new tow bar new mot?

pj1

Well-Known Member
Morning all. Just a quick question to you mechanic types if I may. Will I need a new mot test if i fit a tow bar or can I wait until the next test date ?.
After a long rebuild I hope to soon have my land rover back on the road but am undecided on which tow bar to use. So I thought I would just mot it and fit a tow bar later but an not sure where I stand with the current law etc.
Thanks in advance Pete
 
no you won,t need to re- mot if you fit a tow bar even tho there are now checks made on the security etc of fitted tow bars now on the mot test
 
Make sure it has a flat top on the ball. It will be stamped with an ISO number and be legal and up to current spec
 
i had a tow bar fitted a couple of years ago by a reputable company specialising in tow bars and it was never mentioned to me and im sure they would have told me if i needed a new mot
 
Lovely thank you. I suppose the next question would be any recommendations of which type of tow bar to fit. Ideally I would want one with as little hanging down as possible to keep the ground clearance at a maximum. I have towed with Dixon bate height adjustable bar before but wasn't so keen on the clonking when changing from braking to accelerating.
 
The height of the ball or eye should be that is correct for the trailer being pulled i.e. the trailer chassis should be level and not tilting up or down. That is why so many people need to fit drop plates or height adjustable hitches. So you may not have too much scope on this one. I had a Sierra estate some years ago that had a very shallow departure angle due to the overhang and I was always scraping it on the ground.

Just in case anyone didn't know it has been illegal to fit second hand tow hitches to vehicles for some years now and only vehicle manufacturers mounting points may be used. So the days of transferring tow bars that were previously mounted on other vehicles or of knocking up your own tow bar are long over, though you wouldn't believe it.
 
Ok that's made my mind up on using the tow bar off of my old chassis them.
 
Just in case anyone didn't know it has been illegal to fit second hand tow hitches to vehicles for some years now and only vehicle manufacturers mounting points may be used. So the days of transferring tow bars that were previously mounted on other vehicles or of knocking up your own tow bar are long over, though you wouldn't believe it.

Bullsh*t as long as its a reputable make and not a home made job, its ok
are you thinking of the need for a makers plate on it?
 
Incidentally, my reason for asking is, I've got a 6 cyl, 2.6 litre petrol Series lll, converted to run on propane and the original had/has a very good condition 'Dixon Bate' adjustable tow hitch. I'm building her (and I would say 'her' because her plate starts DBR 'Debra') onto a new galvie chassis and I will be transferring the hitch to the new chassis... but the registration number will not change.
 
Bullsh*t as long as its a reputable make and not a home made job, its ok
are you thinking of the need for a makers plate on it?

Why don't you speak your mind Bob, don't hang back.
Is Bullsh*t the impolite way of saying you may be wrong? :D

Yes I may well be wrong on that one. :oops: As you say the type approval plate is the essential item in the case of second hand tow bars.
 
As of 2009 yup fitments should be tested but little are apart from a looksee ??? Shop or home made if you are /can weld do as you please cant weld walk away use good box or U' channel m12 bolts 'locknuts star washers etc how high you need it ! just get a drop plate and bolt it to your needs would say use ball and eye pin type so you can pull all types of trailers if fitting to chassis fit bushings to avoid crushing problems, power get a pre-made setup if you do not understand wire'g . made buckets of them for all types of lgv and hgv/ farming Tugs But if you think your skill's are under par then this is in the book :
This is a bit out of the mot workshop magazine --
MOT Test of Tow Bar (Towing Hook)

Reason for Rejection:

  • A towbar component insecure, fractured or excessively worn, corroded or damaged
  • Excessive corrosion within 30cms of the towbar mounting is also a fail.
  • Towbar assembly is attached to the vehicle structure using a mounting, support or fixing which is obviously of an inappropriate size or type.
  • Retaining device missing or insecure
  • Locking device missing, insecure, inadequate or damaged to the extent that its operation is impaired.
  • Excessive play between a detachable tow ball and its receiver socket
  • A quick release mechanism that does not secure the tow ball arm as intended
  • A towbar assembly inappropriately repaired or modified
  • A trailer electrical socket insecure or damaged, or deteriorated to the extent that the connecting lead could not be securely connected
  • A trailer 13-pin Euro socket not operating the trailer lamps as intended
  • Wiring showing exposed conductors

2012 Notes: 1. Does not include emergency towing eyes. If a tow ball or pin is not fitted at the time of Test e.g. because it is detachable, has been unbolted or otherwise removed, but the attachment brackets are still in place these brackets and any trailer electrical socket should still be assessed unless the attachment brackets have been deliberately rendered unfit for further use.
2. 13-pin electric socket inspection and test for electrical function (specialist tool will be used) and check for inappropriate towbar repairs/modification will come into force when the appropriate legislation has been passed.
3. 7-pin sockets are not testable with an electrical tester as there is no standard wiring protocol.
 
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Ha

The last two cars I have had both have the same aftermarket yet factory branded detachable tow bar fitted
first one fitted in 2003, last one is my current car
that's at least 12 MOT's in my possession and god knows how many my current car had in its previous owner's

tow bar lives inside car and lights are on retracting bracket that is not seen unless dropped down

NEVER once had the tow bar or sockets inspected
not once
 
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