Towbar

[DavidL]

I believe there was at least one Mk 3 fitted with a towbar.

Does anyone here have one fitted? If so, was it a factory produced item? Does anyone have any diagrams or photos?

I'm planning to fit one to mine. ISTR the weight limit recommended by Midas for the Mk 2/Bronze was 250kg so I'd guess the Mk 3 would probably have a similar limit, which would be all I'd need. It would be good if I could make use of existing knowledge, but if none is available, then I'll just have to start with a blank sheet of paper...

[manifold]

I have one on my Coupe.

I don't believe its a factory one although I was told it was but it works fine after I modified it to make it fit my shell. If it was a factory one, they drilled the holes while they were pissed, without a measure. Same with the welding too.

It's a 2 piece affair which pokes out through the rear bumper and bolts to a small box section support coming forward under the rear floor also bolted to the rear seat wells.

I use it to tow a 300 kilo boat and trailer. Pulls no problem.

[DavidL]

I suppose I probably towed a bit more than 250kg with my Bronze, once or twice. Including a (small) caravan which I towed about a quarter of a mile, once...

...do you have any photos? Sounds like it's all above the exhaust, or am I wrong?

[manifold]

my boat goes up a slipway no probs.

Heres all the pics I have.

[wolfie]

There's 1 for metros on ebay which will probably fit or could be easily modified to fit

[DavidL]

my boat goes up a slipway no probs.

Heres all the pics I have.

Thanks David, some of those photographs are excellent and just what I was after. The next challenge is to see if I can build one that will fit inside the undertray (once I repair the one I have).

[edit] Just looked again. Does that towbar actually fit above the undertray? If so, respect is due...

[DavidL]

There's 1 for metros on ebay which will probably fit or could be easily modified to fit

Thanks Wolfie, it may well be near the shape I'd need, but I think it'd probably be just as easy to start from scratch. I suspect there would be enough difference between the shape of the Metro and that of the Midas to make it too much work to justify buying that.

[manifold]

back tray isn't on at the moment, but when it is, the tow bar is half in and half out....goes at side of the exhaust through the same aperture.

[Victorc]

Dave,
Having seen your Midas cars, I am surprised there is a part with some rust showing.
I suppose titanium would be a little bit excessive!

Seriously though, is the tow bar in two parts? I think it must be, to get one part through the rear bumper.

Regards
Victor

[manifold]

Hi Victor,

For a few seconds I did consider getting one made out of Ti. I thought perhaps that was perhaps going too far. I did give it a new lick of enamel though.

Yes it is in 2 parts. An 18" (guestimate) cross piece which bolts with about 6x M8 bolts to the back panel behind the bumper, through a narrow slit in the bumper and down ('Z' shaped), where it then bolts up with 2x M10 bolts to a 1" box section stabiliser bar which goes forward to a 18" cross member made of angle iron which bolts under each seat well. Just above where the 2 pieces join is where the tow bar fitting is attached with a backing plate which traps the structure. This cross member in angle iron was originally shaped around the exhaust, but mine is now flat, due to my shell having the deeper seat wells.

Like I said earlier, I was told it was a 'factory' one but the quality of build makes me doubt it. The actual design itself is fine though. I am always using the tow hitch. Great for moving tall ladders about on a trailer.