Bloody red tape (tow bar)

Ok, so I wan't to take off my current tow bar (the plough) and fit a removable one.

Ideally i'd design & fabricate my own but failing that the one from Scorpion or Southdown would do (scorpion one dosn't look that strong & southdown one looks too damn heavy & expensive).

The problem is that the inventors of rules & red tape state that a tow bar fitted to a vehicle registered after 1st August 1998 must be type approved (E marked), my disco was reg'd on the 11th.

Rang Scorpion today and their's isn't approved, can't access Southdowns site to get their number, but i'll but thats not bloody approved either .

So supposedly i'm not allowed .

Anyone got any advice or experiance to share.


Jon.

most of the certs i've seen are just photocopies.. nudge! nudge!
say nomore! say nomore!

if your towbar being checked for an E mark is the worst of your worries then i'd be a happy man!

Just wan't to stay legal in case the worst happens, like the trailer comes off, ok it's not going to happen but you just know the fuss insurance will make if the tow bars not approved.

Was thinking of designing one similar to the southdown one but without the tank guard.

When I havn't got a trailer attached i'd have a recovery point mounted and the towing plate would live in the boot, so i'd be legal most of the time just not when i'm towing...

If you think the red tape is wide in England, come live in Switzerland. Equivalent MOT failure......
1.Yellow Springs (Must be black).
2. Car has dirt underneath (after hot pressure washing)
3. Plastic front of bonnet protector (Illegal) oh yes 1 have for sale.

aye but the swiss dint like anything wiff an engine unless it has rack and pinion drive.. they even banned motorsport ffs