Tow bar too short?

sarahd9123
sarahd9123 Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited August 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi All, first post and new caravaner. We have a 2016 Nissan Xtrail fitted with a detachable tow bar (Brink BMC). We are picking up our brand new Bailey Pegasus Modena in a couple of weeks time. The Modena is fitted with an Al-Ko AKS 3004 stabiliser and we've
just been looking on line at the instruction manual for this. It says you need 68mm minimum between the back of the car and the middle of the tow ball, the Xtrail has a fairly big bumper so we've just checked this measurement and it comes at 65mm at the very
most. Do we need to get a different tow bar fitted or can we buy a longer part for the detachable bit? Any advice gratefully received. 

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #2

    You will probably have the standard 50mm ball hook,the only thing that will be needed is to change the 50mm ball for an Alko extended type ,which will give the clearance needed  if the towbar is new you could try to blag one from the company who fiited it as it is a known fact and the majority of c/vans are fitted with the Alko coupling 

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
    100 Comments
    edited August 2016 #3

    Realistically you need 80mm clearance else it is increadibly tight and vitually impossible to hitch up without bashing the bumper even with a mover.  Our Passat has 85mm and I would not want to go any less.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2016 #4

    Towbars need to be type approved so it is unlikely that you will find an approved alternative towbar with an extended neck (I take it, the detachable towbar that you are talking about is a swan neck), but it may be worth enquiring with Brink.

  • sarahd9123
    sarahd9123 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited August 2016 #5

    Yes it is a swan neck. We had it fitted by Nissan when we bought the car. Strangely the Brink website doesn't even come up with a tow bar as compatible with the Xtrail. Haven't found anything much when I've searched the net for an extended ball hook. Does
    it look like we need to start again from scratch with a new tow bar?

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2016 #6

    I wouldn't give up without having words with Brink first.

  • weedkiller
    weedkiller Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited August 2016 #7

    It sounds like the towbar you have is the Car  Manufacturers tow bar" albeit made by Brink many of these manufacturers  tow bars are specified to the minimum e.u. 65 mm clearance . 

    whereas an aftermarket bar while still being type approved can have  a greater clearance.

      If you need a different towbar I I would suggest you speak to Westfalia technical support who are very helpful.

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