3rd gen tow bar

[Valleys boy]

Hello everyone,
I've had a pct towbar fitted to my 3rd gen surf but the tow ball seems really close to the door mounted spare wheel,I was wondering if a drop plate needs to be fitted as I intend to use the surf to tow a caravan and I don't think an alko would clear the spare wheel,any advice would be welcome
thanks

[dirtydog]

Hello everyone,
I've had a pct towbar fitted to my 3rd gen surf but the tow ball seems really close to the door mounted spare wheel,I was wondering if a drop plate needs to be fitted as I intend to use the surf to tow a caravan and I don't think an alko would clear the spare wheel,any advice would be welcome
thanks

They can be pretty close sometimes, you can fit a drop plate but you dont want to be running at the wrong height. When I have an ALKO on the back I have to take my spare wheel off but mines a 2nd gen so you might get away with it.

[Valleys boy]

Hitched up caravan without alko and it was nearly touching spare wheel cover about inch clearence so i doubt an alko will clear it.I don't want to go taking the spare off when towing it will be a right pain in the ***e
cheers anyway

[andy]

You could fit a spacer between the bar and the towball.

http://www.trailerpartswarehouse.co....l_spacers.html

[TJG]

I got a 3rd gen and tow a Bailey Ranger with an Alko. It does fit, bit of a pain though, to hitch up you need to open the spare wheel carrier, be carefull when backing on if you are coming in from the off side at anything more than a slight angle the wheel carrier might hit the van, come back straight or from the nearside and its fine. Once all hitched up shut the wheel carrier and your laughing. The handbrake may hit the spare when reversing very tight, I was thinking of putting a 2" spacer on the towball to help with this, but it isn't a huge problem. I wouldn't use a drop plate, it would make the caravan tow at a very nosedown angle, the standard height is just right. Not teaching you to suck eggs but you do know you need the Alko towball which sticks out further and up further than normal to clear the coupling housing.

[TonyN]

You can easily get upto 1 1/2" spacers, that will leave you towball at the right height, but give you clearance to the back of the truck. I've seen proper 6"ish spacer brackets that bolt to the towbar, than the ball bolts to them for cars that have rear mounted spares, but can't find a supplier on line.

[Valleys boy]

my tow bar looks the same as the one on roughtrax site.I'll take look for a spacer see if that cures the problem i'd be lost without you lot

[dirtydog]

yeah smallish ones are easy to get and will be fine, we have one on the landcruiser to enable a bike rack block inbetween. Just make sure you get the correct bolts too.

[bell end billy]

Do you mean something like this.

http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?t=111&p=0&d=40

[andy]

Do you mean something like this.

http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?t=111&p=0&d=40

NO those are drop plates, look at the link on my other posting. or here http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...towball+spacer

[Valleys boy]

By fitting a spacer would it put more strain on the tow bar as the tow ball is out further from the tow bar itself.
Just a thought.
I think I've seen these in a local accessory shop I'll pop in on the week end and try one

[da SLUG man]

When I have an ALKO on the back I have to take my spare wheel off .

i had an alky in the back once...

[Valleys boy]

How high should the towball be from the floor mine is 20>21 inches to the top of the tow ball it seems high compared to others i've seen