Detachable towbar blocked by tiedown hook - options?

Plasmoid

Having trouble with an unexpected part of fitting a towbar.
I went for a detachable towbar, and of with everything fitted, I can't actually attach the tow ball housing.

I have a 2011 Mazda 2 DE, and there's a tiedown hook perfectly position to get in the way. It pokes out right into the centre of the two vertical steel plates that the housing bolts on to.

https://imgur.com/a/0IXYrsA


There isn't much in it, but it looks like a few mm too much to stop me trying to fit the housing to the bracket detached from the car, and then attaching it afterwards versus trying to squeeze it in now.


The fitting guide doesn't hint at any trouble.
https://www.rameder.eu/out/media/141790-06436-1-samples-v1.pdf

So i'm wondering what might be the best option (and which options are terrible ideas)
Chop the tiedown hook off somehow?
Remove the bracket, attach the housing first and try to brute force ram the setup on?
Or abandon the weekend plans and look at what the manufacturer or seller have to say?

extra-ordinary_

Plasmoid wrote: »

...


The fitting guide doesn't hint at any trouble.
https://www.rameder.eu/out/media/141790-06436-1-samples-v1.pdf

So i'm wondering what might be the best option (and which options are terrible ideas)
Chop the tiedown hook off somehow?
Remove the bracket, attach the housing first and try to brute force ram the setup on?
Or abandon the weekend plans and look at what the manufacturer or seller have to say?

Looks like you'll have to grind off the tie down hoop but I'd contact the seller/manufacturer first in case there's an alternative.

smuggler.ie

What clearance is there from towbar main frame and ground? 3-4 inches... Seams low.
You sure this is right thing/mounted correctly?

Plasmoid

extra-ordinary_ wrote: »

Looks like you'll have to grind off the tie down hoop but I'd contact the seller/manufacturer first in case there's an alternative.

Waiting on a reply from manufacturer, but I think they try their hardest not to deal with end customers directly, as they only sell through partner and fitters (probably to avoid people like me!). Ebay seller doesn't seem to know much about the car specifics.

It sounds like grinding time alright.

smuggler.ie wrote: »

What clearance is there from towbar main frame and ground? 3-4 inches... Seams low.
You sure this is right thing/mounted correctly?

It's at least an inch or more above the lowest point of the Exhaust, so thankfully okay on that one. It's bolted into the chassis frame rails like the OEM tow bar, so can't go too far wrong.

smuggler.ie

Plasmoid wrote: »

It's at least an inch or more above the lowest point of the Exhaust, so thankfully okay on that one. It's bolted into the chassis frame rails like the OEM tow bar, so can't go too far wrong.

Must be just the way picture was taken....

bobbyy gee

I think you can buy a longer towbar

Toyotafanboi

Has the car any accident history?

Plasmoid

Bit of hassle, but the angle grinder did the job eventually.

No crash history, and no signs of any questionable repairs, so still a mystery.
As far as I can tell all Mazda 2s of this generation have these, so hoping to eventually hear back form the manufacturer.

CJhaughey

The towbar mount should bolt through the towing eye to provide support to the towbar.

mgbgt1978

The Witter (usually my go-to Towbar fitting guide) detachable instructions simply say "check that the towing eye does not get in the way" (or words to that effect). As all tow bars must fix to the vehicle manufacturers designed mounting points, it looks like the best option was to cut off the towing eye.
It wouldn't be the first time. A few Towbars over the years have required the existing towing eye to be removed, either by grinding off or unbolting.