Topaz 1994 Tow Bar

I bought the van last week.  Was absolutely delighted with it.  Brought it to get a tow bar fitted and was told it was impossible.
I don't want to believe this because I bought the van for weekends away sailing with with trailer yacht.
If I can't find a tow bar, I am going to have to sell the van!!  I really don't want to.  Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Trevor

IMO the best next step would be to phone Auto-sleepers and ask whether it is possible - they designed and built it, so they would be the best people to advise.

Offhand I can't think why it should not be possible, unless the internal structure at the rear interferes with the locating points for the towbar.

A Trophy would be a different matter - perhaps this has caused confusion with the people that you have asked, and they are thinking that you have a Trophy, not a Topaz?

I had a tow bar fitted to my 2002 Topaz when I bought it, had it taken off as I was having reversing bleepers fitted and the guy said he couldn`t  fit them  with the tow bar on, found out later from previous owner this was not the case.so wish I had done my homework first. so YES you can have a tow bar on a Topaz.

Watling Engineering has the Topaz in its pricelist. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Plus Watling are very professional, and if there's any question of safety they will refuse to fit a towbar.

Dave

The one and only  PF JONES will have one if there is such a towbar.

Oh Dear!  Its a Trophy not a Topaz.  Likelihood of tow bar is very slim.  May well be up for sale very soon
Thanks to all who replied

Unless you can get to the original pickup points on the back of the SWB chassis I would not risk it, as the chances are that a 1994 Trophy may not have great strength to the add-on rear section - I would think you would risk that section flexing and damaging the area where it's bonded on. As you say, it's not really an option with a Trophy.

I don't know the van Mojo so can't offer practical advice, but I would think it worth Trevor giving Watling a ring before he does anything hasty.

They have a huge database of van details and could probably tell him straight away whether it's feasible or not. They are very helpful, and can make him a towbar and suitable extensions if it's safe to fit one, since his older van doesn't have to have a type approved model.

It just could mean he keeps the van he likes.

Quote from their website:-  "As well as being able to cater for almost every modern vehicle on the market, our huge back catalogue of towbars means we are able to cater for the more unusual vehicles that are on the roads. . . . . Our range of items spans from 1950s classics to the latest SUVs and Pick-Ups. . . . . We recently fitted a special design towbar to Jaime Olivers' 1950 Camper Van so that he could tow his catering trailer during his tour of Italy. Special care was needed during the design process because of his aftermarket Porsche engine and enormous exhaust!"

Phone 01727-873661

Dave

The specific problem with the Trophy is that it is unique to A/S (I think) in that they bonded a "pod" onto the back of a SWB van to create extra length. The resulting problems are two main ones: firstly the add-on will almost certainly have obstructed the pickup points at the back of the original chassis - these effectively comprise two "horns" that fit into the body just below floor level.

The other issue is that the underlying structure for the pod has a reputation for corroding and weakening, and as a result it would be very unwise to fit anything that would place any extra load on it (other than its own weight). This would ~probably~ mean that even if you could get to the VW pickup points, you would need to drop a bar impractically low to avoid any contact with the pod, so you would end up with too little ground clearance at the back.

Thanks Mojo

What a shame. Looks like Trevor will have to sell his van and get another if he really needs a towbar.

Dave

Again thanks for the very helpful discussion even though the result may not be what I hoped for. I visited a Coachbuilder today and their 'expert' is going to have a look at the Trophy on Monday. I will let you know how I can get on.

I have seen a Trophy with a tow-bar fitted at Wetherby racecourse, I am  not saying it was fitted incorrectly or correctly but it did have one, only wish I had looked closer!! I would have liked one on my Trophy
mike 
vwt4