Suzuki Jimny Towbar

[NJA]

I've got a 2002 Jimny I want to put a towbar on, not to tow 3.5t or anything obviously, but just because every vehicle should have a towball and will be useful for a 6 x 4 trailer.

The rear tow points have been cut off the chassis (where you'd normally bolt the off the shelf towbar kit to).  The kits don't look particuarly well made or good design.

Do I;

1. fabricate up the bits needed to be able to fit a standard towbar kit

2. fabricate a towbar from scratch (stronger than off the shelf kits) from some decent grade box section and weld to chassis?  Is this legal, how would if fair in an MOT?

[rapalaman]

I fabricated one from box and angle onto a Daily chassis - had it checked by an ag fitter and he said it was so over engineered and strong it would pull a house over. Not sure if it’s part of the mot test?

[GarethM]

44 minutes ago, rapalaman said:

I fabricated one from box and angle onto a Daily chassis - had it checked by an ag fitter and he said it was so over engineered and strong it would pull a house over. Not sure if it’s part of the mot test?

If it failed and killed someone you're culpable, that's why we have approved gear.

[rapalaman]

I did my research and this particular model, the Iveco dealer reckoned there was no way that an off the shelf towbar could be fitted - something about the anti roll bar being in the wrong place.

If I wasn’t confident in my welding then I wouldn’t have made it.

I accept your point though

[openspaceman]

7 hours ago, NJA said:

've got a 2002 Jimny I want to put a towbar on, not to tow 3.5t or anything obviously, but just because every vehicle should have a towball and will be useful for a 6 x 4 trailer.

I have a towball on my 1999 vitara, it can tow 1.2 tones braked but only 500kg unbraked as it is only 1tonne unladen.

[NJA]

4 hours ago, rapalaman said:

I fabricated one from box and angle onto a Daily chassis - had it checked by an ag fitter and he said it was so over engineered and strong it would pull a house over. Not sure if it’s part of the mot test?

Interesting thanks!  That's kinda how my design is looking.  Steel is twice the thickness of the chassis itself...

They have to check the socket now if towbar is fitted apparently to checknwiring is working.

They check the towbar but wasn't sure if it would fail simply for being homemade however strong that was why I asked.

[NJA]

3 hours ago, GarethM said:

If it failed and killed someone you're culpable, that's why we have approved gear.

Yes fair point.  I know I'd never be taking more than 10 miles and rarely on an A road the jimny wouldn't make it lol.

But why I posted was that I was looking at replacing the back end of the chassis so I had the correct bits to fit an approved towbar to.  But struck me as bizarre, that I could weld the back end of the chassis on, to then fit an approved towbar to the bit I'd welded on?

Ie any old tom dick or harry can weld his chassis to pass an mot, no checks you're an approved welder?

[NJA]

1 hour ago, openspaceman said:

I have a towball on my 1999 vitara, it can tow 1.2 tones braked but only 500kg unbraked as it is only 1tonne unladen.

 

4 hours ago, rapalaman said:

I fabricated one from box and angle onto a Daily chassis - had it checked by an ag fitter and he said it was so over engineered and strong it would pull a house over. Not sure if it’s part of the mot test?

What year was the daily?  I read something about rules changing pre/post 1998?

[GarethM]

13 minutes ago, NJA said:

Yes fair point.  I know I'd never be taking more than 10 miles and rarely on an A road the jimny wouldn't make it lol.

But why I posted was that I was looking at replacing the back end of the chassis so I had the correct bits to fit an approved towbar to.  But struck me as bizarre, that I could weld the back end of the chassis on, to then fit an approved towbar to the bit I'd welded on?

Ie any old tom dick or harry can weld his chassis to pass an mot, no checks you're an approved welder?

Or you fit new discs and brakes yourself, same deal really. If it fails they'll come a knocking asking for the keys to your house.

 

I'd personally be also checking the v5 to see what it's allowance as a Jimny is pretty light to start with.

 

Unbraked 450/braked 1300kg.

Edited 12 hours ago by GarethM

[rapalaman]

15 minutes ago, NJA said:

 

What year was the daily?  I read something about rules changing pre/post 1998?

This was done in 2009 and it was a 1999 model originally fitted with all steel body and tail lift. I cut the body off right down to the tipper body rails and fitted an all ally back from a transit onto it. Fabricated all the mountings etc, then the towbar. Found some old pics the missus took while I was doing it - none of the completed article though. I remember the diagonals I put in were really heavy angle iron, and every bit was seam welded