Towbar Fitting

Xantic · Unread post by **Xantic** » 24 Apr 2009, 21:48

Is it an easy job fitting a towbar on my 1999 Xantia hatchback.

Does the bumper need to be cut.

Wheres the cheapest place to buy a towbar, Unless someone has one for sale..

Thanks.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Apr 2009, 21:58

Fitting a towbar is dead easy

A Witter goes on without any cutting whatsoever. Back bumper off and bolt it on. Even the holes are there for you and a blind grommet ready to take the electrics

The Electrics are pretty straightforward too and it can be very neatly hidden behind one of the boot side panels.

the only tricky bit will be providing a high current feed if you intend fitting a 12S socket to run a caravan fridge and so on. getting a thick wire from the battery through the bulkhead is not straightforward.

A Xantia Estate is even easier, so long as you ignore the BoL procedure to remove the rear bumper as it's totally WRONG!!!

Xantic · Unread post by **Xantic** » 24 Apr 2009, 22:04

It will only be for a small camping trailer..

Sounds ok, now to find the best price towbar..

Russ..

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 24 Apr 2009, 22:42

Towequipe are pretty cheap, and they are doing a Xantia wiring kit for £15.

http://www.towequipe.co.uk/categorylist ... ed-towbar/

The hardest bit for me was removing the bumper. The captive nut on one of the sides escaped and it was a real pain to refit the bumper. I had to make a small cut, maybe 2" square in the bottom of the bumper.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 24 Apr 2009, 22:55

agree with Jim and Richard re their bumper thoughts...

I just couldn't get my bumper off due to captive nut problems...

I did get the towbar on..spare wheel cradle dropped and rear exhaust can removed... but its damn heavy (witter) working alone with it above you and the bumper getting in the way, especially outdoors on a cold winters night..

I had to fit it (needed next morning to move a v6 engine around the farm

) nothing like being prepared hey ..

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 24 Apr 2009, 23:07

I think I ripped the spinning captive nut out of my bumper, the hard bit was holding the replacement nut and washer in place while I bolted it back on.

Gregg1100 · Unread post by **Gregg1100** » 25 Apr 2009, 00:02

Try Towsure

Xantic · Unread post by **Xantic** » 25 Apr 2009, 00:16

All this talk about bumpers not wanting to come off is making me nervous..

Never mind Mr.Carling im on the Guinness..
I said im on the Guiness..

I thought i would double post in the one post..
Make it easier to read..

Thanks for the info i shall let you all know how i get on...

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 25 Apr 2009, 10:58

CitroJim wrote:
the only tricky bit will be providing a high current feed if you intend fitting a 12S socket to run a caravan fridge and so on. getting a thick wire from the battery through the bulkhead is not straightforward.

I cheated with that one. I plugged a spade connector into the fuse position for heated seats, with an inline fuse on my cable. The feed for the heated seats should be good for 40A (that's the fuse they would have) and my 12S kit came with a 25A fuse so I reckon the wiring is up to the job. Obviously that option is only available if your car isn't equipped with heated seats.

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 25 Apr 2009, 13:21

reblack68 wrote:
CitroJim wrote:
the only tricky bit will be providing a high current feed if you intend fitting a 12S socket to run a caravan fridge and so on. getting a thick wire from the battery through the bulkhead is not straightforward.
I cheated with that one. I plugged a spade connector into the fuse position for heated seats, with an inline fuse on my cable. The feed for the heated seats should be good for 40A (that's the fuse they would have) and my 12S kit came with a 25A fuse so I reckon the wiring is up to the job. Obviously that option is only available if your car isn't equipped with heated seats.

Well I guess you could spur off the heated seat loom as long as you don't use the seats with the fridge on

You could also possibly fit a change over switch so that only one spur could be used at a time.

There are a couple of used towbars on fleabay at the mo, item 130302346112 is one, but I guess you'd have to live nearby for that one.

Xantic · Unread post by **Xantic** » 04 May 2009, 21:08

Are there any make of towbars that i could buy without the need of removing the rear bumper to fit.

I like making my life easier...

Ross_K · Unread post by **Ross_K** » 04 May 2009, 23:08

I don't think so. The bumper support in the middle needs to come out to make way for the towbar to bolt on from what I remember...

JohnD · Unread post by **JohnD** » 05 May 2009, 08:21

I used to run a 2.1 Xantia estate and fitted a towbar with twin electrics to it and I didn't have to remove the rear bumper. Got it from Towsure.

Koukku · Unread post by **Koukku** » 05 May 2009, 08:42

The bumper and towbar fittings on an estate are totally different from the saloon. I.e. on a saloon the bumper needs to be removed. I just removed a towbar from my Activa, and there's no way to reach all the bolts with the bumper in place.

Xantic · Unread post by **Xantic** » 05 May 2009, 17:22

Thanks for the info everyone..

Looking forward to removing the bumper then,When i buy a towbar that is..

Russ..