156 2.4jtd sportwagon tow bar
Discussion
Hi everyone. Here's a strange one that I didnt think i'd hear. We had arranged for a tow bar to be fitted to our alfa today. We'd arranged a mobile fitter to come from a seemingly reputable company (good reports on the net and someone else at work used them before) and they had begun to fit the tow bar. Anyway they have not been able to fit it because of the...... subwoofer in the boot. Thats the last thing that I thought would be a problem when fitting the tow bar! It is apparently a westfalia tow bar kit. Has anyone else had this problem? Apparently, because of the bracket that holds the sub in its clashing with the tow bar kit. Is this a common problem on the sportwagon? Does anyone else have a tow bar fitted with a sub? How does it work?
Ours came pre-fitted and we have a sub (thought they all did as standard), seems fine (never used it and last MOT just missed - by a day - the new regs where they're tested).
I can't see the name from here, and it's peeing down, but I'll look tomorrow and confirm manufacturer if it's any use to you.
I can't see the name from here, and it's peeing down, but I'll look tomorrow and confirm manufacturer if it's any use to you.
Just checked and it's a Witter tow bar.
http://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/ - apparently.
Can't imagine how it would interfere with the sub bracket, may have to have a squizz underneath this weekend.
Yeah, apparently the bracket is tested - SP&L forum has a thread in it somewhere....
http://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/ - apparently.
Can't imagine how it would interfere with the sub bracket, may have to have a squizz underneath this weekend.
Yeah, apparently the bracket is tested - SP&L forum has a thread in it somewhere....
No thats fine, no rush as I spoke to the towbar fitters (towequipe) and they said they havent spoken to the manufacturers (westfalia) technical dept yet. Bit of luck I rang to pester them really as I bet they wouldnt have bothered really. They said they will call me back on Monday. Hope they do as we've been waiting an age to get the tow bar fitted (for mtb rack not a caravn I hasten to add).
Just another thing, would the towbar fitter have had any reason to go near the handbrake at all? The car hadnt moved since Wednesday and when we went to move it the handbrake was all the way up and wont hold the car. May just be incredibly bad luck as it seems to have been a bad week for the alfa..... Anyone know how much for a new handbrake cable to be fitted just in case?
Just another thing, would the towbar fitter have had any reason to go near the handbrake at all? The car hadnt moved since Wednesday and when we went to move it the handbrake was all the way up and wont hold the car. May just be incredibly bad luck as it seems to have been a bad week for the alfa..... Anyone know how much for a new handbrake cable to be fitted just in case?
Okay, I've had a good look under the car. The towbar is a big bar across the rear of the car behind the bumper with the tow part attached. That seems to be it!
It doesn't go anywhere near the sub frame (i.e. subwoofer) and I am not sure how that can be on your car as our sub is over the rear left wheel. Unless yours is a totally different set up?
Ditto for handbrake, nowhere near - ours was replaced not so long ago (end of 2007) and cost about £60 for parts and labour at an Independent.
It doesn't go anywhere near the sub frame (i.e. subwoofer) and I am not sure how that can be on your car as our sub is over the rear left wheel. Unless yours is a totally different set up?
Ditto for handbrake, nowhere near - ours was replaced not so long ago (end of 2007) and cost about £60 for parts and labour at an Independent.
Hmm weird. Thanks so much for looking. Our sub is mounted behind the left back wheel i think is yours definitely over it? From memory, the problem was that the bar that goes across the back of the car might have had to be mounted to the underside of the chassis and the bolts through that were going to clash with the subwoofer mounting point. Might be wrong on that. I'll have more info on Monday hopefully.
Edited by chrisga on Saturday 13th June 12:18
Ok, so the towbar people "Towequipe" rang me back and said they have spoken to their technical dept and they are now saying that no towbar is compatible with our car because of the amplifier/sub in the boot. As i said before this is a factory fitted bose stereo. Do all spec levels of sportwagon have this stereo, are there different stereos? Ours is a 2002 pre-facelift model. Im sure i have seen others with tow bars.
Anyone else got one too? Bint said theirs is a witter, so does anyone else have any other makes that I can try and find someone to fit please?
Anyone else got one too? Bint said theirs is a witter, so does anyone else have any other makes that I can try and find someone to fit please?
The Bose setup was not standard on ALL Sportwagons, but was a common fitment. If it is a factory installation it should be on the left hand side of the boot, in effect "squaring" off the back of the wheelarch area.
This car doesn't have it as both sides of the boot follow the contours of the wheel arch:
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/1043329.htm
I can't see how it could interfere with the tow bracket. Do they drill through the boot floor?!
This car doesn't have it as both sides of the boot follow the contours of the wheel arch:
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/1043329.htm
I can't see how it could interfere with the tow bracket. Do they drill through the boot floor?!
Ah got you, yes thanks for the help ricks alfas. Our trim goes straight across form the back wheel arch.
Yep i believe the tow bar has a spreader plate that goes inside the boot behind the left wheel arch that goes across the floor and down the side of the spare wheel well. The tow bar then bolts to the outside of the spare wheel well and through this plate. So i think its this that clashes with the stereo.
All very weird and i cant quite get my head round the fact that the stereo is in the way of the tow bar on an estate car. Very odd.
Does anyone know of any email addresses for technical queries at alfa uk?
Rick, do you or does anyone have a pic of the sub mountings without the trim on?
p.s. also posted this at alfaowner.com so pls ignore if you already replied here, but if you have a sub and a towbar pls let me know who fitted it and what make of towbar it is. Thanks.
Yep i believe the tow bar has a spreader plate that goes inside the boot behind the left wheel arch that goes across the floor and down the side of the spare wheel well. The tow bar then bolts to the outside of the spare wheel well and through this plate. So i think its this that clashes with the stereo.
All very weird and i cant quite get my head round the fact that the stereo is in the way of the tow bar on an estate car. Very odd.
Does anyone know of any email addresses for technical queries at alfa uk?
Rick, do you or does anyone have a pic of the sub mountings without the trim on?
p.s. also posted this at alfaowner.com so pls ignore if you already replied here, but if you have a sub and a towbar pls let me know who fitted it and what make of towbar it is. Thanks.
Edited by chrisga on Monday 15th June 13:10
Ah thats an interesting pic Rick. Thanks. Any idea what that mounts on to?
It does look totally different to the aftermarket ones i've found like these - looks like it all mounts underneath, whereas all the others ive seen have parts inside the boot:
http://www.catalogue.bosal.com/pdf/pdf_mi/026573.p...
Yep I can have a look at the sub in the back but unfortunately the other half has the car today and I was trying to get it sorted and figure out hwy its proving so difficult, but I guess it can wait until later.
It does look totally different to the aftermarket ones i've found like these - looks like it all mounts underneath, whereas all the others ive seen have parts inside the boot:
http://www.catalogue.bosal.com/pdf/pdf_mi/026573.p...
Yep I can have a look at the sub in the back but unfortunately the other half has the car today and I was trying to get it sorted and figure out hwy its proving so difficult, but I guess it can wait until later.
Edited by chrisga on Monday 15th June 14:09
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