Omega Owners Forum - Which towbar to fit?

geoffr70

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Which towbar to fit?
07. May 2011 at 00:23

Hello peeps. I'm fitting a towbar to my elite. I wanted a detachable one and found them somewhere at a good price but I left it too late and now there's none left!

Can anyone recommend a good one to fit and perhaps give pros and cons of their own type?

I thought about a swan neck as I think this looks like the tidiest, with the electrics mounted on a hinged plate welded to the underside/towbar, so it can be folded out of sight.

What does anyoe think? Thanks peeps

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blackviper90210 Senior Member Offline Posts: 836 Bromsgrove, West Midlands Gender: Drives: 1999 Omega Elite Estate 3.0 LPG	Re: Which towbar to fit? Reply #1 - 07. May 2011 at 07:51 I've got Witter bars and twin electrics fitted to both my saloon and estate. Fitting it to the estate is a doddle, but on the saloon you have to remove the rear bumper, but that is just extra time and not difficult. Easily available and cheap enough to pick up 2nd hand. HTH
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Malcolm_D

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Re: Which towbar to fit?
Reply #2 - 07. May 2011 at 13:03

I have just fitted a Westfalia detatchable swan neck to my Elite saloon. Apparently they are discontinued but a company I used in Chesterfield got me one from Germany. Fitting was very easy, I did not have to remove the bumper and there is only a small amount of bumper cut out necessary which cannot be seen.
When detached there is nothing visible at all to indicate a tow bar is fitted. I have fitted a 13 pin socket to the plate supplied which is welded to the bracket but I have bent it upwards so that it is still accesible but unseeen.
The kit was quite expensive, a shade off £300 including delivery costs but it is great quality and I am happy with it. Thumbs Up!

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Lazydocker

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Re: Which towbar to fit?
Reply #3 - 07. May 2011 at 13:09

I'm having similar thoughts at the moment... I prefer the "flange" type of towbar for practicality and the fact that it gives a little protection at the rear (I've seen cars with them hit from behind that have written off the offending vehicle but only bent the tow bar and scratched the paintwork instead of doing quite severe damage) but they do look less attractive Undecided

Detachable is less practical because I plan to mount the LPG filler on it too but does disappear when removed Undecided

Think, for my requirements, it's going to have to be a slight compromise and go for the flange... It's just so much more practical for me

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geoffr70 Omega Knight Offline Join the 3 litre club! Then the 10.5 l club woo! Posts: 1881 Sunderland Gender: Drives: 2000 f/l 3.0 Elite Saloon auto, 2000 f/l 3.0 MV6 Saloon manual, Dennis RS133 (occasionally!)	Re: Which towbar to fit? Reply #4 - 07. May 2011 at 13:59 Thanks everyone all info appreciated! I thought about a flange type for the practicality and rear shunt protection, but my heart is set on a detachable one now despite the extra cost! What does anyine think of £196 for a Westfalia detachable, is that a good price? excluding electrics
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Lazydocker

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Re: Which towbar to fit?
Reply #5 - 07. May 2011 at 14:11

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 13:59:

Thanks everyone all info appreciated! I thought about a flange type for the practicality and rear shunt protection, but my heart is set on a detachable one now despite the extra cost! What does anyine think of £196 for a Westfalia detachable, is that a good price? excluding electrics

Sounds pretty reasonable for a detachable. You could of course go for a Witter Flange type, with twin electrics for quite a bit less though Roll Eyes

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geoffr70

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Re: Which towbar to fit?
Reply #6 - 07. May 2011 at 14:35

Lazydocker wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:11:

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 13:59:

Thanks everyone all info appreciated! I thought about a flange type for the practicality and rear shunt protection, but my heart is set on a detachable one now despite the extra cost! What does anyine think of £196 for a Westfalia detachable, is that a good price? excluding electrics

Sounds pretty reasonable for a detachable. You could of course go for a Witter Flange type, with twin electrics for quite a bit less though Roll Eyes

Yeah I know! I just don't think it would look that good though, especially when the tow ball is a different colour from the bar, then when you have the black n and the white s sockets it begins to look untidy. Besides I'm 28 and have a caravan which I get enough stick about, so having an on display tow bar will be worse! hahahaha! At least with a detachable I can hide it away!

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Lazydocker

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Re: Which towbar to fit?
Reply #7 - 07. May 2011 at 14:38

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:35:

Lazydocker wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:11:

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 13:59:

Thanks everyone all info appreciated! I thought about a flange type for the practicality and rear shunt protection, but my heart is set on a detachable one now despite the extra cost! What does anyine think of £196 for a Westfalia detachable, is that a good price? excluding electrics

Sounds pretty reasonable for a detachable. You could of course go for a Witter Flange type, with twin electrics for quite a bit less though Roll Eyes

Yeah I know! I just don't think it would look that good though, especially when the tow ball is a different colour from the bar, then when you have the black n and the white s sockets it begins to look untidy. Besides I'm 28 and have a caravan which I get enough stick about, so having an on display tow bar will be worse! hahahaha! At least with a detachable I can hide it away!

