tow bar fitting

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casperdog2
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tow bar fitting

Post by casperdog2 »

I am putting a towbar onto my xantia 97 td. is this a straight forward job or is there probems to be overcome. any advice would be welcome before I start
cheers
when in doubt get a bigger hammer
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Post by jgra1 »

they are a bit heavy Casper.. i did manage mine on my own but it was touch and go as to whether it would fall on me :twisted:

I have a feeling along with the rear of the exhaust, the bumper off would make things easier.. I didn't bother with mine but there was cursing I think..

can you do me a favour, measure the metal plates that I think sandwich between the outer arms of the bar and the chassis.. I think I need to make or find some :evil:

John
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Re: tow bar fitting

Post by JohnD »

casperdog2 wrote:I am putting a towbar onto my xantia 97 td. is this a straight forward job
cheers
You shouldn't have any trouble putting a towbar on a Xantia. Get the back end up on some ramps and there's no need to remove the bumper. All the bolts holes will be already there in the chassis. Fitting the 12N and 12S is a bit more of a bother.
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jgra1
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Post by jgra1 »

ahh. and of course the spare tyre cage...
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Post by Old-Guy »

Now there's a coincidence!

I had to take the towbar off the green estate so the bodyshop could get at the bent X-member and it desperately needed shot-blasting and painting anyway. The (broken) bumper had to come off anyway, I did that first and it made the job easier. I'm still in 2 minds about removing it to refit the towbar bar. The spare wheel cage wasn't in the way at all.

The 2 coats of hammerite have now had a couple of days to dry so the towbar is going back on in the morning!

Yes the main part is **ing heavy, so I've got a volunteer to help me put it back.

This is the genuine Citroen article - is this the one you want measured John?

The 'spare' car has IIRC a Witter bar on it - if anyone wants one.
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jgra1
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Post by jgra1 »

ahh sorry re spare wheel cage.. can't remeber why i took that off.. I was working on my back and may have needed headroom to see what was going on while i was holding the bar :shock: :D

Old guy.. um the one I have is gen cit, it even has it's own Citroen ID plate and so on.. I have a feeling there were some metal strips that helped the interface between towbar and chassis.. I have not got them but it would be nice to add them (for the most part I only tow a box trailer and all seems fine but...)

I am fitting a bar to the coupe tomorrow, another coincidence :twisted: I think that does involve cutting the bumper :shock:
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Post by Old-Guy »

OK, John

Amongst other things, the homologation plate on mine says
"Ref. Citroen 9427.19" - looks like a Citroen part number for the complete bar assembly.
"No De Type 901-2171" - no idea what that is.
"Date 49-95" - that'll be week 49 1995, the first week of December.

Meant to pop-rivet it back in place today. :roll: Can always do it later if necessary.

I'll photograph and measure the separate bits and the fitted towbar in the morning and I'll try to post them tomorrow evening as we're doing Sunday lunch en famille.

There are two straps that go forward from the ends of the bar, plus a short angled bar bolts into the boot floor and to the centre of the main bar.

Guy
2011 Grand C4 Picasso VTR+ 1.6HDi in Kyanos Blue
1995 Xantia Estate SX 1.9TD in Vert Vega "The Green Lady" - after 11 years now owned by XanTom
1998 Xantia 2.1 VXD Estate in Mauritius Blue - R.I.P. (terminal tin-worm)
jgra1
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Honda V F R 800 5thG / MT500 Armstrong
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Post by jgra1 »

hi guy.. hmm it sounds different to mine.. interesting..

I cant fit the coupe bar, just outside trying to line it up.. feeling it may be from a estate or saloon :shock:
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Old-Guy
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1998 Xantia 2.1 VXD Estate in Mauritius Blue - R.I.P. (terminal tin-worm)
x 17

Post by Old-Guy »

A quick post to say I put the original Citroen towbar back on my estate this morning. Lessons learnt: -

It's much easier if you take off the bumper; it's only held on by six fasteners - a T15 self-tapper up into the rear wheel arch just behind the tyre, a (13mm head) bolt inside each rear quarter, two T30 screws where the bumper curves up around the tailgate corners.

You need to get the rear of the car up on ramps, or the whole car on a lift, otherwise you may have to take the rear exhaust box off.

Get the main bar held in place with the bolts done up finger tight, fit all the other straps and fasteners finger tight, joggling things around to get them to fit. Progressively tighten the fasteners so that all the components settle into position, only then tighten all fasteners properly.
2011 Grand C4 Picasso VTR+ 1.6HDi in Kyanos Blue
1995 Xantia Estate SX 1.9TD in Vert Vega "The Green Lady" - after 11 years now owned by XanTom
1998 Xantia 2.1 VXD Estate in Mauritius Blue - R.I.P. (terminal tin-worm)
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