Anyone fitted a towbar? How hard?

[R1 Indy]

Im after a tow bar fitted to my alfa 159 (for towing my kit car).

I have tried a few of the local tow bar fitting companies, who both said the 159 is not on there system so can't do it.

After a quick look on ebay, and there are plenty of kits for this, so thinking of something like this, and fitting myself: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Witter-Towbar-AL8-Alfa-1...


So can anyone who has installed a kit like this, tell me how hard it is? Is there much drilling Etc?

I can't really see from the photo how it actually fits.

Or am i best trying to find someone who will fit one?

Cheers

[Simond S]

why not ask the company selling them to send you the instructions. They'll be happy to do it i'm sure.

I use PFJopnes and always get the paperwork sent over before i commit.

[kambites]

Hard to say without knowing what the bottom of a 159 looks like, but it looks to me as if there will be two chassis rails behind the rear bumper running towards the front of the car about two feet apart and that this bolts (or possibly welds) onto them.

[phil1979]

Many moons ago, I used to help fit Witter towbars. There was always much swearing, and quite a bit of drilling. You'll need to do some wiring, too!

Edit - looking at the pic, you're looking at 8 holes on the chassis for the towbar, and another hold in the floorpan of the boot to get the wiring in. It may also be a bumper off job... not something I would want to do on a 159, and I own one!

Edited by phil1979 on Monday 19th March 12:55

[EDLT]

The ones that are not on the system are usually the ones that require modifications to the bumper. It is not a hard job, it might even have a proper connector for the wiring if a towbar was optional from the factory.

You might need a hacksaw, though.

[Trevelyan]

I've fitted a Witter towbar to a Freelander 2 and it wasn't too bad. There was no metal drilling involved as it fitted on to the same mounting points as a Land Rover OEM tow bar would use. The wiring was all straightforward as well as the unit just plugged into the towing socket on the car's wiring loom. I'd say you'd have to have a bit of mechanical understanding to make sense of the installation instructions (which were basically crap!) but it's fairly straightforward.

[Ean218]

The ebay pic bears no relation to the kit for that car.

But here is a link to the instructions, judge for yourself whether you are able to do it.

http://www.toys4cars.co.uk/instructions/witter/AL8...

In my experience it isn't quite as easy as made out and yes knuckles are banged and swearing is involved.

[Fastdruid]

Er if its not on their system you really need to check if you can have one...

Type approval came in 1st August 1998 and cars now have to be type approved for towing and its illegal to fit one if its not approved.

See http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk/typeapproval.htm

There are some oddities in specific models so you do have to check. Eg the Mazda 6 is type approved, the Mazda 6 MPS isn't!

OK, so assuming it is legal then I found the fitting a piece of piss. Wiring OTOH was a PITA.

In the case of the Mondeo it was bumper off, couple of bolts in, tighten up (only mildly tricky bit as there was not a lot of space) before refitting the bumper and the tow bar itself.

Wiring was a case of removing all the plastic around the boot, threading wires and having to drill a hole through the car, even though I got the 'no-cut' kit (I hate scotchlocks with a passion, destined to fail on you) it was still a pain. Expect more pain if you don't get one of these types of kit.

[UnderTheRadar]

I've not done an Alfa but have done a Golf and have had an MPV done. In both cases it was an unbolt the rear bumper support and bolt the towbar on job. The 4x4 was a bolt-on job but then you would expect that. The electrics are easy if you use the crimp-on connectors, although a lot of professionals don't like them as they effectively cut into the loom. Soldering and heat-shrink sleeving seems to be preferred. I've heard of the types that require a zillion holes through the boot floor but they aren't sounding that strong

[R1 Indy]

excellant, that doesn't actually look too difficult to fit.(I'm sure in reality it will be a right fker).

And looks like there is only one set of drilling and mostly just bolts to captive nuts already there.

[phil1979]

R1 Indy said:

excellant, that doesn't actually look too difficult to fit.(I'm sure in reality it will be a right fker).

And looks like there is only one set of drilling and mostly just bolts to captive nuts already there.

Crikey! I guess I am just not as brave as you! I would have walked away a point 1, let along 2 & 3, from the instructions:

1. Remove bumper, 3 off tip screws in each wheel arch, 1 off tip screw on each outer bottom corner, 2 off torq screws along lower edge, 1 off torq screw under each light cluster. Light Cluster removal: Remove large plastic thumb screw holding trim over rear of light cluster (13mm socket fits over head of screw), remove 3 off small nuts on light cluster, slide rearward).

2. Remove exhaust back box, heat shield and foam packing in crash beam.

3. Cut bumper, heat shield and foam as shown.

You just know, being an Alfa, the fixings for the bumper will vapourise when you touch them!

[UnderTheRadar]

Good grief! That doesn't sound like a fun day in the park. Time for a pro but pick one carefully.

[C8PPO]

Within the past 12 months I've fitted towbars to a P38 and an L322 Rangie. The most difficult part (and it wasn't that bad) was getting the bumpers off. After that, it was just heavy Meccano, and plug & play wiring. It shouldn't frighten anyone who knows their way around a bag of spanners.

Both towbars were 3rd party, not OEM, and both bolted up to existing holes and mounting points with no drama. Didn't have to drill or mod anything - but that may be in part due to the nature of the vehicles (ie, aimed at towing). Took maybe a couple of hours each, tops.