Witter tow bar problems

[Dexter]

has anyone else used a witter tow bar... we've just spent an hour in the rain trying to get the n/s backet to mount/align upto the chassis rail with no luck...

we have the TY87A for the 4runner, the exhaust bracket is not the issue, its the towing eye bracket, seems we cant get the bracket flush enough to the chassis rail to get the vertical bolt in

the o/s bolted up just fine BTW

ideas anyone?

[marky]

is it a 3 piece one

[TonyN]

Can you not just cut/grind a bit out till it fits?

[Tallyman]

I've just had a Witter bar fitted to mine (professionally) and everything fits perfectly. Are you trying to fit the bracket already made up or are you fitting the plates to the chassis rail first and then adding the towing bracket after. If the former, try fitting the plates separately first.

Mike G

[Elvz]

I've fitted two of them and they aren't a really close fit because of the tie down eyes but I've never had a problem with the vertical bolts.

[Dexter]

thanks guys... it's the 3 piece one, and we're fitting the two brackets first rarther than putting the brackets onto the bar and fitting it complete...

the three bolts that go through the chassis horizontally fit fine, we just cant get the bracket to sit close enough to the chassis to get the vertical bolt in... its out by at about 5-8mm... and this is only on the near-side, offside fitted fine.

we have allready ground one of the welded on washers to help the bracket fit closer to little effect

[trackdayqueen]

No worries, (Dexter's other half here!) I filed the bottom bolt hole out a little in the chassis. Total PITA and how much were my arms aching, but got there in the end. The rest was relatively simple, though torquing up all the bolts took some doing!!

Its lucky he's got a mechanically adept girlfriend! GLOL!

[marky]

i'd have popped round with mine so you could have a look but youve done it now so no worries.

[Danno]

Dexter, Just had a look at www.trackdayqueen.com.

JEEEZ DON'T LET HER DRIVE THE SURF, I'VE SEEN THE DAMAGE SHE CAN DO!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHA

[marky]

No worries, (Dexter's other half here!) I filed the bottom bolt hole out a little in the chassis. Total PITA and how much were my arms aching, but got there in the end. The rest was relatively simple, though torquing up all the bolts took some doing!!

Its lucky he's got a mechanically adept girlfriend! GLOL!

LAUREN youve got some guts mate, some people retire after a swipe like that.
the cat & fiddle road is especially challenging but its good fun. the road out of pott shrigley towards the goyt is fun as well.

[trackdayqueen]

Are you talking about the lampost incident? God i'll never live that down!!! arrgghh! It was a bit unfortunate, but not overly helped by stationary motorway maintenance trucks on blind bends on m'way slip roads....

Dexter is worried enough as it is with me using the surf and always complains that i drive it too fast (as if!). Now the towbar is on I will be using it to recover broken down cars at a trackday i'm working at this weekend. Should be fun!

Just to be on topic-ish I'm hoping the Surf will be good for towing as i have to trailer cars on occasion. Just as an example will I trailer a car in the region of 1100kgs okay? Most of the time it will be Caterhams which are only 500kgs or so..

[marky]

Are you talking about the lampost incident? God i'll never live that down!!! arrgghh! It was a bit unfortunate, but not overly helped by stationary motorway maintenance trucks on blind bends on m'way slip roads....

Dexter is worried enough as it is with me using the surf and always complains that i drive it too fast (as if!). Now the towbar is on I will be using it to recover broken down cars at a trackday i'm working at this weekend. Should be fun!

Just to be on topic-ish I'm hoping the Surf will be good for towing as i have to trailer cars on occasion. Just as an example will I trailer a car in the region of 1100kgs okay? Most of the time it will be Caterhams which are only 500kgs or so..

yes you will be fine pulling that weight you can pull 100% of the surfs weight which is around 1900kgs

[jotto]

Are you talking about the lampost incident? God i'll never live that down!!! arrgghh! It was a bit unfortunate, but not overly helped by stationary motorway maintenance trucks on blind bends on m'way slip roads....

Dexter is worried enough as it is with me using the surf and always complains that i drive it too fast (as if!). Now the towbar is on I will be using it to recover broken down cars at a trackday i'm working at this weekend. Should be fun!

Just to be on topic-ish I'm hoping the Surf will be good for towing as i have to trailer cars on occasion. Just as an example will I trailer a car in the region of 1100kgs okay? Most of the time it will be Caterhams which are only 500kgs or so..

You will have no problems towing I just towed this on a 500 mile round trip

[Dexter]

i think i should point out that my name is not actually Dexter! my real name is Mark... dexter is just a nickname i use for forums (is there anyway i can change this now?)

sadly we both have had our fair share of motoring incidents... http://www.mr2.net/e393cvm/index.html

[marky]

have you got a lab like the one on DEXTERS LAB LOL