Fitting a tow bar – serious question
Discussion
Yes I'm ready to be shot down in flames.....
Something of a dilemma, I'm not using the Chimaera as much as I used to because I have moved on in life. My wife and I used to go camping in the TVR but the desire for a little more comfort has lead us to buy this:
As a result we now holiday with a Ford Focus and we find that we miss having the Chimaera to tour the country roads.
We could take both cars but that seems excessive and I keep thinking how cool it would be to pull this cute van with a TVR.
So how can a bar be fitted...
The bar would have to hang off the diff carrier and I wonder whether it is possible to create enough rigidity from hanging off the bottom of the carrier. An alternative would be to bring two support members from the top of the diff carrier to the rear of the car. Fuel tank is in the way and this would create an obstruction in the boot.
It goes without saying that the bar would have to be removable
Any suggestions welcome though I do expect significant objection to this proposal
Something of a dilemma, I'm not using the Chimaera as much as I used to because I have moved on in life. My wife and I used to go camping in the TVR but the desire for a little more comfort has lead us to buy this:
As a result we now holiday with a Ford Focus and we find that we miss having the Chimaera to tour the country roads.
We could take both cars but that seems excessive and I keep thinking how cool it would be to pull this cute van with a TVR.
So how can a bar be fitted...
The bar would have to hang off the diff carrier and I wonder whether it is possible to create enough rigidity from hanging off the bottom of the carrier. An alternative would be to bring two support members from the top of the diff carrier to the rear of the car. Fuel tank is in the way and this would create an obstruction in the boot.
It goes without saying that the bar would have to be removable
Any suggestions welcome though I do expect significant objection to this proposal
Edited by bobfather on Saturday 23 May 10:48
I don't think it can be done. I'm pretty sure that current regulations demand that the tow bar kit be type approved for not only the model but variant.
For example, I was looking at the previous-generation RS4 Avant at one point and was told that I couldn't fit a tow bar because there wasn't one. I said that was ridiculous as the RS4 is basically an A4 / S4. But apparently, because it is a different model with a different body kit, it isn't type approved.
Anyway, that aside, the Chimaera was never designed for a tow bar. I'm not sure how you would design one and whether it would be strong enough for the job in hand.
For example, I was looking at the previous-generation RS4 Avant at one point and was told that I couldn't fit a tow bar because there wasn't one. I said that was ridiculous as the RS4 is basically an A4 / S4. But apparently, because it is a different model with a different body kit, it isn't type approved.
Anyway, that aside, the Chimaera was never designed for a tow bar. I'm not sure how you would design one and whether it would be strong enough for the job in hand.
I believe it depends on the year of the car. Do a google search and find the year that type approval came in. Off the top of my head I think it was '97. Nice 'van by the way and I can see where you're coming from but you can get some really nice tents these days for not a lot of cash (6 man tent you can almost stand up in £49.99 Netto!). On the other hand send the wife ahead in the Focus with the van and follow her in the Chim.
bobfather said:
I believe Steve Heath once fitted a towbar on a TVR Wedge and Google shows several references to TVR's both modern and classic having towbars
Good point!However, I think regulations have changed since then. Although maybe the fact that TVRs are SVA rather than fully Type Approved means you can get round the regulations? Could be.
People certainly do tow trailers behind TVRs so it's possible, but I don't know how legal it is. I thought that with production cars the type approval specified the maximum towed weight, and if unspecified the vehicle could not legally be used to tow.
Regardless of the legality I'd be concerned about the safety. I don't know how the maximum safe towing weight would be determined, but with a light, front engined rwd car I suspect the safe weight would be very low and perhaps not enough to tow a caravan.
Regardless of the legality I'd be concerned about the safety. I don't know how the maximum safe towing weight would be determined, but with a light, front engined rwd car I suspect the safe weight would be very low and perhaps not enough to tow a caravan.
This may be out of date, I haven't towed for years.
Maximum permitted towing weight was a percentage of the vehicles weight. The percentage depended on if the trailer was fitted with its own braking system.
The maximum, IIRC, for a trailer with brakes, was not exceeding 100% of tow vehicle weight.
I think it was called Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM).
Maximum permitted towing weight was a percentage of the vehicles weight. The percentage depended on if the trailer was fitted with its own braking system.
The maximum, IIRC, for a trailer with brakes, was not exceeding 100% of tow vehicle weight.
I think it was called Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM).
Looks like it's down to 'type approval', type approved cars registered after 1st Aug 1998 must declare a tow weight on the VIN plate, example Ford KA does not declare a tow weight and so it is illegal to tow using a KA. I can't find any proof that my '99 Chimaera was ever type approved for UK roads.
bobfather said:
I can't find any proof that my '99 Chimaera was ever type approved for UK roads.
No TVR has ever been fully Type Approved. That would involve crash testing and the like and is very expensive for a car manufacturer. They are all on the roads via the Low Volume / Small Series Type Approval Scheme ( link). The upside of this is that they don't have CO2 ratings either so even my 2005 Sagaris is classified as a PLG (Passenger / Light Goods) vehicle which means an annual road tax of £185.
Anyway, I really don't know where the law stands on towing for much vehicles.
Edit: I'm not sure if this is since been superseded by the SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) scheme that came into force in 2001, but the effect is the same - no TVR has ever been fully Type Approved.
Edited by JonRB on Saturday 23 May 17:17
Tow weight isn't a problem; the van only weighs 550kg so it can be towed with a VW Lupo which is significantly lighter than a Chimaera. The van nose weight may be an issue because this alters the front/rear weight balance of the car changing the way the brakes and steering respond, this happens with all towing cars. The nose weight is approximately 25kg but it varies significantly as the mass of the van shifts on the single van axel. I have adjustable damping and ride height so the car can be set to sit right.
Watling towbars list the vixen, tuscan(not the speed six) and tasmin. They have even built a custom one for a viper. I could see the point in a towbar mounted bike rack. I don't think towing would be impossible - adjustable shocks might be a good idea. Legality and insurance would be the major challenges.
IainG said:
Watling towbars list the vixen, tuscan(not the speed six) and tasmin. They have even built a custom one for a viper. I could see the point in a towbar mounted bike rack. I don't think towing would be impossible - adjustable shocks might be a good idea. Legality and insurance would be the major challenges.
Now that is interesting. Looks like Watling are able to produce what I need and they have experience of TVR chassis design. CheersWatling are just a few miles from me. I went there years ago to discuss designing a towbar for my Chim (to pull a motorbike trailer). As I recall, they estimated about £550, and were certain that it could be done. I can't remember if they sent me any designs, but will have a look and post up anything I find.
tobeee said:
Watling are just a few miles from me. I went there years ago to discuss designing a towbar for my Chim (to pull a motorbike trailer). As I recall, they estimated about £550, and were certain that it could be done. I can't remember if they sent me any designs, but will have a look and post up anything I find.
The mark of a true PHer, many thanks in advance tobeee said:
Watling are just a few miles from me. I went there years ago to discuss designing a towbar for my Chim (to pull a motorbike trailer). As I recall, they estimated about £550, and were certain that it could be done. I can't remember if they sent me any designs, but will have a look and post up anything I find.
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