Towbar (again)

[Spuddy]

Hi.

This may have been brought up in the past but I want to tow a small boat behind my Aygo and feel that if a bar is avalerble in Holland then we should have the option in England. The Yaris has the same engine and that is certified for a towbar, I feel we are bieng ripped off by either Toyota or british gold plating of EU regs. Any idears as how to get a bar?

[REFZ]

The towbars in Holland are only compatible for a bike carrieer, it is not allowed to tow something in Holland.

The towbar is more or less a mount for the bike carrier.

[Boro Sera]

That makes sense to me.

I'd be very surprised if a car the size of the Aygo would be allowed to tow a trailer in this day and age

[Jan van de Wouw]

Jst as REFZ allready stated it is NOT a Towbar, but a mount.

To give you an idea, here's what it looks like without the Twinny Load on:

Image borrowed from citybugclub.nl/forum

[Spuddy]

Thanks for the piccys, the basic bar arrangement would be fine to support a light boat trailer, it would weigh less than 4up in an Aygo, if only it were avalerble locally!

[pink.41]

Thanks for the piccys, the basic bar arrangement would be fine to support a light boat trailer, it would weigh less than 4up in an Aygo, if only it were avalerble locally!

I've had one sent from holland via UPS I think, i've towed a motorcycle trailer with up to 150kgs load and its fine, try email info@monoflex.se and ask for suppliers in Holland, I can't find my invoice with the address on, and the hard drive with other info on has crashed.. Its really easy to fit and the towball bit is easily removable.. if you have no success email me on pink.41@hotmail.com and I'll try and help..

[miss_d_bus]

I recall reading in the manual that the car is not suitable for towing.

I wonder if it could void your insurance if you were in an accident with a trailer attached?

[daveyjp]

"wonder if it could void your insurance if you were in an accident with a trailer attached?"

Probably yes - using vehicle outside it's design limits. I remember when we owned a smart there was a similar debate as smarts aren't designed to tow, but it didn't stop some owners attaching a two bar and pulling trailers.

[miss_d_bus]

"wonder if it could void your insurance if you were in an accident with a trailer attached?"

Probably yes - using vehicle outside it's design limits. I remember when we owned a smart there was a similar debate as smarts aren't designed to tow, but it didn't stop some owners attaching a two bar and pulling trailers.

There is no data about the towable mass of a trailer on the registration certificate.

To quote the manual:

"Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your Toyota. It is not designed for trailer towing."

The key part is the last sentence.

[Boss Hogg]

I say go for it, all it takes is a phone call to sort out insurance.

The Moon wasn't designed for landing on but that didn't stop them!

We are English, as soon as someone says we can't do something, all we are going to do is find out ways we can!

[Boro Sera]

We are English, as soon as someone says we can't do something, all we are going to do is find out ways we can!

Once maybe, not so much now !

We are English, as soon as someone says we can't do something we accept this, bow our heads, pay more taxes and get on with our lives while the rest of the world achieves the things we ' aren't allowed to '

[Unklian]

We are English, as soon as someone says we can't do something we accept this, bow our heads, pay more taxes and get on with our lives while the rest of the world achieves the things we ' aren't allowed to '

100% FACT !

[pink.41]

If we took notice of all "the things we are'nt supposed to do" we'd never exist, think about it.. I'm not saying towing a 3 ton trailer is wise, but putting 3 cycles and that heavy carrier is very little less weight than trailer + lightweight motorcycle.. I picked an Aygo cos i like it , and cos it's small and suitable for our roads, the same reasons I ride a motorcycle, which the EU eggheads now are trying to ban, what next? anyway thats off topic, just get on to monoflex and get one ordered..

[REFZ]

I found these pics on the French CityBug Forum.

See this topic: http://lestriplettes.superforum.fr/quand-c...e-velo-t247.htm

[REFZ]

I found another solution for the towbar on the Dutch C1 Forum.

See this topic: http://citroen-forum.nl/viewtopic.php?t=182755

[Spuddy]

I found another solution for the towbar on the Dutch C1 Forum.

