Has anybody fitted a front tow bar? I squeeze my towed small yacht through a narrow angled gap on a slope into my back garden so a front tow bar would make the procedure much less stressful than reversing it in. Ideally I would like a detachable one so that I would not have it sticking out all the time. - 2007(57) XS Auto, Rimini Red, Alpaca Leather.
- GCS Hawke - Sports, BRG, Vulcan 2.1 inj'. My toy - built it myself in 2001.

I found a front mounted removable towbar manufactured by Watling Engineering of St. Albans. They make them with the hitch mount on the left hand side and charge an additional £36 to mount an additional central mount but as they were about to make a new batch they agreed to make one with only a central mount free of charge. However the same towbar made by Watling was available from Western towing £25 cheaper who also arranged for the central mount free of charge.

It was easy to fit but the instructions were over-simplified and slightly wrong. It requires the removal of the lower plastic guard between the bumper and the metal sump guard which is discarded. It's not too obtrusive but I will paint the silver nuts black to look less obvious. The only drawback is that the lower straps use the metal sump guard mounting holes so the whole thing has to be loosened and the straps pushed sideways to remove the guard for oil and filter changes. No cuts or drilling required. The whole thing can be removed and the plastic guard replaced before changing vehicles.

Another DIY method would be to weld a receiving box on to the front subframe cross member and cut a hole in the plastic guard and refit it which may look neater but would not be able to be removed when the time comes to change cars.

£174 including VAT, delivery, tow ball and all fittings.

It should make the manoeuvring of my boat much easier having the steered wheels near to the tow hitch.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Good parking protection too for those backing into you, could do with a tow hook all the way around when I go to Tesco.

hi wear can I get one

Watling Engineering : http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/front_towbars.html

Western Towing : http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/ - 2007(57) XS Auto, Rimini Red, Alpaca Leather.
- GCS Hawke - Sports, BRG, Vulcan 2.1 inj'. My toy - built it myself in 2001.