Tow Bar / Ball

[Hercs74]

Sorry but yet another question. I keep thinking of things for new MH. We have a Thule 4 bike rack which fits on the tow bar / ball of our car. So was thinking we could use it on the motor home. So I’d like at some point to add a tow bar / ball with full electrics. Our Burstner is a Fiat Alko cab chassis. Any advice or company’s in around or near Essex. What would be cost for addition if anyone has experiences.

Thanks yet again

 

[icantremember]

Sorry but yet another question. I keep thinking of things for new MH. We have a Thule 4 bike rack which fits on the tow bar / ball of our car. So was thinking we could use it on the motor home. So I’d like at some point to add a tow bar / ball with full electrics. Our Burstner is a Fiat Alko cab chassis. Any advice or company’s in around or near Essex. What would be cost for addition if anyone has experiences.

Thanks yet again

Have you checked that the combined weight of a towbar, bike rack and however many bikes will not overload your rear axle?

 

[Speve]

Alko tow bar will be quite expensive.?we had one done on our last van around three years ago it was type approved cost about £1200 if my memory serves me correctly.
On 2015 Hymer Exsis

 

[barsteward]

Isn't that just the case I think sometimes people think what you are selling is way overpriced but only until you want one then you find out the true cost.

I'm not sure which model of Burstner you have so first suggestion would be, find out if you need chassis leg extensions first. If it's a garage model you will almost certainly need them. This adds quite a lot of cost to the normal type approved tow bar.

 

[Hercs74]

Isn't that just the case I think sometimes people think what you are selling is way overpriced but only until you want one then you find out the true cost.

I'm not sure which model of Burstner you have so first suggestion would be, find out if you need chassis leg extensions first. If it's a garage model you will almost certainly need them. This adds quite a lot of cost to the normal type approved tow bar.

Hi It is a Burstner 744 TD Limited. Has the Chassis all the way to the rear. No extensions required. That was something I checked when I ordered. I think all in all the total weight of the rack plus bikes is about 65 kg.

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[Speve]

Isn't that just the case I think sometimes people think what you are selling is way overpriced but only until you want one then you find out the true cost.

I'm not sure which model of Burstner you have so first suggestion would be, find out if you need chassis leg extensions first. If it's a garage model you will almost certainly need them. This adds quite a lot of cost to the normal type approved tow bar.

I wasn’t saying it was over priced and I was happy with mine thought it was quite good value including fitting on my driveway.???

 

[tonyidle]

I wasn’t saying it was over priced and I was happy with mine thought it was quite good value including fitting on my driveway.???

Mine was £300 fitted. I did my own electrics which had I not done so would have added £50. Chassis extensions were needed and included.

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Motorhome towbars and services, professionaly fitted motorhome towbars and bike racks

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[TheBig1]

any van built after 2012 needs a type approved towbar.

Motorhome type approved Adjustable swan neck towbar for alko chassis/ extensions | eBay

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simple to fit if you are capable of doing up the supplied nuts and bolts. electrics, buy a dedicated kit that just plugs into the wiring under the van

 

[Speve]

Mine was £300 fitted. I did my own electrics which had I not done so would have added £50. Chassis extensions were needed and included.

Motorhome Towbars Lancashire Blackpool Preston Manchester

Motorhome towbars and services, professionaly fitted motorhome towbars and bike racks

motorhometowbarslancashire.co.uk

That’s good value was it type approved as well??

 

[Speve]

any van built after 2012 needs a type approved towbar.

Motorhome type approved Adjustable swan neck towbar for alko chassis/ extensions | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Motorhome type approved Adjustable swan neck towbar for alko chassis/ extensions at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

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simple to fit if you are capable of doing up the supplied nuts and bolts. electrics, buy a dedicated kit that just plugs into the wiring under the van

Fair enough if you like crawling around under a very low van which I don’t, sooner pay someone to do it.?

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[tonyidle]

That’s good value was it type approved as well??

No - he just shook his head and laughed when I asked. Which I took to agree with my own thoughts. Towbar makers must be laughing all the way to the bank. As far as I'm aware they appear to get straight rear bars approved then add arguably the most important part - the chassis extensions - that aren't subject to approval. My van is mid-2012 registered though.

