Tow Bar Hassles

**aRRon** · 10th September 2011, 10:31 AM

My 1990 has the main bar, wiring and plug, electric brake controller etc all fitted but did not have the 50mm square bar and tongue that slots into the square hole and pinned into the main bar.
Thought it was all straight forward to get a common 50mm square bar and pin etc but found that there is an approximately 15 degree downward slope to the track that carries the square bar and tongue.
So if you fitted a square bar with the tongue carying the ball welded to it at a right angle, the tongue would be sticking up in the air at 15 degrees or so = not possible to tow.

Has anyone seen this kind of tow bar and have any idea where I could get a suitable square bar/tongue for it?

**p38arover** · 10th September 2011, 11:40 AM

Does your car have the ARB rear step bar?

**langy** · 10th September 2011, 12:24 PM

The angled version of the hitch is still available at ARB ( at least a couple of years ago it was - I have one for the bar on the back of my Disco).

**aRRon** · 10th September 2011, 07:10 PM

Thanks P38aRover and Langy - it has the aluminium checker plate across the top so I guess it's a step and is about 200mm across the top and face - no manufacturer's sticker or plate anywhere I can see. If you guys know the ARB has an angled bar then that gives me somewhere to start looking.

**p38arover** · 11th September 2011, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by aRRon

Thanks P38aRover and Langy - it has the aluminium checker plate across the top so I guess it's a step and is about 200mm across the top and face - no manufacturer's sticker or plate anywhere I can see. If you guys know the ARB has an angled bar then that gives me somewhere to start looking.

This is an ARB rear bar (pic stolen from Triumph Rover Spares website):

**Bundy** · 11th September 2011, 08:12 AM

Yes the ARB bar has the angled hitch receiver as you describe. I have had this argument with a bike shop who said they are all straight and his you beut rack would fit until I showed him.
Anyone who wrecks rangies would probably have one as the bar itself ususlly gets damaged not the hitch part. Otherwise try ARB.

**BigJon** · 11th September 2011, 05:15 PM

Any half decent towbar place should be able to make you one. It is only square tube with a right angle welded on the end. The square tube just has to be cut at the correct angle.

**pop058** · 11th September 2011, 05:31 PM

pic of my 84. it has an ARB rear bar AND towbar as seperate units. The towbar still requires the angled hitch though.

**POD** · 12th September 2011, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by pop058

pic of my 84. it has an ARB rear bar AND towbar as seperate units. The towbar still requires the angled hitch though.

pop058, I would have said that bar was from a manufacturer other than ARB, there was a similar one on one of my rangies.

**POD** · 12th September 2011, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by BigJon

Any half decent towbar place should be able to make you one. It is only square tube with a right angle welded on the end. The square tube just has to be cut at the correct angle.

Any fabricator or general engineering shop would be able to make one for you. If memory serves, the tube is cut at right angles which means that the long part of the flat bar is not vertical, the bend in the flat bar is somewhat less than 90degrees, so the short part to which the ball attaches is parallel to the road. Can take mine out and email a photo with measurements & angles marked if you need.

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