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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice
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Subject Topic: Front End Towbar..Thoughts ! Post Reply Post New Topic
23/6/2008 at 11:50am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Cruach Culmor
View meeshfriel's Profile View Profile   Reply to meeshfriel Reply   Quote meeshfriel Quote  
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Hi there we have just purchased a twin axle Fleetwood Heritage, and purchased a Mr Shifta 2.

Sadly the Mr Shifta does not do the job we are looking for (In and out of our gravel drive :( )

Does anyone have a front towbar fitted to their car, and if so how effective is this in maneuvering into driveways etc.

Any thoughts advice, would be very much appreciated.

(Ps cant quite afford the electric mover yet....)


23/6/2008 at 3:44pm
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75
View 664DaveS's Profile View Profile   Reply to 664DaveS Reply   Quote 664DaveS Quote  
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Good on Land Rovers, I had one on a S3 .

When I was in the RAF we used to always reverse the aircraft tug and push aircraft back! Easier and safer. We sometimes used to push trailors with a front hook on Land Rovers or trucks.



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DS-There's more to life than football!!!


23/6/2008 at 5:10pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Cruach Culmor
View meeshfriel's Profile View Profile   Reply to meeshfriel Reply   Quote meeshfriel Quote  
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Thanks DS, so if it can push an aircraft into tight spaces, then we should have no problem with our Fleetwood... :)

We have a saab 95 Estate`, and find getting the car and caravan too difficult to get out and into our driveway, as the car is very long... :(


23/6/2008 at 7:41pm
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I cant see how you would fit a towbar to the front of a car, theres nowhere to attach it to, a Landrover is a bit different as it has a separate chassis.

Your best bet could be to tow your caravan to a nice big empty car park & practise reversing.

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Sell my camper? I'd rather eat school semolina!


23/6/2008 at 8:22pm
 Location: Bury St Edmunds
 Outfit: 2003 Hymer 545BB & Mercedes E320
View daviddaw's Profile View Profile   Reply to daviddaw Reply   Quote daviddaw Quote  
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There are companies who specialise in front tow balls,I suppose it's not too difficult to engineer something that mounts to the front towing eye - that's a really strong point on the car.

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Obsessed with German engineering - proud owner of a Hymer, a Mercedes, and a Radius recumbent bicycle.


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23/6/2008 at 11:13pm
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Back to Tenting in a Cabanon
View charlichoo's Profile View Profile   Reply to charlichoo Reply   Quote charlichoo Quote  
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In the July issue of Practical caravan there is an advert for a company doing the front mount tow bars. The website  in the ad is for www.watling-towbars.co.uk

Don't know if thats any good for you.

 

Chaz



23/6/2008 at 11:25pm
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Back to Tenting in a Cabanon
View charlichoo's Profile View Profile   Reply to charlichoo Reply   Quote charlichoo Quote  
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Just been to the website - for a Saab 95 Estate 1997 onwards the kit is £150 + vat making it £176.25

For my Navara its £135 + vat

Would like to have a look at one of the kits . . . . think I could weld up something to do the job myself.

 

chaz



01/7/2008 at 12:30am
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: Bailey Senator 5 Carolina
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Watling  towbars had a stand at the CC Centenary rally at Blenheim Palace back in '07. They had a Jeep fitted with a front mounted towball and you were invited to manouvre a single axle caravan into a 'garage' (set of cones). Fantastically easy! Granted it was a single axle mind, but I'm sure that a twin wouldn't make that much difference? Apparently, you cannot 'jack-knife' with a front mounted towball (so the salesman said) Not so sure about a landie though, what with their poor turning circles. I'm getting a mate to manufacture a QD bracket for my defender that i will be able to fix either near or offside. I'm sure that you'll not regret having one fitted.


01/7/2008 at 9:00am
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Phoenix GT 75
View 664DaveS's Profile View Profile   Reply to 664DaveS Reply   Quote 664DaveS Quote  
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My S3 had the ball fitted near where the bumper fits onto the chassis, so it was to the left of centre, it was easy to push the van with it.The guy who owned it befrore me used to have a trailer with motobikes on, which was apparantly heavy!

Of course on series LRs and defenders the bumper is pretty substantial so it is easy to fit a hitch with a reinforcing plate behind! The lock may be poor but you don't need a lot of steering movement to move the van!



-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


02/7/2008 at 8:33pm
 Location: SHROPSHIRE
 Outfit: Corona 505 & Nissan Primera P12
View hookup's Profile View Profile   Reply to hookup Reply   Quote hookup Quote  
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Some site owners,especially those with small storage compounds, use diddy tractors with front towballs to move vans in and out.Impressive speed and accuracy.
I used to drive a Tugmaster,Same principle but rather more massive.

-------------
HOOKUP



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03/7/2008 at 9:52am
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
 Outfit: Compass Echo 340
View Frank Elson's Profile View Profile   Reply to Frank Elson Reply   Quote Frank Elson Quote  
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I've moved all sorts of trailers, boats, static vans with a front mount. If you put the hitch over to the nearside so you can see down the side of the "pushee" it really is very easy.

Not got round to fitting one to my current Rangie, but I will.

I would recommend one to anyone who has to move a trailer into a tightish spot.

 



-------------
best cheers
Frank
Range Rover Vogue SE LPG TAZ


05/7/2008 at 9:13pm
 Location: Ripley Derbyshire
 Outfit: fendt platin
View brian.f's Profile View Profile   Reply to brian.f Reply   Quote brian.f Quote  
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I had a front towbar on a Ssangyong musso.   Sorry to be negative but I found the following problems:

1.  You can jack-knife if you're not careful - and I came pretty close at times getting on to my drive.

2.  You can only see down one side of the van - what's happening on the offside you would have to keep getting out of the car to see.   I found myself leaving a lot to chance when parking on storage pitches

3.  No good for German vans - particularly if you have to pitch up nose first.

Save up your pennies and get a mover                                  brian.f

 

 



05/7/2008 at 10:45pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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I have a German van and a front hitch on my Honda CRV and I also have a mover on the van,I rarely use the mover and have not experienced any problems with jack-knifeing.I wish I had had it fitted before the mover I would have saved £900!

Saxo1



05/7/2008 at 10:46pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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