I'm only a few years older than you and get the same stick (especially from a short, fat, shouty, admin type bloke Lips Sealed

) but don't care. TBH, I need somewhere to mount the LPG filler without cutting a body panel so a flange type towbar is the ideal place Wink

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geoffr70

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Re: Which towbar to fit?
Reply #8 - 07. May 2011 at 14:43

Lazydocker wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:38:

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:35:

Lazydocker wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:11:

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 13:59:

Thanks everyone all info appreciated! I thought about a flange type for the practicality and rear shunt protection, but my heart is set on a detachable one now despite the extra cost! What does anyine think of £196 for a Westfalia detachable, is that a good price? excluding electrics

Sounds pretty reasonable for a detachable. You could of course go for a Witter Flange type, with twin electrics for quite a bit less though Roll Eyes

Yeah I know! I just don't think it would look that good though, especially when the tow ball is a different colour from the bar, then when you have the black n and the white s sockets it begins to look untidy. Besides I'm 28 and have a caravan which I get enough stick about, so having an on display tow bar will be worse! hahahaha! At least with a detachable I can hide it away!

I'm only a few years older than you and get the same stick (especially from a short, fat, shouty, admin type bloke Lips Sealed

) but don't care. TBH, I need somewhere to mount the LPG filler without cutting a body panel so a flange type towbar is the ideal place Wink

Yeah point taken. I've found a place near me that does westfalia detachable tbs for 196 so might go along and weigh up my options, the cheaper price of the flange one is tempting though! I might just go with that, I'm not usually the sort to worry about what anyon else thinks so might get the flange type to protect the car. There's alot of time, money and love invested in it after all! Thanks LD

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Lazydocker

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Re: Which towbar to fit?
Reply #9 - 07. May 2011 at 14:47

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:43:

Lazydocker wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:38:

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:35:

Lazydocker wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:11:

geoffr70 wrote on 07. May 2011 at 13:59:

Thanks everyone all info appreciated! I thought about a flange type for the practicality and rear shunt protection, but my heart is set on a detachable one now despite the extra cost! What does anyine think of £196 for a Westfalia detachable, is that a good price? excluding electrics

Sounds pretty reasonable for a detachable. You could of course go for a Witter Flange type, with twin electrics for quite a bit less though Roll Eyes

Yeah I know! I just don't think it would look that good though, especially when the tow ball is a different colour from the bar, then when you have the black n and the white s sockets it begins to look untidy. Besides I'm 28 and have a caravan which I get enough stick about, so having an on display tow bar will be worse! hahahaha! At least with a detachable I can hide it away!

I'm only a few years older than you and get the same stick (especially from a short, fat, shouty, admin type bloke Lips Sealed

) but don't care. TBH, I need somewhere to mount the LPG filler without cutting a body panel so a flange type towbar is the ideal place Wink

Yeah point taken. I've found a place near me that does westfalia detachable tbs for 196 so might go along and weigh up my options, the cheaper price of the flange one is tempting though! I might just go with that, I'm not usually the sort to worry about what anyon else thinks so might get the flange type to protect the car. There's alot of time, money and love invested in it after all! Thanks LD

No worries Wink

If it's the colours showing you can always just get black tow hitch cover and electrics covers too Wink

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rob in gib Senior Member Offline Posts: 529 Gibraltar Gender: Drives: 2.6 saloon (02) auto + (95) toyota 4runner	Re: Which towbar to fit? Reply #10 - 07. May 2011 at 14:52 how about a company called Towsure i have fitted a few of there tow bars in the past i will say never a swan neck or detachable though
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Lazydocker Omega King Offline Victim of Pinky's Power Trip! Posts: 11336 Woodbridge, Suffolk Gender: Drives: 2003 3.2 Elite Estate LPG Converted, inspected and Certified	Re: Which towbar to fit? Reply #11 - 07. May 2011 at 14:55 rob in gib wrote on 07. May 2011 at 14:52: how about a company called Towsure i have fitted a few of there tow bars in the past i will say never a swan neck or detachable though Towsure are OK, but there are better deals out there
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aaronjb Omega Baron Offline Posts: 3635 Bracknell, Berkshire Gender: Drives: '01 3.2 Elite (was '96 2.5TD CD), '02 MR2 Roadster (plus snail), '92 300ZX 3.0V6 TT	Re: Which towbar to fit? Reply #12 - 07. May 2011 at 16:02 I was pondering getting a bar myself so this thread is relevant to my interests, as they say.. A bit of searching around and I found these: http://www.discount-towing.co.uk/category/6633 Only thing is there's no mention of them being Type Approved, and seem suspiciously cheap - anyone heard of them/used them?
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Lazydocker

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Re: Which towbar to fit?
Reply #13 - 07. May 2011 at 16:36

aaronjb wrote on 07. May 2011 at 16:02:

I was pondering getting a bar myself so this thread is relevant to my interests, as they say..

A bit of searching around and I found these:
http://www.discount-towing.co.uk/category/6633

Only thing is there's no mention of them being Type Approved, and seem suspiciously cheap - anyone heard of them/used them?

I'd rather pay a little more and get an established make Wink

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