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[Bigron]

I seem to be increasingly usung my saloon car as a van, especially as I'm transporting materials for paving/concreting my lawn to park my Omega on (driveway full of tin tent), therefore I'm thinking about adding a towbar and cheapo trailer.
Can anyone help, please?

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, but I couldn't find the wanted/for sale section - stupid, I know! 

Ron.

[Entwood]

Towbar must be "type approved" to be legal .. so you need one designed for the Omega, not difficult to fit yourself, just "awkward" without a ramp as you need to get a fair way under the car.

If just using a trailer you only need the road lights option used to be called 12N .. very simple to do as all the wiring already exists in the boot, all you need is a couple of relays to get it all working.

Other option is to get some quotes from the fitting companies ... they can do the whole job in a couple of hours.

Trailers now have to be "plated" IIRC, with the max weight ... mine is so old and so home made it has no plate .. but is extremely solid .. 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

This reminds me. I really must attach the removable towbar to my car and check all is as it should be.
I haven't done it since I bought the car, and knowing my luck the time I will find out that something is wrong with it will be the first time I need to use it. 

[kingshott50]

Got a towbar in my shed if you can reach kings lynn free for members only ? never fitted to my car but it came off a omega.

[Doctor Gollum]

Got a towbar in my shed if you can reach kings lynn free for members only ? never fitted to my car but it came off a omega.

Saloon and estate tow bars are very different... Wiring identical though

[kingshott50]

Its is for a saloon,i think its got electrics too,will check tomorrow 👍

[Boatboy]

Funny enough I was under the back of mine yesterday confirming the rumours that a towbar salvaged from a pfl estate is no good for a facelift estate.
With type approval required I doubt they would look to kindly if I modified it, especially with my welding, so if anyone needs one its going spare.

Steve

[Bigron]

Got a towbar in my shed if you can reach kings lynn free for members only ? never fitted to my car but it came off a omega.

That's a brilliant offer, but distance is the problem - 100 miles each way, and my Omega has a drink problem!
Actually, the last time I towed was with my beloved Carlton estate, pulling my Sprite caravan, I fitted a "Trapezium" tow hitch, (wonderful device) - which makes a "virtual" pivot point around the centre of the axle instead of at the tow ball, resulting in a very stable outfit free of snaking.

Ron.

[robson]

Had mine supplied and fitted at home  by a mobile tow bar fitter.Reasonable price.

[kingshott50]

No worries Ron 👍

[Bigron]

Yes, it's a xhame; but I do appreciate the offer. Many thanks. 

Ron.

[Keith ABS]

 There used to be a tow bar fitting company in Witham Ron, on Freebournes

Keith ABS

[johnnydog]

I am certain I have seen a plug connector branching off the wiring loom hidden away in the rear panel which is a simple 'plug and play' for the towbar wiring. Whether it is for the original Vauxhall towbar electrics kit or whether the aftermarket do a suitable kit, I'm not certain, but worth checking. Would make the wiring a lot simpler if your car has the plug and you can get the correct tow bar loom to connect to it.

[Entwood]

I am certain I have seen a plug connector branching off the wiring loom hidden away in the rear panel which is a simple 'plug and play' for the towbar wiring. Whether it is for the original Vauxhall towbar electrics kit or whether the aftermarket do a suitable kit, I'm not certain, but worth checking. Would make the wiring a lot simpler if your car has the plug and you can get the correct tow bar loom to connect to it.

Plug exists but socket is virtually un-gettable. Cut off the plug and connect wires to 12N socket wires, as appropriate, by soldering/shrink wrapping. IIRC the only additional thing needed is a different flasher relay .. and all that does is make the repeater on the dash work !!

You can buy an expensive "trailer pack" set up from Vx which gives additional bulb failure warnings. I have that as I tow a "tin tent" a lot, and for quite high miles, for just an occasional use trailer I wouldn't have bothered.

[Andy B]

I am certain I have seen a plug connector branching off the wiring loom hidden away in the rear panel which is a simple 'plug and play' for the towbar wiring. Whether it is for the original Vauxhall towbar electrics kit or whether the aftermarket do a suitable kit, I'm not certain, but worth checking. Would make the wiring a lot simpler if your car has the plug and you can get the correct tow bar loom to connect to it.

Plug exists but socket is virtually un-gettable. Cut off the plug and connect wires to 12N socket wires, as appropriate, by soldering/shrink wrapping. IIRC the only additional thing needed is a different flasher relay .. and all that does is make the repeater on the dash work !!

You can buy an expensive "trailer pack" set up from Vx which gives additional bulb failure warnings. I have that as I tow a "tin tent" a lot, and for quite high miles, for just an occasional use trailer I wouldn't have bothered.

Bear in mind that if you use the dedicated plug/socket in the boot, the brake light feed to it is via the trailer check 'relay' base up front. So you you either bridge that connector block or take the brake light feed directly from the car's brake lights.