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Type Approval |
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Why has EC Approval
for towbars been introduced?
What happens if
I don't fit a Type Approved Towbar?
I only tow a small
trailer to the tip now and again - do I need a Type approved
Towbar?
Can I transfer my
non approved towbar from my 1996 Vauxhall Vectra to my 'T' reg
Vectra?
Can I fit a type
Approved towbar myself or do I have to go to an authorised fitter?
Does 94/20/EC mean
that I can only have a swan neck towbar fitted as supplied by
the vehicle manufacturer?
I have a Vauxhall
Tigra, but can't find a Type Approved Towbar listed, can i have
one specially manufactured?
I am going to by
a 1999 'T' reg Escort Hatchback. The towbar fitted to it is not
Type Approved. What do I do?
How can I tell if
a towbar is EC Approved or not?
I have a non EC
Approved towbar on my 'P' reg Laguna Hatchback (An EC Type Approved
vehicle, which was registered in the UK in January 1997). Can
I legally use the car to tow my caravan to Germany?
If I have an accident
whilst towing on the continent using a non EC approved towbar
on my 'R' reg Omega will I be liable for prosecution for not
having an EC Approved towbar?
I have a Motor
Caravan and a 1999 Transit Van - do I need to fit a Type Approved
Towbar to them?
My local motor
dealer says that my warranty will be invalidated unless I fit
the manufacturer's towbar? |
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Why has EC
Approval for towbars been introduced?
Directive
94/20/EC was introduced as part of EWVTA to provide a common
standard throughout the European Community, Irrespective of where
a towbar has been manufactured, providing it has been type approved,
a customer will know that it has been manufactured to a known
technical and quality standard.
What happens
if I don't fit a Type Approved Towbar?
If
your car is first registered on or after the 1st August 1998
you could be prosecuted for an infringement of Construction &
Use regulations or your insurers may decline to pay out in the
event of an accident claim. If you are unsure which towbar to
fit please feel free to contact us.
I only tow
a small trailer to the tip now and again - do I need a Type approved
Towbar?
YES.
You need a Type Approved towbar even if you don't use it for
towing! Otherwise it does not comply with the Road Traffic Act.
Can I transfer
my non approved towbar from my 1996 Vauxhall Vectra to my 'T'
reg Vectra?
NO.
Only Type Approved towbars can be fitted to relevant vehicles
first registered on or after 1st August 1998.
Can I fit a
type Approved towbar myself or do I have to go to an authorised
fitter?
YES.
You can fit the towbar yourself provided that it is installed
in accordance with the instructions provided.
Does 94/20/EC
mean that I can only have a swan neck towbar fitted as supplied
by the vehicle manufacturer?
NO.
A towbar with the popular two-hole flange ball faceplate and
towball made by an Independent towbar manufacturer can be EC
Type Approved. Over 2/3rds of are EC Approved range of towbars
are of the two-hole flange type.
I have a Vauxhall
Tigra, but can't find a Type Approved Towbar listed, can i have
one specially manufactured?
NO.
When the vehicle was EC Type Approved the manufacturer did not
declare it to be suitable for towing. It therefore has no specified
towing capacity and no specified mounting points. Towing with,
or even the fitment of a towbar to any such vehicle registered
on or after 1st August 1998 would make you liable to prosecution.
Other such examples are the Ford Ka and the Audi TT coupe.
I am going
to by a 1999 'T' reg Escort Hatchback. The towbar fitted to it
is not Type Approved. What do I do?
Insist
that the towbar is removed immediately and replaced worth one
that is Type Approved. If you don't get a satisfactory response
you should report the matter to your local trading standards
office.
How can I tell
if a towbar is EC Approved or not?
It
will have a label, data plate or stamping showing an 'E' number
(e.g. E11*01*1662) This figure denotes that it is EC Approved
in the UK (E11) and has an approval number of 1662 which is in
fact EECo's Vectra Saloon/Hatch/Estate.
I have a non
EC Approved towbar on my 'P' reg Laguna Hatchback (An EC Type
Approved vehicle, which was registered in the UK in January 1997).
Can I legally use the car to tow my caravan to Germany?
YES.
Although the EC Regulations are applied differently and introduced
at different times in different countries, it is the country
of registration that defines how and when you comply with the
relevant EC Regulation.
If I have an
accident whilst towing on the continent using a non EC approved
towbar on my 'R' reg Omega will I be liable for prosecution for
not having an EC Approved towbar?
NO.
Provided the vehicle is registered in the UK before the 1st August
1998, however if the towbar is considered to have contribution
to causing the accident for reasons of inadequacy e.g a poor
made "home made" unit, or obviously incorrectly installed
than naturally prosecution may be a possibility.
I have a Motor
Caravan and a 1999 Transit Van - do I need to fit a Type Approved
Towbar to them?
NO.
Vans, Pick Ups (including double cabs, crew cabs), Chassis Cabs,
Motor Homes, Personally 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. There are plans for type approval
on commercial to
My local motor
dealer says that my warranty will be invalidated unless I fit
the manufacturer's towbar?
94/20/EC
was designed to create free trade. If you fit a Type Approved
towbar it will not invalidate the vehicle warranty. Under Block
Exemption Rules a motor vehicle manufacturer cannot prevent a
franchised outlet from supplying or fitting components deemed
to be of equal quality to that supplied by the vehicle manufacture
- such as a Type Approved Towbar.
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Towbar Fitting |
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Will my bumper
need cutting?
Does the towbar come with fitting instructions?
Is any drilling required?
Is any welding required?
Will my LPG conversion be a problem? |
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Will my bumper need cutting?
It has become more
popular for towbars to require a bumper cut. Most towbars have
to fit to the vehicle manufactures specified towbar mounting
points and with modern bumpers stretching underneath the vehicle
many bumper cuts are required. However many are "non-visible"
bumper cuts. Email
or phone us for details on your vehicle.
Does the towbar come with fitting
instructions?
Yes all towbars come with fitting instructions. If you want a
copy just email us.
Is any drilling required?
This depends on the vehicle, some vehicles have all the holes
pre-drilled other vehicles require some drilling.
Is any welding required?
No. All towbars are fitted using bolts.
Will my LPG conversion be a
problem?
All conversions are
fitted (hopefully) to make the best use of the vehicle design.
This often means that LPG tanks and pipework prevent the fitting
of a towbar. Email
us for a copy of the fitting instructions to see if you might
have a problem.
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Electrics |
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Why are electrics
not supplied free of charge with the towbar?
Do I require a
by-pass relay? |
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Why are electrics not supplied
free of charge with the towbar?
Because there are too
many choices of different electrics you may require. You many
need single, twin or 13 Pin electrics. You may need universal
or vehicle specific electrics, and if using universal electrics
then you may need a by-pass relay.
Some companies that offer a
free electrical kit do not include the by-pass relay; this could
cause damage to your vehicle or just simply not work.
Do I require a by-pass relay?
The vehicles that we believe require a by-pass relay are coloured
green on the price list.
A by-pass relay is not required
when using a vehicle specific electrical kit.
We regret that will not accept responsibility for the incorrect
wiring kit being ordered.If in any doubt please consult your
vehicles handbook or vehicle manufacturer.
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Delivery |
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How much is the
delivery charge?
Can I collect from you? |
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How much is the delivery charge?
For
full details please click here.
Can I collect from you?
Yes
of course please click here. |
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