tow bar problems

[Brenno]

i've had my car now for about 10 yrs, while it has always had a tow bar it was missing the tonge.

after getting one made late last year (they dont make them anymore) i then chased down a few bolts to hold it onto my car, while these nuts lasted a few months, i have found that the tonge is now hanging from the tow bar, when i looked at it i found that the bolts are in fact lose in the tow bar, by lose i mean, i can put the bolts in them move it in out by simply by pushing or pulling on the bolt.

i've gone back to the shop where i bought the bolts and asked for larger one that will hold better but they sold me the same ones.

so my question is, can anyone recommend a place where i can take my car and get someone to look at the tow bar and then sell me the correct bolts as i'm worried about the tonge coming off and my boat with it.

any help would be great.


Thanks

Mark

[Mr__Bean]

Where are you Mark?

[BilgeBoy]

Would get that looked at for sure.

I would recommend that you take that to one of the local tow bar manufacturers as these guys would have the experience to help you. It sounds like the bolts have come loose and the tongue movement has elongated the holes.

You could also try your local mechanic or any of the 4X4 outlets. Most of these sell bars of all types and SHOULD be able to help. Failing that get around to your local Bolt shop. Tell them your problem and should steer you in the right direction.

Please, make sure you have the chains on if you tow in the meantime. Nobody wants to explain to someone why their boat is in their lounge room or front fence.

You may even need a new bar?? Bar $450, boat $$$$$$$$$ I know which one I would rather replace.

Good luck with it!!

BilgeBoy

[Roughasguts]

Mate tow bars aren't that dear.
185 bucks for me Altise.
285 bucks for 2.5 tonne rated Haymen look a like, for the Paj.

[Kleyny]

if your on the northside I'd go to Arrow caravans/ towbars.

hope the name doesn't get deleted
neil

[Brenno]

Mr_Bean i'm in Jindalee on the West side of Brisbane.

was going to put my car in the shop as i want to get it serviced before i take it and my boat away for easter, could be a 1600 round trip, so i'am worried that the boat mite not arrive with me.

will start to have a look around at some of the places above.

Thanks heaps

Mark

[Eagle]

Hi Mark,
There should be a shop somewhere near you that specializes in nuts and bolts. Try and accurately measure the diameter of the holes where the bolts are to fit. This will give you a starting point. Take the tongue with you to the bolt shop and get the salesman to find one from their stock that will fit with minimum clearance. Take the bolt, tongue and salesman to your car and try the combination for size. The ideal bolt will have the threads ending about 2 mm below the surface of the tongue. The main body of the bolt with no threads will then be located within both the towbar and also the tongue. This is the ideal setup but it's not always possible to achieve. By having the full diameter of the bolt located in this manner, the maximum shear strength of the bolt is made available. A bolt with the threads finishing directly under the head of the bolt is a very bad choice of bolt to use. If the tongue should come loose, the threads will chew into the sides of the holes which will enlarge the holes as well. Also, the shear strength of the bolt is not up to the job at hand because of the small root diameter of the thread.
You can support the head of the bolt by placing a heavy duty CLOSE FITTING washer under the head. This washer will be at least 5mm thick and WILL NOT be sloppy on the bolt. To "set" the nut when it's being tightened, you can use some Locktite on the threads, or if the thread length is sufficient, use a lock nut instead.
Make certain that you use only Grade 8 bolts and nuts for this application. This grade of steel is identified by the stamping marks on the head of the bolt. The salesman SHOULD help you in the id of the bolt/steel. Make sure you shop at a reputable store as there are lots of COUNTERFIET nuts and bolts that will NOT take the load you intend to apply. These counterfiet bolts have SIMILAR marks but they are not the same as the genuine marks on the real thing.
Be careful if using spring washers. Poor quality spring washers will spread open and the nut will pass thru the washer. Most spring washers are way too sloppy and I refuse to use them on such a critical coupling as a tow bar.
Here in Rockhampton ( a relatively small country town) there are two stores that specialize in nuts and bolts and in Yeppoon (where I live) there is also one more.
You should be able to find a store close (?) by you.
Hope this info helps you out,

Eagle