Tow Bar blocking number plate, illegal?

barryfitz

Hi,

I had a tow bar fitted to my car (2011 hyundai i30) in the last couple of weeks and ever since it has been bugging me for 2 reasons. A) the ball is very close to the bumper approx 2 inches, it completely blocks the county letters on the number plate. I have been trying to find info about whether its illegal to have this bar on the car as its blocking the number plate and by doing a bit of reading it turns out it could actually be a fail in the NCT. Now the towbar is designed for my car (its a bosal) and when I was getting quotes I did ask for a swan neck towbar but I had no idea that it would obscure the reg plate so much. Anybody know for sure the legality of it. Im just worried about getting hassle from the boys in blue and also having to remove the whole towbar if I am to pass the NCT in a few years.

Cheers

biko

Haven't a clue mate, any chance of a pic?

T-Maxx

Any means of obscuring the plate is illegal.

It should be picked up in the NCT, but, you could simply unbolt the ball itself for the test and then refit afterwards.

The cops will never do you for the towbar IMO.

Guy:Incognito

if its only 2 inches from the plate will you actually be physically able to hitch anything to it?

barryfitz

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

if its only 2 inches from the plate will you actually be physically able to hitch anything to it?

I don't know tbh, I'm going to test it this wkend though. I guess if I can't hitch I'll have a case to get it changed as it wouldn't be fit for purpose. not sure if i can simply unbolt the swan neck itself will check that too. I'll post a pic or two this evening aswell

T-Maxx

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

if its only 2 inches from the plate will you actually be physically able to hitch anything to it?

It should fit, but you'd better be real careful when hitching a trailer unto it if you don't want to damage the bumper.

barryfitz

Couple of pics. first one shows the gap between ball and the bumper (the black plastic), it actually doesnt look as close there but maybe I should have used a something standard for reference instead of my tom thumb.

second one is the offender
http://db.tt/olq2H2m
http://db.tt/ermt8Xv

mickdw

Thats way too high on the car. If the ball was lower (about half way up the reg plate), the distance for the bumper/plate would be larger too. It certainly looks very odd and while the gardai wouldnt usually bother with a tow bar, this one sticks out.

Handy for the new rear plate reading cameras if you ever use the M50 toll.:D

CharlieCroker

As a guard I would consider that illegal. Has the possibility of being an L, LK, LH, or an LS reg at quick glance. I'd be going back to the dealer and getting them to change it to a removable ball type because any fixed towbar is gonna block it.

I can't see you getting many trailers to connect to that. Tiny gap altogether. Although if the ball was much lower 'twould be scraping the ground. Number plate is in a weirdly low spot on them yokes.

dharn

ya that seems to be the problem to me the number plate is too low

barryfitz

Just found the link below. looks like its not a big job to convert it to a detachable one, Il give the guy that fitted it a call and see if he will swap the bolt on swan neck for the detachable one. If the clearance is no better I dont think il bother though.

http://www.catalogue.bosal.com/pages/tow_select_order_list.php?query_nr=20&carspecnr=400116

slimjimmc

The OEM hitch does appear to give a bit more clearance from the bumper, I guesstimate at least 100mm. One could expect the detachable Bosal hitch to give a similar gap if both designs are the same.

gofaster_s13

Bring it back to Healy's and tell them it's too close to the bumper and you can't fit a trailer on.

-Chris-

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

Bring it back to Healy's and tell them it's too close to the bumper and you can't fit a trailer on.

I personally wouldn't say that because your average salesperson will try and argue with you and convince you that, actually you can fit a trailer on.

I'd actually go in and say you've been advised by a Garda that it's blocking the numberplate and if it's not changed or removed you stand to be "done" for obscuring the reg number.

At least then it's not you having an issue with it, it's the Gardai (they can argue with you, but not CharlieCroker).

ronaneire

Most definitely illegal. How big a trailer you intending to pull?

Stinicker

Elephant in the room here; Why the hell would you want to put a tow bar a Hyundai i30? It seems totally illogical and those cars would be one of the last things you'd ever think of putting a hitch on. Your resale value will go down faster than a lead baloon if you have that thing stuck to the car when you come to sell or trade it.

If you have light towing like a dog box or something get yourself an estate car or something as those Hyundai's are Asian city cars suited for cities and not for Irish country bohereen roads with a trailer on behind!

barryfitz

Il be towing a light caravan, Tested it at the weekend and the clearance wont really be an issue. Only the matter of the Law left to resolve now.

As for Elephants in the room, let me guess, I should have bought an Octavia? :rolleyes:

colm_mcm

Stinicker wrote: »

If you have light towing like a dog box or something get yourself an estate car or something as those Hyundai's are Asian city cars suited for cities and not for Irish country bohereen roads with a trailer on behind!

It has a towing capacity of 1200kg, its the same size as a focus which I've never heard described as a city car.

Towbars can be removed quite easily so your resale argument doesn't stand up either.

Can't see the relevance of whether its Asian or otherwise. I can only suppose a passat with 90hp would be infinitely better if we're basing suitability on country of origin .