Westfalia towbar for recovery/extraction?

[syncropaddy]

I'll be looking then for a UK standard 2 bolt tow bar then to solve my accessory mounting issue.
The bigger issue of better extraction attachment points will have to wait for another day as its a spend too far at the mo. Is there an inexpensive way to attach a recovery strop around a chassis member at the rear for safe extraction?

No cuz Syncros dont have a chassis !! Have a look at the standard bumper bracket and get someone who can weld properly (and I mean properly) and copy the way VW did it on the tow bar brackets.

[IdahoDoug]

I have put a strap around entire suspension arms, and the Vanagon's can handle that as well. Wise to use an old towel or blanket to wrap first to protect the tow strap from sharp edges. Or through a wheel, etc. In mud these are messy options but better than having someone get hurt.

DougM

[silverbullet]

Those Landy jate rings are designed for LR chassis only, as they replace the standard towing/tie down eyes. There is a tube welded across each of the chassis rail ends (underneath iirc) and 4 in total. The mounting bolt goes right across, about 90mm long x M10 and is also used to mount the lower tie rods of a tow hitch, when fitted.

The T3 shell needs something similar, purpose-made...ideas sketched on a postcard please!

[silverbullet]

This is how jate rings are usually fitted to the chassis:



Mudstuff do a nice looking top-of-bumper mounted recovery eye:

http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/MUD%20Recovery%20Eye.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[axeman]

i have a couple of questions, are people suggesting that it is actually the towing hitch that is the weak point when using the tow bar as recovery point?

i have a couple of facts regarding the westy tow bar.
1st they are fitted with 3 19mm (i think m12) bolt to each chassis leg
2nd the tubing that links between the chassis mount is 8mm thick tube
3rd the section that the tow hitch is bolted too is 12mm thick and fully seam welded

cant say it is a fact but the ball hitch looks as if it forged.

would be intresting to get some specs of some non ome tow bar mounts.





neil

[syncropaddy]

I doubt if a Westy tow bar would ever fail but I would say that this sort of advice is aimed for 'lesser' ball hitches. You know the sort, dirt cheap and made in China !!
One issue with two bar recovery is the possibility of the rope slipping off the hitch

[hugomonkey]

leave the ball off and put a lifting eye or a swivel shackle in its place when your off road, that way you will have a decent attachment point for a strap and you will avoid the twisting that you would get by pulling directly on the ball and best of all you will know exactly how much the shackle or lifting eye are rated for

[IdahoDoug]

Wow! Fascinating the differing features and such between countries. I have never seen that hitch setup. That thing is WAAAAY better than the hitches we have in the US for Vanagons though I should do some homework and check if there was a factory hitch sold here. I think not. The only hitch I have seen in the US is what I have been referring to as inadequate - completely inadequate - and it attaches to the two rear tow eyes. Clearly from the photos above, that is a lot better setup and way more stout than ours. Nice.

DougM

[jed the spread]

A tow bar still shouldnt be used in a revovery situation though (no matter who makes it), loads to read online about the subject. Unless Patrick is actually going to tow a trailer or something then maybe the correct right hand mounted Westfalia Syncro towing hitch would be his best and safest option.

jed

[v-lux]

I nearly bought one of the NATO style rear hitch set ups a little while back, same as the one russel had on his doka with the flat plate for a pintle hitch. I never thought to look what it had in terms of any recovery eyes.

What were the military using to drag them out of a sticky situation do you think? I'm guessing the pintle itself wouldnt be a good option though as when closed its more like a shut jaw than a continuous loop.

?

[hugomonkey]

since were showing each other our balls here`s mine

[silverbullet]

What stops that thing folding up under towing loads? It's got a huge vertical offset from the mounting points and there looks like a bit of a twist in the beam...

[IdahoDoug]

Agree with Jed - should have made that clear. Still no center support. Also the above photo shows a hitch style that would be a lever to twist the structure. Straight line pulls from the attachment points are strongest. Pulls from long, unsupported members are the worst - especially when the actual attachment is offcenter to cause twisting.

DougM

[silverbullet]

Dedicated recovery eye plates that bolt direct to the bumper/towbar mounts are what's needed. Those bolts are massive enough not to give any problems.

Something 8 or 10mm thick, fully radiused, with a minimum vert. offset to clear the rear bumper, job done.

[hugomonkey]

What stops that thing folding up under towing loads? It's got a huge vertical offset from the mounting points and there looks like a bit of a twist in the beam...

it actually needs to go lower down to be usable and the bit of twist is why you should never use a tow bar in a recovery situation im sure it will straighten up if i back into something
as far as towing loads goes anything over 750 kilos has to have its own brakes so there is not that much load on it, this one is rated at 3000 kg, not that the van itself could handle that.
i think it gets its strength from its shape, you cant see it in this picture but it curves from the beam and down to the ball mounting plate