Towing help

[John B]

Hi again chaps, I want to use a tow pole to tow a car to the scrap yard but have noticed that I don't have and tow eyes on the back of the Terrano. All I have is the tow bar but don't want to use that as the bar will be at an angle and could cause problems when braking and going down hills as the weight of the car being towed could maybe push the back end of the truck to the side ???. When I took a look under the truck I can see that the tow bar runs across the back of the truck and was wondering if anyone has welded or fabricated a tow eye off that bar as it looks nice and strong. Thanks again. John

 

[solarman216]

Does not matter as the angle will change all the time anyway, and no the towed motor will not push the towing motor off line at sensible speeds and road conditions, Rick

 

[Sweety]

You could always take off the towbar & attach the towing bar to one of the rear tow eyes/recovery points which the tow bar is bolted to:augie

 

[Ianinessex]

Hi again chaps, I want to use a tow pole to tow a car to the scrap yard but have noticed that I don't have and tow eyes on the back of the Terrano. All I have is the tow bar but don't want to use that as the bar will be at an angle and could cause problems when braking and going down hills as the weight of the car being towed could maybe push the back end of the truck to the side ???. When I took a look under the truck I can see that the tow bar runs across the back of the truck and was wondering if anyone has welded or fabricated a tow eye off that bar as it looks nice and strong. Thanks again. John

If you get a Dixon-Bate tow hitch and replace the normal ball, you can attach the tow bar to that. :thumbs
As long as you are not trying to tow something much heavier than your Terrano, you will not have any problem with the rear of your car being pushed sideways, but do remember you will need to leave lots of time to stop as your brakes are now doing twice the work :augie

 

[elty001]

I borrowed a straight bar that had a hitch on it and a damper on it when I towed the daughters ford kak to the scrappers.
Hitched straight onto the tow ball on the truck.

 

[rustic]

My tow bar has two positions, so unused lower holes, to one I fitted an eye bolt, well in fact a tested lifting eye.

So for small trailers also acts as a security point or for breakaway cable.
If you don't have spare holes, remove tow ball and fit an eye...M16 thread say.

The eye will take most towing " bars" with a hook on each end. I keep one under rear seat of my mav... still unused...:augie

Rustic

 

[AlexD333]

My tow bar has two positions, so unused lower holes, to one I fitted an eye bolt, well in fact a tested lifting eye.

So for small trailers also acts as a security point or for breakaway cable.
If you don't have spare holes, remove tow ball and fit an eye...M16 thread say.

The eye will take most towing " bars" with a hook on each end. I keep one under rear seat of my mav... still unused...:augie

Rustic

Is the tow bar 20 years old too :augie :naughty

You are prepared thought I'll give you that

 

[kitchenman]

I have been recovered a few time in my Partner, the AA use a bar attached to their tow hook.
I have a bar and towed a mondao recently no problem, much easier than a rope
Person in towed car said he was scared to death as he was so close to me and could not see the road ahead, he did not need to:doh

 

[rustic]

Is the tow bar 20 years old too :augie :naughty

Actually it's not...:augie
We negotiated with the Ford Dealer at time of purchase, for them to supply a tow bar free of charge...
It was a Brink, badged Ford, BUT it was the 4 bolt fixing ball. Seemed a good idea at the time.

A couple of years later we bought a new twin axle boat boat trailer, and the Brink hitch was around two inches too low... Dropper plates, used the other way, to raise a tow ball are illegal, I even thought about the LR type with adjustable height, but the towing capacity of these was reduced.

There was no other option for us...:doh
Anyhow, a tour of a few car parks with tape measure in hand, and I noticed that those Terranos fitted with a Witter tow bar sat with the hitch higher than the Brink.
So I then fitted a Witter, which to be fair, took all of 10 minutes...
I also put an upward force on the tow bar, whilst tightening the bolts, so the slack in the bolts put the bar as high as possible. Sorted..

In fact I still have the Brink, WOW! the Brink is much tougher and of thicker section than the Witter, and around 50% heavier.

Also if you have a bike rack, then they fit with the twin bolt hitches but not with the four bolt type.


Rustic

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

best place to spread load is using regular tow bar, its what the recovery firms would
use, even if bar at angle.
Would also make sure vehicle being towed is road legal, and if not would be better
on a trailer of flat bed truck.

if towed vehicle is over 750kg will need brakes ie its driver will need need to be
able to operate its brakes and lights. it will need to show reg of tug and have
on tow sign.

on a bar towed driver is best to leave braking to tug, but of course may need to
brake in event of emergency,