having said that, for my own peace of mind I would like to see a photo of one that failed so I can compare it to my own.

mmmm.... (1) droopy bracket not an issue , wave the mig at it. (2) installation would be as per instructions with any "beefing up" to either bongo , bar , or fixings as needed. as you say though , pics of a failed bar/installation would be interesting.

[mikexgough]

I have the Tow Trust bar that Briwy has..... superb bar, easy to fit and I have towed a 1350kg 6 berth caravan with it as well as camping trailers and 1100kg Van trailers superb bar and a local towbar fitter fits them too...

[nicstrike]

I have the Tow Trust bar that Briwy has..... superb bar, easy to fit and I have towed a 1350kg 6 berth caravan with it as well as camping trailers and 1100kg Van trailers superb bar and a local towbar fitter fits them too...

thats a lot of towing! as an aside , how hard does that hammer the fuel tank?

[mikexgough]

I have the Tow Trust bar that Briwy has..... superb bar, easy to fit and I have towed a 1350kg 6 berth caravan with it as well as camping trailers and 1100kg Van trailers superb bar and a local towbar fitter fits them too...

thats a lot of towing! as an aside , how hard does that hammer the fuel tank?

Not as much as you would think...with the big shed on I was down to around 26 mpg...on a run..

[nicstrike]

I have the Tow Trust bar that Briwy has..... superb bar, easy to fit and I have towed a 1350kg 6 berth caravan with it as well as camping trailers and 1100kg Van trailers superb bar and a local towbar fitter fits them too...

thats a lot of towing! as an aside , how hard does that hammer the fuel tank?

Not as much as you would think...with the big shed on I was down to around 26 mpg...on a run..

fantastic tip. i'll tow a 'van all the time and GAIN some economy! just kidding...but we only get 28 at the best of times!!

[mikexgough]

thats a lot of towing! as an aside , how hard does that hammer the fuel tank?

Not as much as you would think...with the big shed on I was down to around 26 mpg...on a run..[/quote]

fantastic tip. i'll tow a 'van all the time and GAIN some economy! just kidding...but we only get 28 at the best of times!![/quote]

I generally average 29.87 mpg that's all round mpg( based on aggregated 10 fills etc).... on long runs I get 32-34 mpg....town running 24-26 .... I don't clog it away from standing starts and generally on runs keep 2,250/2500 on the revs so around 60ish mph....I find that getting into "lock up" top gear is the key to good economy.... as well as regular servicing etc...

[nicstrike]

we are in quite a rural area and a lot of local runs we barely manage to get into "top" , largely due to a disproprtionate amount of old giffers who are unable to drive anywhere near the asphixyating speed of 40mph , hence the poor economy figures!!