Some say don't buy a car with a tow bar, but what about 4x4?
Discussion
kambites said:
Has anyone actually ever come across a car that's been significantly damaged by towing? Modern clutches and other drive-line components are so tough, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. In fact I'd pay a premium for a tow-bar; being able to tow is useful.
I have heard tales of monocoque cars being used to repeatedly tow to their limits in hilly terrain, having the shells stretched slightly to the point where the rear doors have a massive panel gap on the trailing edge and wont shut properly ChemicalChaos said:
kambites said:
Has anyone actually ever come across a car that's been significantly damaged by towing? Modern clutches and other drive-line components are so tough, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. In fact I'd pay a premium for a tow-bar; being able to tow is useful.
I have heard tales of monocoque cars being used to repeatedly tow to their limits in hilly terrain, having the shells stretched slightly to the point where the rear doors have a massive panel gap on the trailing edge and wont shut properly 
p1tse said:
Sometimes you can't find the history of te car such as what the tow bar was used for, if its for bikes then great
Some say don't buy with a tow bar, but being a 4x4 what are people's thoughts?
I would avoid if it belonged to a farmer or builder ,not a problem if it belonged to someone in the caravan club or other domestic user..Some say don't buy with a tow bar, but being a 4x4 what are people's thoughts?
cootuk said:
It's not a towbar, it's an analogue reversing sensor.
Just don't park with it jutting over a high kerb if you have self-levelling rear suspension....
I lost count of the number of bruises my old one used to give me, it was a torture device when loading something big/heavy into the boot. Very useful for reverse parking though Just don't park with it jutting over a high kerb if you have self-levelling rear suspension....
I have a Nissan Navara
No tow bar as I looked for one with out
When LV insured it they asked if it was modified I said no they asked if a Tow Bar was fitted as they claimed that was a modification FFS .....
I said it had none Nissan air in the tyres which caused a pause some keyboard tapping and the response was that was fine...
Did not mention the non standard screen wash either
No tow bar as I looked for one with out
When LV insured it they asked if it was modified I said no they asked if a Tow Bar was fitted as they claimed that was a modification FFS .....
I said it had none Nissan air in the tyres which caused a pause some keyboard tapping and the response was that was fine...
Did not mention the non standard screen wash either
graham22 said:
Surely it depends what has been towed: small garden or bike trailer ok. Any one with a small boat - no way, just go to any dinghy yard and see cars launching boats with the back hubs and boot floor in the salt water!
That's the issue - no one says they tow a digger around everyday - they all say it's for camping / bikesMost likely to find the 4x4 with a 3500 tow weight have been "worked" - Disco, Defender, Land Cruiser etc
Edited by V8RX7 on Monday 21st April 09:24
Our Defender; half shafts worn, hub broken, hub bolts snapped, clutch went, etc, etc. on a 36k mile Used Approved example from the crooked LR dealer in [snip]...
Mod note: I know you didn't name them but it's not hard to work out who you meant.
Mod note: I know you didn't name them but it's not hard to work out who you meant.
Edited by Bill on Monday 21st April 09:25
Had a Subaru Forester and fitted a towbar so we could tow a triple stacker dinghy trailer (small light dinghies - 'Toppers' + alloy spars, sails etc.) The Forester towed it well but ate no end of rear suspension components and wheel bearings as a result.
(Thinking about it...I had the trailer custom made with a slightly longer bar and this may have exerted more than the recommended 75kg vertical loading on the towbar itself.)
Personally wouldn't buy a car with a towbar fitted since it may have towed a house. Sellers always claim that the towbar 'was never used' or 'just used occasionally to tow a small trailer to the council tip'. May be the case but not worth the risk as a potential purchase IMHO.
One friend towed a single horse box with a short wheelbase Defender (bought new) which totally did for the vehicle, though they did used to tow huge distances to events etc. and they were mechanically unsympathetic types.
Some years ago another friend bought a used Mercedes 124 estate, similar to the one I had at the time, with a towbar fitted. The car was bought privately and I assisted in the purchase. My friend fell in love with the car even though the seller had towed a massive caravan around Europe (the offending caravan was parked right next to it at seller's house). A year later the Merc's gearbox needed no end of tweaking (pump pressures + regular ATF changes etc.) to make smooth changes as it was near done for. Since the Merc was a 'nice shiny car' my friend was deaf to messages of doom about the caravan towing.
(Thinking about it...I had the trailer custom made with a slightly longer bar and this may have exerted more than the recommended 75kg vertical loading on the towbar itself.)
Personally wouldn't buy a car with a towbar fitted since it may have towed a house. Sellers always claim that the towbar 'was never used' or 'just used occasionally to tow a small trailer to the council tip'. May be the case but not worth the risk as a potential purchase IMHO.
One friend towed a single horse box with a short wheelbase Defender (bought new) which totally did for the vehicle, though they did used to tow huge distances to events etc. and they were mechanically unsympathetic types.
Some years ago another friend bought a used Mercedes 124 estate, similar to the one I had at the time, with a towbar fitted. The car was bought privately and I assisted in the purchase. My friend fell in love with the car even though the seller had towed a massive caravan around Europe (the offending caravan was parked right next to it at seller's house). A year later the Merc's gearbox needed no end of tweaking (pump pressures + regular ATF changes etc.) to make smooth changes as it was near done for. Since the Merc was a 'nice shiny car' my friend was deaf to messages of doom about the caravan towing.
Edited by Depthhoar on Monday 21st April 09:26
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