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Irish motorists' tow-bar fetish

2»

Comments

  • #32
    jmreire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭jmreire


    elperello wrote: »
    Now that you mention it I have seen cars for sale saying towbar fitted never used.
    Nowt so queer as folk :)

    Well, friend of mine, drives an handicapped adapted car...and everytime he changes it, he either has the towbar taken from the old one, and fitted to the new car, or if that wont work...he will buy a new towbar to fit the new car. So in this case, it would be true to say " Towbar fitted..but never used !!! LOL :D:D:D


  • #33
    whisky_galore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,124 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


    There's far more stupid things fitted to cars; reindeer noses and antlers, those stupid flags that are forever falling off and getting lost, baby on board signs...yeah so you managed to reproduce so you advertise, L plates fixed the wrong way round...


  • #34
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,461 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Use mine for a trailer, and for a bike rack.


  • #35
    freddieot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭freddieot


    Used to get them fitted every time I bought a new car (Santa Fe, Vitara, Sorrento etc.) but never used it to tow. Always put a small red sticker on the ball so it could be more easily seen.

    Last two cars, no tow bar and now clowns park right up against my bumper, especially when parallel parked on the road but also even in supermarkets etc.. as well as more tailgating etc. They usual I don't give a shi** attitude.

    Say what you like, having a tow bar does help keep the crazies a little further back.

    Also, when I had the sorrento, an old boy let his car lurch forward into mine at the pumps one day, just a few feet. Scratch on the tow bar but no other damage to my car so no big deal, for me. Broken grill and a dent for him though.


  • #36
    whippet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,740 ✭✭✭whippet


    I have a retractable one ... I ordered it with the car for my bike rack .. much easier to use than trying to untangle several miles of straps each time I want to take the bikes


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  • #37
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,670 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    They are useful for more than just trailers, you can get a whole range of accessories that fit to towbars, Dog boxes, Bike Carriers, Transport platforms etc.
    No good reason not to have one IMO, increases the versatility of the car immensely even before towing a trailer.
    http://www.bak-rak.com/images/g3uk.jpg
    Tumble%20mount%20G3%20on%20van.jpg
    200x200_fitbox-small_3.jpg


  • #38
    Large bottle small glass
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,314 ✭✭✭Large bottle small glass


    pablo128 wrote: »
    Yeah the car will be ok but your spine and neck will take the impact instead.

    Yes, the energy transferred is identical in magnitude irrespective if a tow bar is fitted or not.

    The tow bar which is rigidly fixed to chassis will insure the peak accerlerations suffered by human occupants is much higher.

    The crumble zone, bumper bars etc attenuate the peak acceleration suffered by occupants.


  • #39
    Cee-Jay-Cee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,234 ✭✭✭✭Cee-Jay-Cee


    Its to protect the rear bumper in case of a rear ender or mis-judged reversing move.


  • #40
    ednwireland
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 14,796 ✭✭✭✭ednwireland


    what annoys me is the people that put bikes on the back or pull a trailer but dont have a light bar and number plate attached as thee lights and number plates are a blocked by the bikes, uk traffic police would have that van pictured above in minutes.

    suppose it just shows the lack of enforcement of traffic laws in this country

    does towing put stress on the rear suspension ? only car i had with a towbar needed work on the rear suspension

    My weather

    https://www.ecowitt.net/home/share?authorize=96CT1F



  • #41
    ohnonotgmail
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,029 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    I have a tow bar on mine and i have no intention of towing anything. It did come in very handy though when somebody drove into the back of me 5 months ago.


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  • #42
    jmreire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭jmreire


    ednwireland wrote: »
    what annoys me is the people that put bikes on the back or pull a trailer but dont have a light bar and number plate attached as thee lights and number plates are a blocked by the bikes, uk traffic police would have that van pictured above in minutes.

    suppose it just shows the lack of enforcement of traffic laws in this country

    does towing put stress on the rear suspension ? only car i had with a towbar needed work on the rear suspension

    The biggest cause of suspension problem's ( front and back) with cars in Ireland is the Irish pot holed road's. I've always used towbars on any car I ever had, but I have never had rear suspension problems due to towing. Its true that towing can be abused, pulling heavier loads or the wrong trailer will for sure shorten rear tyre life, and wont do the rear suspension's any good, but that's abuse, not normal use.


  • #43
    jmreire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭jmreire


    ohnonotgmail wrote: »
    I have a tow bar on mine and i have no intention of towing anything. It did come in very handy though when somebody drove into the back of me 5 months ago.

    Agreed 100%. The problem with modern cars is that the bumper's are designed to take an impact,and "Bounce" back into shape. And this is fine, but the problem with it is that it can hide more serious damage underneath. Beware any plastic bumper that holds a dent, or show's a crack, it should be removed and the inner bumper / reinforcement checked.


  • #44
    ohnonotgmail
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,029 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    jmreire wrote: »
    Agreed 100%. The problem with modern cars is that the bumper's are designed to take an impact,and "Bounce" back into shape. And this is fine, but the problem with it is that it can hide more serious damage underneath. Beware any plastic bumper that holds a dent, or show's a crack, it should be removed and the inner bumper / reinforcement checked.

    even though he hit my tow bar he still managed to damage my bumper. Cost 1600 to repair. he was left with a 12 inch deep v shape in the front of his car.


