Towbars

[SpanishCol]

Hi Everybody. I'm new to the forum even though I've had my Ford Freda for about three years. (To my shame it's taken me that long to join Bongo Fury!)

Could anybody help me with this problem regarding tow bars for Bongos. I know that they are easily obtained however, in Spain the ITV (which is the equivlent of the UK's MoT) require tow bars to be labelled with the EC94/20 spec and they have to be fitted by approved garages only. Once a tow bar is fitted then the addition has to be added to the MoT document.

The Spanish system is a nightmare and every little thing fitted on a vehicle has to be listed.

So, does anybody know where I can get a tow bar with the EU approved label? Alternatively, does anybody know of a tow bar from a different model eg Mazda MPV that could be fitted and comes with the EU approval label?

[g8dhe]

I think you will find that, that type approval applies across the whole of Europe so any Towbar must meet the spec. For instance I just looked at the first site that came up from a google search and they had this page on the top level menu http://www.a1-tow.co.uk/id17.html

Oh and welcome to the forum!

[Doone]

Welcome, are you in Spain or in the UK? According to THIS LINK, EC94/20 applies to UK towbars too, so all towbars should be made to this standard. There are plenty available for the Bongo.

[SpanishCol]

Thanks for the info. I'll check out those links. Yes, I do live in Spain and it was a real nightmare trying to get my Freda Spanish registered. If anybody else has that problem, contact me and I'll provide useful information plus the people who can get Spanish registration.

[lpgimports]

Hi

We fit loads of towbars sometimes outsourced if busy sometimes done in house, and as far as I know there is not an approved towbar for a Bongo.

The EU directive that came into force 1/8/98 stated that only whole europe type approved towbars could be fitted to vehicles from that date, however it also states that the vehicle has to be whole europe type approved.

No Bongo is whole europe type approved so no towbar can be made and tested to the directive.

Fortunately imported vehicles are exempt from the regulations.

However I don't think this will help you, you will need to do some research and find the EEC directive and the mention of the excemption, I spend ten mins looking and got blinded in the EEC doc numbers and cross referencing!!

Paul

[Doone]

I found THIS LINK which explains Type Approval 94/20/EC.
The website is also available in a Spanish version HERE.
It list tow parts for the Bongo on THIS LINK. Use the 'drop down' list to search for 'Mazda' and 'Bongo'.
They say they ship to Europe, so they be worth contacting for more advice.

[Ian]

It list tow parts for the Bongo on THIS LINK. Use the 'drop down' list to search for 'Mazda' and 'Bongo'.

Unfortunately it's not a Bongo Friendee, but a 92 Bongo Van (forerunner). And this isn't type approved either.

[Doone]

I've just spoken to them, explained the different models, and they said that the MZ3556 towbar will fit a Bongo Friendee... But they confirmed it's not type approved, as in the UK, towbars don't need European type approval if the vehicle they are fitted to was manufactured in Japan.
'Type approval' testing costs a lot of money (he said 'thousands') and nobody here wants to pay for something that's not needed... which makes sense.
You're OK to visit Spain with a towbar fitted. But living there and getting one through their scheme is another matter.
They seemed to suggest that in Spain, the 'type approval' regs are taken further than really required.

you will need to do some research and find the EEC directive and the mention of the excemption, I spend ten mins looking and got blinded in the EEC doc numbers and cross referencing!!

If anyone out there is an expert on unravelling regulations, please step forward!