Got at tow bar cheap

Riverslim · Sep 15, 2009

Paid twenty dollars at yard sale, I think some of you use these to pull an extra vehicle to the field, Is it complete? How exactly would I hook up a car? thanks much

shaun wallace · Sep 15, 2009

It goes around bumper, what are them? Dont exactly remember been while since seen one or used that kind of tow bar.

Janicholson · Sep 15, 2009

Good buy.
The device (as I see it) has no pivot provision for up and down motion. If it were attached to a bumper (at the right height to hook to the ball) it would stress the bumper mounts of even a solid welded bumper. It must be able to pivot easily up and down.
What ever you tow must be able to be towed. I know of no car with an automatic (other than an antique) that can be towed at all without damage to the trans. Stick shifts can be towed in neutral for a few miles, but unless the engine is running in Neutral, the trans rear bearing and tailshaft are not lubed. Removing drive shafts is a real pain unless towing for hundreds of miles, then a tow dolly is much better. If you made a light duty trailer it would be a good place to start, but it would not have the strength (again in the up down direction) to be safe. I like it, but do not use it on a car. and make sure it can pivot up and down when hooking it to abything. JimN

RN · Sep 15, 2009

Looks sort of like old Valley Towrite store used to sell in mid 1970s. Chains at bottom hook to frame, subframe or bumper mounts- whatever handy. Midway on long arm is chain tightener to snug back triangle section against bumper. Could be a hook at top of frame to go on top of bumper but light units just had bottom chains. Consider this more of a tow chain with spacer bar for braking instead of tow bar that did both pull and stop with same mount. Used to sell for $29.95 or so. Handy for towing VW beetle bodies, regular cars without collapsable bumper mounts, Jeep CJ5s around town or short highway runs. Pivot as other poster sugested would be nice but this design worked with chain slop. Front of chains hooked to towing vehicle with some slack, the tightener got back half of chain snugged against towed vehicle bumper or body. RN

2x4 · Sep 16, 2009

looks like an old Hertz or Ryder rental towbar. very handy on solid bumpers but you have to remove the plastic parts on the bumper nowdays to use it.

Got at tow bar cheap

Riverslim

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shaun wallace

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

RN

Well-known Member

2x4

Well-known Member

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