  • #45
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,461 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Problem with modern cars, is they are not designed to be repaired cheaply.


  • #46
    kirving
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,298 ✭✭✭kirving


    beauf wrote: »
    Problem with modern cars, is they are not designed to be repaired cheaply.

    To be fair, they're designed not to break in the first place. Modern cars are far more reliable than in the past.

    Couple that to cheap production and regulatory requirements, and the poor mechanic is left with a pain in the arse of a job, and the customer is left with a big bill (even if it does happen less regularly).

    Reminds me, I'll have to get a towbar actually, very handy to put the bike on.


  • #47
    John_Rambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,827 ✭✭✭✭John_Rambo


    There was one on my car when I bought it but I took it off. It extended pretty far out beyond the bumper it would do a fair amount of damage is someone were to bump in to it.


  • #48
    jmreire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭jmreire


    ohnonotgmail wrote: »
    even though he hit my tow bar he still managed to damage my bumper. Cost 1600 to repair. he was left with a 12 inch deep v shape in the front of his car.

    Just imagine what the damage would have been like without the tow bar....


  • #49
    dsmythy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,575 ✭✭✭✭dsmythy


    I've one because the car had it when I bought it....

    My first instinct was to remove it because I'm paranoid about nicking cars with it but was told it's handy if a car hits me in a car park or whatever. So kept it.

    Reading here not so sure now.


  • #50
    Duckjob
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,857 ✭✭✭Duckjob


    ednwireland wrote: »
    what annoys me is the people that put bikes on the back or pull a trailer but dont have a light bar and number plate attached as thee lights and number plates are a blocked by the bikes, uk traffic police would have that van pictured above in minutes.

    suppose it just shows the lack of enforcement of traffic laws in this country

    If you're talking about enforcement, then start with the most basic of basics: Licencing.

    I would guess if from tomorrow the guards started pulling everybody towing, they would be hard pressed to find somebody who actually hold a licence to tow.


  • #51
    TrailerBob
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,525 ✭✭✭TrailerBob


    ^^^ please God don't start a conversation on the BE license and the requirement for it... Thus will follow pages of links from the RSA website and conflicting 'facts'

    As it happens the uptake of the BE is increasing rapidly.. lad in work finding he has a decent wait to get the lessons in.


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  • #52
    ohnonotgmail
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,029 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    dsmythy wrote: »
    I've one because the car had it when I bought it....

    My first instinct was to remove it because I'm paranoid about nicking cars with it but was told it's handy if a car hits me in a car park or whatever. So kept it.

    Reading here not so sure now.

    They are very handy if somebody runs into the back of you. I speak from experience.


  • #53
    jmreire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭jmreire


    ohnonotgmail wrote: »
    They are very handy if somebody runs into the back of you. I speak from experience.
    100%. Same experience...several time's !!! But, in each case, the car which hit me came off the worst. Thanks to the towbar.


  • #54
    Stark
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 21,237 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    I have one for carrying bikes. The strap on racks are a pain in the hole and scratch the **** out of the car.


  • #55
    rosmoke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 417 ✭✭rosmoke


    jmreire wrote: »
    Every car ( or nearly every car) I have had, I've fitted a towbar on it. I have a trailer too of course, and I use it when needed, but not that often...a load of timber for the fire, the lawn mower occasionally. Nothing major. They may be a bit unsightly, but I can live with that. ( but there are detachable ones available too if you don't like them sticking out ) Primarily though, they save the rear of the car ( and the passengers ) from a rear ending.


    You actually think a towbar saves the passengers? :pac::pac:
    Made my day :D


  • #56
    jmreire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭jmreire


    rosmoke wrote: »
    You actually think a towbar saves the passengers? :pac::pac:
    Made my day :D

    Glad I was able to make someone's day !!!;) In a rear end impact, all will depend on the severity of the impact. Modern car construction techniques means that quite a lot of plastic's are used, and most bumpers fall into this category. So you have the outer cover, fiied with an absorbent foam, and then the inner metal bumper, which is bolted directly on to the chassis. This metal inner bumper, is replaced by the towbar when it's fitted, and of course given it's function, is of a heavier metal.
    So we come to the car park rear end shunt. Normally, this will be a slow speed contact, plastic bumper to plastic bumper, and maybe some paintwork will be needed. Now in this case..if there was a tow bar fitted, then the tow bar will protect the car that it's fitted to. Now we fast forward to a major at speed rear end impact,,towbar or not, people will be injured, or even killed. So you can choose everything in between a minor car park, shunt, and a heavy at speed motorway rear ending, check out the statistics for both, and see if you would be happy or not to have a towbar fitted. I always have and always will have a tow bar fitted, and I feel perfectly happy and safe to do so. But like I mentioned earlier, its a personal choice. ( and I never have to worry about repairing my rear bumper );););)


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