Tow Bar

We own a 2 year old Auto. Winchcombe we were told that we cannot have a tow bar fitted-after we bought it!

Is this really correct?

We too have a Winchcombe, but do not know about a towbar being fitted. So I will be interested in any replies......

I believe that AS did Type Approve later Sprinter bases for towing. The current HB fo Winchcombe has n/a against Gross Train Weight indicating not Type Approved. What does your AS weight Plate say? Does it have a figure 5880kg (second weight down) on it or is it blank. There should be a type Approval number at the top. Speak to Watling Engineering, http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/autosleeper_motorhome_towbars.html or Towtal.

This is my plate for earlier MB base which were OK for towing, before Type Approval came in.

Call SV-Tech.

Even if the van is not currently type approved for a trailer (of any weight), they may be able to re-plate it for you and your V5 will then be updated to show maximum train weight. If it is possible, it will all be properly done, fully legal.

At worst, they will tell you no and explain why.

for the benefit of others on the forum, please report back how you get on.

Thanks

Dennis

As I don't know which chassis your van is on I haven't checked for definite, however, Halfords suggest a tow bar can be fitted to a Merc Sprinter.

You'll obviously know the details better then me, so, try this link:

https://www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/tow-bars/tow-bar-fitting

Or, if there's a towbar fitting centre local to you (not necessarily Halfords!), take your van in and ask them - that'll be your best solution.

Tommy.

I earnestly advise double checking that your motorhome V5 indicates that you can tow as discussed above, otherwise you will be committing an offence by so doing, and will invalidate your insurance.

Certainly it will be likely physically possible to fit a tow bar, but don't rely on a tow bar supplier to advise you on your personal circumstances.

Get your advice from DVLA or SV-Tech.

Dennis

Watling's have the Winchcombe on their list but say chassis extension need to be fitted.

Dare-devil-dennis wrote:I earnestly advise double checking that your motorhome V5 indicates that you can tow...

Indeed.

The, admittedly 2018, handbook suggests that towing is not possible with the Winchcombe - Gross Train Mass / Maximum Braked Trailer Mass / Maximum Unbraked Trailer Mass / Vertical Load on Towball are all marked as "N/a".

The equivalent page for our Kingham does have values populated.

http://www.auto-sleepers.com/media/2018/01/Winchcombe-2018-handbook.pdf

Page 8.3

Tommy.

I stand to be corrected but I thought the Worcester was the same chassis as the Winchcombe and I have certainly seen more than one of those with a tow bar.

When did they stop making the Worcester, were they on the earlier pre-face lift Sprinter, pre 2013?

2012/3, yes all pre facelift. I have a feeling though that the 'facelift' model which is the current one uses the same chassis. Once again I stand to be corrected but see no reason why a Winchcombe couldn't be fitted with a towbar.

Can't comment on if the chassis of the face lift model is the same, but legally it can't be used for towing as it has not got a GTW rating in the Type Approval and the DVLA registration. That may of course be open to change to make it legally possible.
I wonder if AS repositioned tanks etc making tow bar fitment difficult, so they didn't bother with the Stage 2 GTW rating.

I don't know about that either Peter, I reckon there is enough advice above for the OP to make a decision though. Hope they return to tell us all the outcome!

Just looking on the net and there is a 2014 Winchcombe advertised that is described as having a towbar so perhaps there is the answer.

Ah, just because it has one doesn't make it legal though.