Self fit tow bar with no bumper cut?

[LondonLass]

I'm interested in fitting a tow bar but reluctant to cut the bumper. There are some great threads on here that hint at self fitting but not much detail. Anyone vouch for a reasonably inexpensive option that won't require me to butcher the bumper?

 

[jaapv]

Mitsubishi supplies a rear bumper panel with a removable cutout which will hide a tow bar with a detachable hook.

 

[LondonLass]

Mitsubishi supplies a rear bumper panel with a removable cutout which will hide a tow bar with a detachable hook.

Is that a replacement bumper or something you fit to your existing one? Any idea on cost?

 

[jaapv]

Mitsubishi supplies a rear bumper panel with a removable cutout which will hide a tow bar with a detachable hook.

Is that a replacement bumper or something you fit to your existing one? Any idea on cost?

On the MY13 it cost about 300 Euro IIRC. It is a replacement panel. Anyway you will not have to cut too much out of your bumper. The car is rather high.

 

[LondonLass]

Mitsubishi supplies a rear bumper panel with a removable cutout which will hide a tow bar with a detachable hook.

Is that a replacement bumper or something you fit to your existing one? Any idea on cost?

On the MY13 it cost about 300 Euro IIRC. It is a replacement panel. Anyway you will not have to cut too much out of your bumper. The car is rather high.

That's too much for me! I see kits available for less than £100 on ebay, amazon etc, and I am hopeful that with some feedback from anyone who has gone down that route it might be an inexpensive option.

 

[paa451843]

I'm interested in fitting a tow bar but reluctant to cut the bumper. There are some great threads on here that hint at self fitting but not much detail. Anyone vouch for a reasonably inexpensive option that won't require me to butcher the bumper?

If you goes for a rigid tow bar there is no need for any cutting, most of them only needs two small notches on the lower flange of the bumper.
It`s a simple jobb to mount the tow bar but you have to remove the rear bumper (easy if you know how) and the bumber beam behind it.
But it`s a hell of a jobb to do the wireing, a lot of panels to remove and you certainly will break some clips and hooks:

http://www.rameder.eu/out/media/110447-10624-2-samples-v1.pdf

You can`t use a universial electrical kit for the plug, you will get some Canbus error

BR//Per-Anders

 

[LondonLass]

I'm interested in fitting a tow bar but reluctant to cut the bumper. There are some great threads on here that hint at self fitting but not much detail. Anyone vouch for a reasonably inexpensive option that won't require me to butcher the bumper?

If you goes for a rigid tow bar there is no need for any cutting, most of them only needs two small notches on the lower flange of the bumper.
It`s a simple jobb to mount the tow bar but you have to remove the rear bumper (easy if you know how) and the bumber beam behind it.
But it`s a hell of a jobb to do the wireing, a lot of panels to remove and you certainly will break some clips and hooks:

http://www.rameder.eu/out/media/110447-10624-2-samples-v1.pdf

You can`t use a universial electrical kit for the plug, you will get some Canbus error

BR//Per-Anders

Thanks a lot for that, will take a look when I get home later. I'm not convinced I need to fit a wiring loom, this is just to mount a tow bar clamp mounted cycle carrier.

A bit like http://www.decathlon.co.uk/xpress-970-towbar-cycle-carrier-2-bikes-id_8176983.html?pup=r&gclid=Cj0KEQjwvtS6BRC8pcKn8OXIg_wBEiQAqtpizyctrXSbnMFYSl0yiZ9-JxaxNAWX8gA9Xw-BG2APUS0aAtEU8P8HAQ

 

[jthspace]

I'm interested in fitting a tow bar but reluctant to cut the bumper. There are some great threads on here that hint at self fitting but not much detail. Anyone vouch for a reasonably inexpensive option that won't require me to butcher the bumper?

If you goes for a rigid tow bar there is no need for any cutting, most of them only needs two small notches on the lower flange of the bumper.
It`s a simple jobb to mount the tow bar but you have to remove the rear bumper (easy if you know how) and the bumber beam behind it.
But it`s a hell of a jobb to do the wireing, a lot of panels to remove and you certainly will break some clips and hooks:

http://www.rameder.eu/out/media/110447-10624-2-samples-v1.pdf

You can`t use a universial electrical kit for the plug, you will get some Canbus error

BR//Per-Anders

Thanks a lot for that, will take a look when I get home later. I'm not convinced I need to fit a wiring loom, this is just to mount a tow bar clamp mounted cycle carrier.

A bit like http://www.decathlon.co.uk/xpress-970-towbar-cycle-carrier-2-bikes-id_8176983.html?pup=r&gclid=Cj0KEQjwvtS6BRC8pcKn8OXIg_wBEiQAqtpizyctrXSbnMFYSl0yiZ9-JxaxNAWX8gA9Xw-BG2APUS0aAtEU8P8HAQ

If the bikes cover the numberplate, you will have to fit a trailer board with numberplate and rear lights (as numberplate has to be illuminated at night) so you will most probably have to have an electrical socket, or risk the chance of getting points/fines for not clearly displaying your registration.

 

[greendwarf]

There was a lot of discussion about tow bar fitting in 2014(?) so try searching the forum.

 

[LondonLass]

There was a lot of discussion about tow bar fitting in 2014(?) so try searching the forum.

Been there, done that! Now that some additional time had gone by I had been hoping for personal recommendation.

 

[AndyInOz]

Here's my personal recommendation:

Get a towbar fitted professionally by a company that specialises in that kind of thing.

The guys who fitted mine, took a full set of pictures detailing the process they followed, and it was complex.

Unfortunately, as much as I recommend their services to people here, they're a bit far from London.

 

[StevePHEV]

Watching this as I want to fit my own tow bar.

 

[LondonLass]

Here's my personal recommendation:

Get a towbar fitted professionally by a company that specialises in that kind of thing.

The guys who fitted mine, took a full set of pictures detailing the process they followed, and it was complex.

Unfortunately, as much as I recommend their services to people here, they're a bit far from London.

I get that. Throughout my life I have trusted professionals with jobs that I considered beyond my capabilities or who have equipment that I don't have access to. Sometimes I've bitten off more than I can chew and regretted it. Other times I've completed such tasks with the satisfaction of knowing that either I've learned in the process, or that investment in appropriate tools was worthwhile. Sometimes I surprise myself, in terms of accomplishing tasks that a professional would have taken hundreds of pounds off of me for.

 

[jaapv]

Well, it is several ages ago that I built my own towbar from scratch for my Morgan. That was a simpler age; I doubt whether it would have passed an MOT .

 

[MatsH]

If it's "self fit" or not I don't know, but I had the "original" Westfalia removable tow bar dealer installed. No bumper cut at all.