Bolt size and thread on bumper irons

[ethelred the ready]

Hello all, I am just fitting a second hand tow bar to my 1989 caravelle. I have removed the bumper irons which was a bit of an epic due to the usual rust issues, and had a trial fit of the tow bar. The original bolts are a bit too short and a thread that I don't have in my big box of mixed bolts I have aquired over the years. Does anyone know the size and Thread type of these bolts by any chance? I will take the old ones to the fixings shop, but they are so rusty they are mostly just rust blobs. Thanks.

[bigherb]

M12x1.5mm thread.

[ethelred the ready]

Thanks.

[Plasticman]

and run a tap down the bar threads then theyt go in finger tight
mm

[ethelred the ready]

Yes, I don't have a 12mm tap, will probably cut a slot in one of the new bolts and sacrifice that to clean up the threads. Shame it going to rain this weekend.

[ethelred the ready]

Hmm, tried fitting the bumper and it fits but their is about 5mm gap between the plates on the tow bar with the holes in and the chassis rail, almost as if the tow bar is meant to go inside the bumper irons, but it can't due to the shape of the irons. I was going to use some thick washers to take up the gap, possibly tack welded in place. Am I missing something? I have also debated choping the end off the irons so the tow bar fits inside them, but then the captive nuts are in the wrong place. I must be missing something, does anyone have a tow bar and bumper irons for a metal bumper?

[bigherb]

Depends on the make of towbar, if it is a Witter it should look this with a plate between the towbar and chassis rail.

[itchyfeet]

Westy swan neck is the right width although it doesn't look it in this pic, no extra irons.

[ethelred the ready]

Looks I have a Witter with no plate. Another job for the weekend. Thanks for the pictures.

[bigherb]

Looks I have a Witter with no plate. Another job for the weekend. Thanks for the pictures.

This is what the plate should look like it also extends further forward to another M10 fixing.

http://www.fittinginstructions.co.uk/Witter/VW9C.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;