Towbars different types ??

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Milky, Jan 27, 2020.

  1. Milky

    Milky Sponsor

    Hi, A workmate has just had a nice original VW towbar blasted and painted then when he offered it up it clearly does not fit his crossover ! Are there different types of towbars for early ,crossover and late Bays ? If yes does anyone have one to fit a crossover and does someone want to buy one that clearly doesn't.
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2020
  2. I think the non JK style towbars are one year only for the cross dresser, as with the bumper irons. I have a 72 and it's always best to check fit of any part before painting etc!
     
  3. Milky

    Milky Sponsor

    Okay thanks for the tips.
     
  4. Gingerbus

    Gingerbus Supporter

    As I found out it pays to be a little wary of old towbars without doing some research.
    A few years back when my bus was being restored they lost my towbar and forgot it had one.
    I pointed this out and back it went.
    They were very pleased to tell me they’d found and fitted an ‘original Westfalia’ one piece swan-neck bar which fitted underneath and kept the bumper at the original height and depth on my early 73 late Westy, and it looked very neat as a result, however when I went to use it I discovered the ball itself, which was not removable/interchangeable, was a slightly different diameter to modern ones and my bike rack just wouldn’t fit on it.
    Figured it must have come from an imported bus, of which they had a few kicking around.
    50mm is the correct European standard.
    I now have a Witter-type as it had before with the bumper fitted to it. It doesn’t look as good with the bumper lower but it works.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  5. The Yanks use a 2" ball.
     
  6. mine was a ebay rusty bargain, needed some fettling to get it to mount properly and it moves the bumper out slightly. IIRC i drilled a couple of new holes..
     
  7. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    They have to be bigger. :rolleyes:
     
    Bigherb and snotty like this.
  8. Whatever towbar you fit, make sure your rear chassis rails are up to it and not rotten.
     
    paradox, Iain McAvoy and Robbie p like this.
  9. My chassis rails were non existent on my 79 bus the tow bar only picked up on one hole thankfully to new rears have been fitted
     
  10. And never go back to a firework if it fails to go off.

    Also never go back to an ex.

    Both are likely to explode in your face.
     
    F_Pantos and Valveandy like this.
  11. Same here when I first bought my van. If I'd have tried to tow anything, it would've ripped the back of the van off :eek:
     

Share This Page