TDI Front tow bar
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andymach23
Active Member
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Watling Engineering do a full range. I got one for my TD5 for pushing my boat down the lane to my house and launching. It's brilliant.
Front towbars and front push tow bars by Watling Engineers - Boat launching, caravan mover, 4x4 winch mount
Watling were a pleasure to deal with and delivery was very quick.
I paid extra for an additional middle mount as my lane is so narrow. The standard one is offset to aid vision.
It's very easy to fit, and is detachable.
Western Towing also sell them. They might be Watling's kit. Might be worth a look hear as Western Towing do free delivery over £35 which might include the towbar.
Western towing were also very fast at delivery.
Cheers
Andy
Front towbars and front push tow bars by Watling Engineers - Boat launching, caravan mover, 4x4 winch mount
Watling were a pleasure to deal with and delivery was very quick.
I paid extra for an additional middle mount as my lane is so narrow. The standard one is offset to aid vision.
It's very easy to fit, and is detachable.
Western Towing also sell them. They might be Watling's kit. Might be worth a look hear as Western Towing do free delivery over £35 which might include the towbar.
Western towing were also very fast at delivery.
Cheers
Andy
hughesy
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Cheaper to learn to reverse innit??
iannotts
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Piccys we like piccys
thanx andy,
been and seen. looks the thing that i need. i did see a disco some years ago with a ball on a bracket attached to the l/h front chassis member. in your opinion do you think this was a home made bracket?
des
discomania
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Cheaper to learn to reverse innit??
In some situations its simply not possible to move a trailer the way you want from the rear tow bracket. Its all to do with the distance between the steering wheels, and the trailer wheels and what not.
discomania
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Most of the front end brackets are removable, so you can have a frame bolted to the chassis and you slide the tow ball on when required.
shocker
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My dads 1997 300tdi has a nice permanant front towbar fitted central extending through the bumper plastic.It came with the second hand vehicle so no provenance,but it does have a TOWSURE sticker on and it certainly looks like one of their basic but chunky offerings.However,the towsure catalogue doesnt list it,so....?
Shame ,I wanted one myself,I supose I'll have to wait until I get a winch bumper and fabricate an off centre one myself
Shame ,I wanted one myself,I supose I'll have to wait until I get a winch bumper and fabricate an off centre one myself
shocker
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All metal bumper,fabricated in various ways using tube or plate that has a mounting for a winch,often central,that completely replaces your stock unit.Or something similar.....
hughesy
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Hmmm. The only time I've seen em used is by people trying to launch boats that couldn't reverse a trailer.
andymach23
Active Member
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Nobody can see me push my 20 foot boat down my narrow lane, round my garage and into my garden in one go.
Before I got the front mount tow bar, this was very difficult, as with reversing, the front of the car has to swing out much more to get a turning effect at the hitch. Going straight is ok, but I have to turn left then right to get into my drive way. With normal reversing I had to unhitch the boat and manhandle it into position then reconnect the car, to avoid clipping the wing on the brick wall that borders my lane.
With the front mount, the trailer reacts to the slightest input to the steering.
I agree that the rear tow bar is adequate in normal situaltions. If space is restricted it's a dream. Highly recommended!
Do you tow anything? Do you have a narrow drive or an area that you have to manovere a trailer through a narrow or tight gap? do you have a C + E licence? if not, I perhaps your input is irelevent ,though somwhat entertaining!!!
All metal bumper,fabricated in various ways using tube or plate that has a mounting for a winch,often central,that completely replaces your stock unit.Or something similar.....
thanks i'll have a look at MM they are near worcester. I think they may be able to supply me with somthing.
cheers
des
hughesy
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Yer patronising tw&t. I've been towing trailers for over 25 years. I've towed boats up to about 20ft, caravans, various goods trailers and my current flatbed is a 16foot long 3.5 tonner which when last used had my 110 on it. I frequently have to manouvre through tight gaps and in fact have to reverse into a gateway only about a foot wider than my trailer every time I use it. I wouldn't dream of offering advice to anyone who obviously knows better than me so I won't say another word on the subjectDo you tow anything? Do you have a narrow drive or an area that you have to manovere a trailer through a narrow or tight gap? do you have a C + E licence? if not, I perhaps your input is irelevent ,though somwhat entertaining!!!
hughesy
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Yeah I can see it 'd be handy in a situation like that I've just only seen them on slipways helping to make the queue a bit longer
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tell ya summat else - Having a tow ball on the front of the Dibnah was usefull fur being towed - coz I made up a scaffolding pole witha towing hitch mounted at either end - so yu gota solid bar between the towing vehicle and that being towed. I is gonna do that on the front of my Disco too fur greenlaning.
Yer patronising tw&t. I've been towing trailers for over 25 years. I've towed boats up to about 20ft, caravans, various goods trailers and my current flatbed is a 16foot long 3.5 tonner which when last used had my 110 on it. I frequently have to manouvre through tight gaps and in fact have to reverse into a gateway only about a foot wider than my trailer every time I use it. I wouldn't dream of offering advice to anyone who obviously knows better than me so I won't say another word on the subject
sounds like you need a front tow bar!
hughesy
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Question. You pull up outside wherever it is you need to manouvre your trailer into. Unhitch the trailer and turn round, hitch it up to the front, then while you're pushing it into the driveway pc plod turns up. What does he say? Is it legal to have a trailer hitched onto the wrong end of your vehicle? Obviously once you're off the road who cares but assuming you're on the road does pc plod even know whether it's legal or not? You won't have your trailer lights plugged in so will he have you for that? I dunno, but then I ain't got a towball on the front
