Bloody red tape (tow bar)

[s368 vop]

Ok, so I wan't to take off my current tow bar (the plough) and fit a removable one.

Ideally i'd design & fabricate my own but failing that the one from Scorpion or Southdown would do (scorpion one dosn't look that strong & southdown one looks too damn heavy & expensive).

The problem is that the inventors of rules & red tape state that a tow bar fitted to a vehicle registered after 1st August 1998 must be type approved (E marked), my disco was reg'd on the 11th.

Rang Scorpion today and their's isn't approved, can't access Southdowns site to get their number, but i'll but thats not bloody approved either.

So supposedly i'm not allowed.

Anyone got any advice or experiance to share.


Jon.
__________________

[redhand]

Ok, so I wan't to take off my current tow bar (the plough) and fit a removable one.

Ideally i'd design & fabricate my own but failing that the one from Scorpion or Southdown would do (scorpion one dosn't look that strong & southdown one looks too damn heavy & expensive).

The problem is that the inventors of rules & red tape state that a tow bar fitted to a vehicle registered after 1st August 1998 must be type approved (E marked), my disco was reg'd on the 11th.

Rang Scorpion today and their's isn't approved, can't access Southdowns site to get their number, but i'll but thats not bloody approved either.

So supposedly i'm not allowed.

Anyone got any advice or experiance to share.


Jon.
__________________

B*gger the rules and fit 1 anyway. who's gonna bother? Not the police, they've got better things to do with their time.

[G-Cam]

I would double check that it is not the date of manufacture vs date of registration?

It could be misleading - as per the 'pre 73' free road tax. Its cars manufactured before 1.1.73 that qualify. Perhaps the towbar rules are the same?

[redhand]

I would double check that it is not the date of manufacture vs date of registration?

It could be misleading - as per the 'pre 73' free road tax. Its cars manufactured before 1.1.73 that qualify. Perhaps the towbar rules are the same?

It is the date of first registration that applies. NB type approval does not apply to light commercial vehicles so for discovery commercials and defender pickups, hardtops HCPU etc the type approval does not apply. Nor do car derived van Astramax, escort van etc etc.

Q "I have a Motor Caravan and a 1999 Transit Van - do I need to fit a Type Approved Towbar to them?"A NO. Vans, Pick Ups (including double cabs, crew cabs), Chassis Cabs, Motor Homes, Personnaly imported vehicles (not bearing EC Type Approval), vehicles not for use on the public road and any vehicle classed as a motorcycle do not need a Type Approved towbar although in the case of the Transit Van most towbar manufactures would Type Approved there towbar for it.

[ROB 110 HICAP]

B*gger the rules and fit 1 anyway. who's gonna bother? Not the police, they've got better things to do with their time.
Only when the insurance company backs out of paying a claim cos a non eu approved towbar was fitted.

[redhand]

Only when the insurance company backs out of paying a claim cos a non eu approved towbar was fitted.

Only if fitment of the towbar was a contributing factor to the accident.

[Newsreader]

Only if fitment of the towbar was a contributing factor to the accident.
:shakehead: Nope the insurers will still wriggle out if they spot it, as technically the vehicle is not road legal.

[Satancom]

Indeed Bernie is correct. Hence any mods you ever make to your car you should notify your insurance. Yes the roll bar saved your life and had nothing to do with the accident, but tough luck as it wasn't declared so your insurance is void!

[s368 vop]

Ideally I wan't to stay legal in case the worst happens, like the trailer comes off, ok it's not going to happen but you just know the fuss insurance will make if they see the tow bars not approved.

Was thinking of designing one similar to the southdown one but without the tank guard.

When I havn't got a trailer attached i'd have a recovery point mounted and the towing plate would live in the boot, so most of the time it wouldn't be a tow bar and i'd be legal most of the time just not when i'm towing...