156 Sportwagon Tow bar

[chrisga]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any experience of fitting a tow bar to a sportwagon? Its for towing a dinghy and/or bike racks, so dont worry, no heavy loads or caravans here!!

We are after a removable one for when not towing and have been quoted silly money (£420 from motabars in Leamington Spa) to get one fitted. Not sure why it costs a lot more than a fixed one (£270) so went down the route of looking at the kits to fit myself. Does anyone know if its an easy thing to do, or even sensible to attempt it?

If not does anyone know of any companies that will come out and fit either a) a pre-bought kit or b) supply and fit a removable one for a sensible price?

Any advice welcome....

[MarkwG]

We have a fixed rather than removable, which I got from eBay, then got a mobile sparky to fit - price was nowhere near that! There's not that much difference between fixed & removable as far as I can see: relatively simple to bolt in & wire up, either way, it's just the tow ball fitting that's different? There's a few out there, I'd have a surf around.

[chrisga]

Yep, thanks Mark, I have found a removable tow bar kit from westfalia for £167, and one from Bosal for £200. Not sure what the difference is and if either is easier to fit. I might ring some places today and see how much they would charge to fit the kit.

[MarkwG]

Hi Chris, that's more like it, then: sounds about what I paid all in. I have a Westfalia removable on my other car, it's a wee bit of a faff, but solid as a rock: takes the 3 bike rack, or a small trailer in its stride. On the 156, the removables a much "prettier" fit, the ball on ours almost obscures the plate & I bash my shins on it, regularly! I stick the removable bit in the spare wheel well, not sure if there's room on a 156 though?