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[cdx25]

Hi all,

Anyone got a good recommendation for a towbar for the facelift estate? (Or even better, one for sale!)  Looks like my car has had one on the back before as the boot dimples have been drilled out previously. Id like to get one that fits these standard holes without any bumper cutting. Dont mind if its non-detachable.  Any suggestions?

How does the wiring work out? Last towbar I fitted involved cutting into the wiring loom but I found on this forum a suggestion that its on a multiplug these days.  (Probably shows how long ago I fitted a towbar!)

Finding this forum a huge source of help.  Just hope I can return the help when I know more about what Im doing with these cars  

Jon

[Kevin Wood]

There is a connector in the back (behind the trim at the rear of the boot on a saloon) which contains all the wires required for a towbar. Not sure where it is on the estate. The only issue is that the brake light signal passes through a current sensing device to detect bulb failure and this is not fitted if a factory tow bar is not fitted. I guess you might be lucky if it's previously had a tow bar. If not, you need to bridge 2 pins of the vacant socket.

Kevin

[Andy B]

Hi all,

Anyone got a good recommendation for a towbar for the facelift estate? (Or even better, one for sale!)  Looks like my car has had one on the back before as the boot dimples have been drilled out previously. Id like to get one that fits these standard holes without any bumper cutting. Dont mind if its non-detachable.  Any suggestions?

How does the wiring work out? Last towbar I fitted involved cutting into the wiring loom but I found on this forum a suggestion that its on a multiplug these days.  (Probably shows how long ago I fitted a towbar!)

Finding this forum a huge source of help.  Just hope I can return the help when I know more about what Im doing with these cars   :-[Jon

There's one here on eBay but £100 for a 2nd hand towbat looks a bit expensive to me. My Bosal towbar for a saloon was about £110 new, but I fitted it. As for the plug in electrics, I suppose it depends whether you want to dig deep for a proper GM loom - I believe they're expensive.

[Neil]

I had a towsure one on mine.  Seemed fine to me, I'm pretty sure it fitted the standard mountings and didn't have a cutout in the bumper.

[Andy B]

.....
I guess you might be lucky if it's previously had a tow bar. ......

In my experiance towbar fitters don't want to wire 'em up as GM/Vauxhall intended. They want the car in & out in the fastest time and wire them for the easiest, that's why some fitters will fit a buzzer rather than take the extra few minutes to remove the dash to fit the trailer warning lamp, and fit a 4 pin flasher relay.

[cdx25]

>> towbar fitters don't want to wire 'em up as GM/Vauxhall intended.

Good point, I'd better investigate the existing wiring before I get ideas of using the multiplug!

Cheers

Jon

[Matchless]

All the towbars Ive seen on estates use the same drilled holes so you shouldnt have a problem fitting one.
The electrics connector is in the back panel, just to the left of the jack (take the spare wheel out), not all cars have it present, the matching half is only available from Vx and is expensive, most fitters cut it off or scotch-block into the wires at the connector.

I think you have to make two cuts into the bottom of the bumper under part for most makes of towbar, I had one which didnt need this but kept grounding it in carpark exits so I guess it was a bit lower as a result.

[cdx25]

Cheers Andy and Matchless for the wiring info and directions to the loom.  Sure enough the previous fitters had scotchlocked the wiring on, so that there are a pile of very flaky wires there now. Im going to cut the lot off and stick a decent connector on there.

Now all I need to do is find a towbar!

Thanks for the comments and suggestions,

Jon