welding on towbar

Technically I believe it is illegal to modify your towbar IN ANY WAY.

I wanted to weld a new plate underneath to bolt my van chains onto but was told NO YOU CANT its certified as it is and has to stay that way.

That is my understanding also Graham, at least in QLD.

cheers

Dave

Surely it wouldn't be illegal to weld some bits onto your towbar? I've been going to remove mine, drill a hole in one of the corners of the box hitch receiver section, weld on a nut @ 45°, so that I can insert a bolt to stop the hitch from moving around. It's not a mod that would have anything to do with disturbing the integrity of the towbar.

Other mods people might want to do is add extensions facing the rear to enable them to use a high lift jack or add brackets to the underside to enable bolting up larger mudflaps etc.

I cannot see how any of these mods could be illegal..... but then again, you DID say it was Queerland....... hahahahaha

Im with Roachie on this, i cant see any problem with welding a few bits to your towbar....I'll check this out with Littleborgy , he should know...

GDay Roachie,

I spoke to a Tow Bar engineering fiirm, in S.A. you can do anything you like as long as it doesn't change any structural strength. So no probs.

Warranty is another story. Heard of a guy who welded a step plate on his and bar eventually broke a weld on mounting plate at opposite end, yota refused warranty.

Graham,

To weld on a chain plate would be a structural change, so illegal anywhere I believe, as that plate is expected to hold the van should it come off the hitch, to be honest IMHOmost of these connection points, with 2 tonne of camper/van at even 80k's wouldn't hold it.

Well as you say Queerland may be different but it was the towbar palce I bought it off who told me that.

It has a fiddly little plate underneath on a 45o angle and is hard to hook up to so i asked them to put a large flat plate like the toyota ones.

They refused saying that the bars are certified as they are and cannot legally be modified in ANY WAY.

Their words not mine and they presumably are the experts.

Totally agree Scrubby but if you dont have that fitted, and most home users don't, remove the lot.

Lets face it, its only about $3,000 damage that can be caused if it all goes pear shape. Probably 9 out of 10 are fine, but wouldnt want mine to be number 10.