See this topic: http://citroen-forum.nl/viewtopic.php?t=182755

[Spuddy]

Thank you chaps, I will try to find importers! Will let you know if I am successful

[pink.41]

Read my post, mate, use the email to monoflex, they are the only people making this bar, I got one from the supplier in Holland with no problem, you just need his bank acc no to do an international money transfer from your bank, perfectly safe, got mine 4 days after.. if you need to PM me send me a message via forum, and i'll send my email add.. Pink..

[pink.41]

ok I found the supplier, its; V.M.V.Autos, Th. J. Martens, Aasterstraat 9, 5721 EE ASTEN, tel 0493 - 691526, fax 0493 - 696005, presumably you need code for Holland in front of those.. try to find you email add if i can, lost when comp crashed a few weeks ago, I'm trying good ol' Google.. Pink

[Parts-King]

This opens up a whole can of worms with regards to towing etc. Toyota tow bars mount on the cars "towing" points, other manufacturers mount their towbars anywhere for "ease of fittment". I once saw a Landcruiser with one of the leading UK manufacturers towbars on it, mounted for ease of fittment and NOT on the towing point. The back end of the Cruiser was about to break away, the whole rear section was about to drop off on the road, the customer came in to complain about some "cracking" noises he could here from the back of the car. I have never seen somebody from the towbar factory turn up so quickly to view/repair the Cruiser. So if you did buy one of these bike mounts and you towed with it, you could find yourself in deep water should you become involved in an accident, dont think your insurance company will stand by you if the manufacturer clearly states the car is not to be used for towing, they wont.

Kingo

[pink.41]

Also, you can go on www.monoflex.se and log into their shop, if you use the drop down menu in top right, you can get english, and order direct, or email order@monoflex.se and request closest supplier .

[iangray100]

Also, you can go on www.monoflex.se and log into their shop, if you use the drop down menu in top right, you can get English, and order direct, or email order@monoflex.se and request closest supplier .

The car will never be approved for Insurance for towing, as it has never passed Type Approval to tow anything as stated by Toyota the manufactuer. If you tow and a claim is made against due to damage, injury or even death, you or your insurance company could end up in very liable situation....

Subaru had the same issue with the UK22B and P1 Impreza model as Subaru stated it was not Type Approved for towing.....but you could go and buy a tow-bar for the Impreza for the other models ...it had the same floor pan!!!

Also all tow-bars sold and used in the EU must conform to set EU standards and be stamped as such....another insurance requirement!!! Gone are the days you welded on up in the garage.

[pink.41]

Yes but the point is, if you want to carry a bicycle on yer Aygo, this device is designed to do just that, if you try putting one of those carriers that sit on the rear door/hatch, be prepared for the sound of breaking glass, and yes, it is a song as well. lol..

[sledgehammeruk]

Hi

I looked into towing with an Aygo , It can't be done , especially with that support bar

the boot floor is too thin to support the thrust of a trailer on braking

the support legs shown in the pic are for very light loads and are too far away from the body ,

ie they will act as a lever when sideways force is applied

there is no drag link bar to drag / stop the load bending the cross bar

makes me laugh when someone bolts on a tow bar , the first thing they do is jump up and down on it (I've done it myself)

this isn't the way a tow bar is loaded in use , up and down forces are small ... forward and backward forces are massive ,

even for a small trailer

a 18 stone trailer can weigh up to 12 tonnes in a crash at 30 mph (head on , or building , approximate)

Ps I used to make lorry bodies and repair them after crashes ... it soon changes your opinion of what is ''safe''

don't do it .....

[Carole Heard]

That makes sense to me.

I'd be very surprised if a car the size of the Aygo would be allowed to tow a trailer in this day and age

Whyzat then?

The Yaris has the same engine in a piggin great body and that can tow a trailer.

I mean, it's a real disincentive to buy a small car if you (a) can't carry anything in it or (b ) tow your luggage behind.

I'd like to buy an iQ or maybe an Aygo with MMT (I've got a Yaris right now) but I can't because I want to put stuff in them, like tents, outboard motors or model aeroplanes from time to time, but it doesn't make sense to have a larger car just for that purpose.

What were the designers thinking of?

Something else, obviously.