 

[barsteward]

I wasn’t saying it was over priced and I was happy with mine thought it was quite good value including fitting on my driveway.???

Sorry Speve I should qualify my statements but it's been a long day and it's now "wine O'clock"
I have had and still have a type approved towbar for sale for £275 complete with dedicated electrics Blah Blah Blah, just thinking aloud to myself hence the remark. You could have picked my towbar up in Yorkshire had it fitted at a local garage gone onto a site in Whitby for a couple of nights witnessed Count Dracula's 45th million 746 thousandth and 1 reincarnation gone back home and had a Makkie Dees. You get my drift and yet the only response I've had is someone offering me £100.

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi It is a Burstner 744 TD Limited. Has the Chassis all the way to the rear. No extensions required. That was something I checked when I ordered. I think all in all the total weight of the rack plus bikes is about 65 kg.

The tow bar will be another 50-60kg so rear axle loading (dependant on overhang) on rear axle will be around 15Okg.

 

[pappajohn]

The tow bar will be another 50-60kg so rear axle loading (dependant on overhang) on rear axle will be around 15Okg.

Jeeeesus! What are they making them from these days.... Cast iron.
I made (over engineered) mine from 50mm x 3mm wall box section and 10mm steel plates.
I doubt it came in at 50lbs

 

[Ridgeway]

Mine weighed 36kgs, i asked them to weight it before fitting. That was with the complete frame and tow bracket, but minus electrics which can't be more than 2kgs.

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[Hercs74]

The tow bar will be another 50-60kg so rear axle loading (dependant on overhang) on rear axle will be around 15Okg.

I think I have a total payload of 767kg so that leaves me a payload of about 617 kg

 

[Lenny HB]

I think I have a total payload of 767kg so that leaves me a payload of about 617 kg

I was talking about rear axle loading not payload.
As you are carrying 4 bike I assume 4 people 767kg payload is nowhere near enough, 700 is about right for 2.

 

[138go]

617 kg is not a lot for 4 people. You need to get the MH weighed. You cannot just say you have 617kg as you may well be over the limit on the back axle. You need to know what weight you can legally carry on the rear axle then load the MH up with all your stuff as though you were going away so food, bedding, diesel, water, people, pets, chairs, tables etc and go and get it weighed. Then you can work out how much weight you can add to the back axle.

 

[Hercs74]

617 kg is not a lot for 4 people. You need to get the MH weighed. You cannot just say you have 617kg as you may well be over the limit on the back axle. You need to know what weight you can legally carry on the rear axle then load the MH up with all your stuff as though you were going away so food, bedding, diesel, water, people, pets, chairs, tables etc and go and get it weighed. Then you can work out how much weight you can add to the back axle.

I get you now... I have a weigh bridge near me. I do know The home has had engine upgrade so increases weight to 3850 kg and I understand I can have it re plated from 3850 to 4250kg. Is this something I do or can the dealer do this prior to registering vehicle to me ? I’m not sure what’s involved and costs.

 

[Speve]

Sorry Speve I should qualify my statements but it's been a long day and it's now "wine O'clock"
I have had and still have a type approved towbar for sale for £275 complete with dedicated electrics Blah Blah Blah, just thinking aloud to myself hence the remark. You could have picked my towbar up in Yorkshire had it fitted at a local garage gone onto a site in Whitby for a couple of nights witnessed Count Dracula's 45th million 746 thousandth and 1 reincarnation gone back home and had a Makkie Dees. You get my drift and yet the only response I've had is someone offering me £100.

I do understand there is always one out there that think these sort of things grow on trees and should be free.??

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[Lenny HB]

And don't forget the further from the axle you add weight the more load it has on the axle. There is a formula for working it out in the resources section.

 

[Lenny HB]

I get you now... I have a weigh bridge near me. I do know The home has had engine upgrade so increases weight to 3850 kg and I understand I can have it re plated from 3850 to 4250kg. Is this something I do or can the dealer do this prior to registering vehicle to me ? I’m not sure what’s involved and costs.

Well worth upgrading to 4250 but you do need to check axle loading. No point in upgrading if you can't use do to being overweight on the rear axle.
May need to fit air suspension and higher rated tyres to upgrade the axle.