Hi all, I've had Watling Engineering tow bar (PV15 I think) sitting in my shed waiting to be installed on my 1979 US Westy for months now. I've got my refurbished engine back and installed, so on Sunday I went to fit the thing. I took the bumper off and offered up the (heavy) tow bar. I could get the left hand bolt in but the upright metal flange in the middle of the bar pressed against the body work and I couldn't get the right hand bolt in. It was about 10mm away from lining up with the hole in the chassis. I phoned Watling and the guy confirmed that the plate should press against the body work in the centre under the engine lid on the outside of the bus. I was doing it right but I couldn't fit the thing. Has anybody fitted one of these to their bus? Any ideas what I could do to get this fitted? Could my body work be deformed in anyway? Hope not! Thanks Stuart
Hi mate, I had exactly this problem. I was proper scratching my head as I was convinced I was doing something wrong, but try as I may, the central plate fouled the back of the van. So, in the end I cut the plate off with a grinder. Then I bolted up the towbar into the six captive nuts in the chassis. Then I offered the plate up to the body, and bolted it on. Then tack welded the plate to the bar. Next up, took the bar off and fully welded the plate on. Seems to have done the trick although I am not convinced that the plate is really needed. Seems plenty strong enough without to me...... I put it down to the fact that the bus has probably had some work done to it and is now no longer square. Hope this helps dude Nick
Hi Nick, That's interesting. My bus has had a bit of work on the corners but not at the back I don't think. It might imperceptible be slightly proud under the engine lid. I think I'll email the guy I bought it off and see what he thinks. Mind you, this could be the excuse I need to start welding! Shouldn't be too tricky surely! Cheers Stu
Probably a good thing to start on as its such thick metal! Just crank up the amps and go for it! Make sure you protect your bus when tacking it in place though. Don't want those sparks getting on your paint. Nick
Hi all, Just to finish this thread off, just picked up the camper from Watling Engineering after they fitted the tow bar I bought. Turns out the main beam of the bar was very slightly concave, while the back of my bus us very slightly convex, only by 3 or 4 mm in each case, but combined this stopped the bar fitting. They straightened the tow bar in a press and fitted it for me. The also had to notch my rear bumper as that was sitting closer to the body than normal. Cost was £120 not including the cost of the bar, which I thought was fair. They were very helpful and I would definitely recommend them. Cheers Stuart
Mine fitted OK not by me but local towbar people ;D but is close and in any case I dont know why I'm telling you as not relevant as being a 71/72 is slightly different to later ones me thinks.
