Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: billy no mates on 29 July 2009, 21:58:05

Title: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: billy no mates on 29 July 2009, 21:58:05
Finally got round to fitting a Brink's Detachable on my Facelift Saloon (came loose in the boot), fitted it as per the Brinks instruction's, cut the rear bumper, fitted rear parking sensors, put it all back together and dang. 

The towball is very close to the number plate, maybe only 30mm clearance  :'( . So i have either the wrong towbar or the detachable ball is from a different car.

Any help to cure the problem would be welcome, even to measure a facelift detachable ball length ( that does not sound right :o)

Maybe a Facelift Brinks towball for sale  ;) if its longer..

thanks
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: Kevin Wood on 29 July 2009, 22:14:28
Sounds like it might be for a pre-facelift where the bumper wasn't quite as deep. :-/

Kevin
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: Boiler Man on 29 July 2009, 23:40:19
Hi mate

I'm afraid I'm no expert, but I fitted a detachable to mine (GBW) I think. :-/

Anyway, mine looked very close to, but when I got my trailer on it there was still a good gap and when you think about it. It isn't going to get any closer.

I'm just carefull when I drop the trailer on.

Have you tried it? ::) :y
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: Andy B on 30 July 2009, 00:11:59
Quote
Hi mate

I'm afraid I'm no expert, but I fitted a detachable to mine (GBW) I think. :-/

Anyway, mine looked very close to, but when I got my trailer on it there was still a good gap and when you think about it. It isn't going to get any closer.

I'm just carefull when I drop the trailer on.

Have you tried it? ::) :y

I've always said that facelift & preface lift towbars were different. Bosal for example used to list all sorts of bar at one time, but seem to have consolidated to saloon & estate. ::)
An Al-ko hitch, if fitted, would be closer.
I'm already on the 3rd different bar on mine so would be reluctant to do another swap, but if you were ever 'Ooop North'  ......  ::) My Westafalia detachable ball is miles away from the bumper when fitted so suggest it's designed for a face lift.  ;)  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: Kevin Wood on 30 July 2009, 00:16:26
Quote
My Westafalia detachable ball is miles away from the bumper when fitted so suggest it's designed for a face lift.

 ::)

Worked fine on my facelift IIRC. Then again, it came from Elite Pete's prefacelift originally. ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: Andy B on 30 July 2009, 00:24:33
Quote
Quote
My Westafalia detachable ball is miles away from the bumper when fitted so suggest it's designed for a face lift.

 ::)

Worked fine on my facelift IIRC. Then again, it came from Elite Pete's prefacelift originally. ;D

Kevin

Kev ... don't get me wrong. I wasn't complaining, it looks great or rather doesn't look at all when not fitted  ;D ;D ;D It's just a lot further out from the bumper than the 'correct' Bosal swan neck bar that had been fitted before was.
If I think about it, this bar sits as far from the bumper as my original Witter type had sat.
I'm very very happy with my towbar & have just swapped to a single 13 pin trailer socket and have just obtained (FOC from Bosal) a swing-out-of-the-way mounting plate for it.  :y  :y  :y
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: billy no mates on 30 July 2009, 19:49:03
Enclosed pics, it is really close  :o :o
I suspect wrong ball  :-/
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/3772980776_9f32ac666a.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/3772173835_39fb62098b.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2533/3772174607_dd8840a6e2.jpg)
Quote
My Westafalia detachable ball is miles away from the bumper when fitted so suggest it's designed for a face lift. 

I am in down in Haydock next week for 3 nights, are you selling the Westfalia cheap ;), or maybe easier to find facelift Brink's ball  :-/?

Maybe put a wanted add up ?

Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: Andy B on 30 July 2009, 19:51:42
This mine ...... not the best of angles to show the distance from bumper to ball
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k17/Tiff4327/S73F1068.jpg)
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: billy no mates on 30 July 2009, 19:53:03
Now that's what i call ball clearance, no chance of scuffing the bumper there then.
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: Kevin Wood on 30 July 2009, 19:53:43
Quote

Kev ... don't get me wrong. I wasn't complaining...

No problem. I didn't think that you were. :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: billy no mates on 30 July 2009, 19:55:15
Quote
but if you were ever 'Ooop North' 

I am North  ;D ;D about 4 hours up from you  ::) ::)
Title: Re: Detachable Brink's Towbar or Ball not long enough
Post by: Andy B on 30 July 2009, 19:57:14
Quote
.....
 are you selling the Westfalia cheap ;), or maybe easier to find facelift Brink's ball  :-/?

Maybe put a wanted add up ?


Afraid not mate!  ;)  ;)  ;) Have you had a word with Brink? Probably better to find a UK phone number rather than emailing somewhere. It's probably too close to even use.  :'(