Towbar - DIY or not

Just wondering if anyone has tried fitting towbar to a Boxer (or Ducato) based van.  How difficulty is it?
I have been getting prices typically £600-£1000 fully fitted; wheras it looks like the parts can be purchased around £300
From the instruction manual it looks quite straightforward - though thr method of getting the wiring down from the light cluster to the bumper  is not described in detail - that looks like the tricky bit.
Anyone tried it?

Sleepy
Not done it on a Boxer, but have on several other van conversions. Although more expensive I would recommend you go for a dedicated manufacturer's wiring kit. They are so much easier to fit. On the Towbar I have always fitted removalable hitches, first because the do not spoil the appearance of the van and secondly it avoids banging your leg when you walk behind the van  .
Regards
John

I made mine from 60mm sq steel tube, & wired a socket to the rear lamps, fastened to the chassis by 6 x m20 high-tensile steel bolts, then 4 of us fatsos jumped up & down & it was rock solid. Didn,t  really want a tow-bar, but I was bored.     Still, it might come in handy sometime.


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Hi Sleepy
Tow bar was already fitted when I bought my Warwick last year but it was looking a bit rough so took it off the van to clean and repaint, real easy to remove/refit, just a bit heavy, the only modification I could see from the installation was they cut part of the plastic step cover back on it's lower edge, you don't notice unless you are looking, the wiring needed rerouting as it went through holes in the tow bar frame, if you look under the van in the corner under the light clusters you will see a rubber bung, remove, punch a hole in it and route the wiring up to the light cluster, I hope this helps.
Neil

Thanks all, some good points raised.  
I was thinking about the Westfalia kit with a detachable ball - have a similar one on our Vito and they look great and save shin injuries.  
However I was warned off the Boxer-specific wiring kit.  It integrates more with the vehicle electronics - so bulb failures are registered etc - but apparently there are more wires to route to the front so that sounds uneccesarily complicated to me.  I have a "bypass relay" on the Vito and it works well.
crumb,
Is your vehicle a similar age?  (2013)  I have had a quick look underneath and don't see a rubber bung - I have not done any disassembly yet.  To be honest getting the wiring routed is the only bit I am really concerned about - a couple of companies have refused to quote on this vehicle because access for the  the wiring is "too difficult" ...

Hi Sleepy, my van is 2008, the wiring is old school multi core to the light clusters, the tow bar electrics are just patched into the cables in the corners, the Warwick is easy to access the light clusters I'm unsure about your symbol, if the van has since moved over to a canbus system I should think it would be more difficult but I would have thought Peugeot would have put a connection for a tow bar somewhere at the back.
Here's a picture of the rubber bung I mentioned
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This gives a better idea where the bung is
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This is how it is bolted to the vehicle, just behind the leaf springs and against the back panel.
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Here's the cut out I mentioned
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And how you can't notice it
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I have a feeling that towbars nowadays have to be approved but that may only apply if they are fitted to recently registered vehicles (whatever recently registered means?)
i would do some Googling on the subject to avoid invalidating your insurance.

Thanks Crumb,
I think I have found what feels like a rubber bung - one each side in fact.  If it's in the same position as yours, I have no idea how you managed to get a photo!  I'll need to take the light cluster off and see if I can get access from inside.
Ron,
From what I have read on the web, nowadays the towbar must be an approved one, and fitted according to the manufacturers specification.  There is no requirement to have it professionally fitted. 
There is an interesting write up here:  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I had ther westfalia detach kit fitted + 13 pin wiring (all new trailers / caravans / continental tyrailers have this )
1) saves you bashing your legs on towbar when using back doors
2 ) no cutting of step or rear bumper neccesary
3) saves getting dirt on your clothes when brushing against towbar
4) great for attaching thule bike carriers instead of them hanging off the rear doors (which were NEVER designed to carry the weight of bikes + carrier.
I had mine fitted locally in York by a specialist company for £400 inc wiring and vat

Just found this on Google:

Towbars and the law
European Law now states that all light passenger vehicles registered on or after 1st August 1998 require a type approved towbar tested to EC94/20 and towball with suitable D&S value. This is not retrospective and does not affect any vehicle registered before this date.
Fitment of a non type approved towbar on a vehicle registered on or after 1st August 1998 could result in prosecution and in the event of an accident the vehicles insurance could be invalidated.


When I was trying to get a towbar for mine I am sure the tow bar people said post 2012 or 13 had to be Euro type approved.   It's all a legislative nightmare now.

Hi all,
        we've just had a towbar fitted at PWS in Poole, I'd recommend them. Cost £860, but the've made a great job. Took the van over early Monday morning, and they had it done around 4pm. I couldn't think off a way of mounting a "kit " one with out a lot of hassle, they made some really sturdy braces and bolted them to the ends of the chassis rails. The towbar is hung off them, its a well thought out job, and they sorted all the electrics. The fitter there was very knowledgeable about motorhomes, and finished the job very well. Tried it out with my bike trailer today, great!
We'll soon be taking our Classic bikes to shows.
Mike

Actionmike wrote:Hi all,
        we've just had a towbar fitted at PWS in Poole, I'd recommend them. Cost £860, but the've made a great job. Took the van over early Monday morning, and they had it done around 4pm. I couldn't think off a way of mounting a "kit " one with out a lot of hassle, they made some really sturdy braces and bolted them to the ends of the chassis rails. The towbar is hung off them, its a well thought out job, and they sorted all the electrics. The fitter there was very knowledgeable about motorhomes, and finished the job very well. Tried it out with my bike trailer today, great!
We'll soon be taking our Classic bikes to shows.
Mike

Mike,
I am not an expert but personally I would be concerned about the "made some really sturdy braces" part of your experience - if you want to stay strictly legal and insured.  From what I have read, the towbar must be EC type approved and fitted according to the manufacturers instructions.  Of course in the manufacturer says that braces need to be made and how to do it, then that's fine I suppose.  I would suggest you read this link  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The legislation does not require professional installation: just installation as specified by the manufacturer.  In fact this is one reason why I am thinking of doing it: I am a reasonably competent mechanic so if I do it I know that it will be done just so and no shortcuts taken - after all once done the work is relatively hidden.

...and the effective date is definately for vehicles (The regulations apply to Passenger carrying vehicles up to 3500kg Gross Vehicle Weight) manufactured after August 1, 1998.

Hi Sleepy,
              I think its ok, 'cos "the braces replace two large plates that were taken off the chassis, so the towbar is mounted as the rear of the chassis. It is very strongly made, and the assembly is very professional. I will check that link though.
 I am a precision engineer, and would prefer things to be "over engineered" as a matter of course, and I am confident that PWS have done a good job. Mike

Good idea in principle but the danger with over engineered (as in strength ) is it re-routes the load path possibly someplace you might not want it.

I fitted a Witter towbar about three years ago to our Boxer. Fitting the towbar itself was easy enough although it was necessary to drill a hole through the rear bodywork on each side as Peugeot hadn't pre-drilled it, although the welded captive nut was there. The difficulty was determining the exact spot to drill.

Fortunately I had assistance with the wiring and it was a fairly long job (around three hours) to complete. I used a relay as it was considerably cheaper than using a dedicated loom. I can't agree with Crumb about the easy access to the rear light clusters and found that they are quite difficult to remove and you need small hands and a strong grip to get the lower thumb screw removed.

In all, I seem to remember that the cost of the towbar and relay was around £150. If anyone is paying up to £1000 to get one installed they are getting ripped off as it should take a professional no more than a couple of hours. The Witter towbar is excellent and still looks new with absolutely no rust.

I installed it solely to use with a Thule bike rack and it works very well.