Jonny5H

Right guys I hope someone has some experience of the nightmare to get a tow-bar for the 2.2 TDCi ST Estate, I'm yet to even get the car and already worrying if I purchased the wrong tow car.

I want a detachable tow-bar with 13 pin electrics to fold out of way as I don't want them on show, so far so good. Local tow-bar fitting firms have given prices which all sit at the same sort of £350 price, however each of the tow-bars offered state on the manufacturers info that it's not for ST.

I've followed up with each manufacturer and after explaining that I have the TDCi and not the Petrol some say it could maybe fit and others still say no.

My question is has anyone got a detachable tow-bar fitted that doesn't require a visible cut and if so who makes it please as I'm losing the will to live with this.

Thanks

dojj

iTrader: (3)

you won't get a detachable one as the bumpers are a different shape

been there done that, nothing would appear to exist, and i've even tried to get something to fit in it's place like a swan neck but they don't

you can get the normal bar to fit, it's just VERY VERY close to the bumper and you need to chop the under tray (which isn't cheap if you cut it wrong and you need it to keep the bumper from tearing out from underneath when you are trotting along the motorway)

i'll post some pics up to show you

dojj

iTrader: (3)

Jonny5H

Thanks for this, I'm very very annoyed with myself as I really wanted a detachable and thought I'd found the perfect balanced tow car / day-to-day car. I really do not want to be cutting the bumpers on this new car, it's not as I envisaged!

The info I've had from different tow-bar fitting firms have really varied, some just seem to give a price and quoted on bars that clear say they will not work...others are a little more open, but still not giving the answer I had hoped.

My misses is not going to be happy that our new tow-car is not everything I had hoped.

Jonny5H

Just noticed the back of my new ST looks different to your, I'm not talking about the twin pipes but that the skirt doesn't look as low.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

you've got a standard "sports" bumper on there so the tow bar should fit not a problem

they do a "standard" bumper too with an extension and a detachable plate in the middle for the hidden versions but i've not seen them about as standard

dojj

iTrader: (3)

that's the normal rear bumper



notice that the undertray section is actually seperate from the rest of the bumper

Jonny5H

Phew, I hope so, thanks.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

just remember that whatever set up you get, you have 2 plates that bolt to the chassis rails through holes in the chassis rails designed to be loaded up for towing

the crossbar then bolts to these and then the tow bracket/hook bolts to this

you can get self hook up wiring looms too which plug into the cars original loom and then power up the electrics, all you need is a live feed from the rear power point to stop the indicators flashing too quickly and it's job done

i took my time and it took me about a day to do as i wanted it to be right

and then another few days to iron out all the issues i had when one day wasn't enough as the wiring is a bit of a shit and the rear bumper HAS to come off in order to not only run the wiring, but also to make it easier to fit and not faff about removing bits of exhaust to get to the exhaust heat sheilding that you need to remove to get to the bolt holes

dojj

iTrader: (3)

here's a link to some stuff i posted about on another forum

http://www.talkford.com/topic/126108...st220-bumpers/

Bailes1992

Just to note. That's an early ST220 above. It's completely illegal to tow with an ST220!


I have seen a few ST TDCi's with detachable tow bars! In fact Ford offered one as an optional extra.

Jonny5H

Thanks for this, but I'll not be fitting it...never done one and I don't fancy doing one either, best left with an expert I feel from my point of view.

Jonny5H

Thanks, I 've just had a quote from my local Ford stealer... only £700 fitted with a dedicated loom, but they still say they need to cut the bumper.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

none of the cars pictured or linked to are st220's so you don't need to call the police or any insurance companies to tell them we are breaking the law

dojj

iTrader: (3)

knowing what i know, and armed with nothing more than a few spanners and a hacksaw blade, i reckon i could do it in an hour if you supply the parts, mine only cost me £40 for the tow bar and £47 for the electrics and a few quid for the spade connector and wiring to the +ve, so ford are going to charge you £600 in labour.................?

Jonny5H

I know the Ford price is an utter joke when you look the prices from others places, £500 for a tow bar fitting centre, £350 for a mobile fitter and in my case I priced it up for parts for £150 ish.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

It realy does only need a few spanners and a set of screwdrivers

Jonny5H

Thanks, but I'm going get this fitted by a NTTA fitter to fit this wouldn't want my £10,000 caravan going for a drive by itself!

Jonny5H

Detachable Witter towbar fitted today by a mobile NTTA guy, Craig of Towbars To Trust. No fuss or drama...or visible cut to the bumper, fold away electrics. Very tidy job all neatly clipped under the car, £375 + 2 coffees for supply and fit at my home.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

Pics?....

Stephen Lee

What is the number for the detachable swan neck? Witter say there is only one for mondeo estate. It won't fit st.

Gvann

Hi,
I have a witter towbar, but now they are having trouble with support.
tow trust Towbars do a version and are based in Atherstone, Warwickshire. They could put you in touch with someone local to you.

The ST220 is not rated for towing, due to the clutch not being up for it.