Illegal towbar?

Rover_Driver

Herzlos wrote: »

It depends on when they passed. IIRC around 2012 it changed to use the actual weight, with a hard 3500kg limit, instead of all the MAM nonsense and exceptions.

It is the MAM, not the actual weights.


The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences)(Amendment) Regulations 2012, amended the principle regulations.

Sch.3 s.46 (vi), For towing with a 'B' licence:

"Motor vehicles, other than vehicles included in category Q, AM, A, F or K, having a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes and not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, including:
(i)a combination of any such vehicle and a trailer where the trailer has a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 750 kilograms; and
(ii)a combination of any such vehicle and a trailer where the maximum authorised mass of the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes.”

tfspark

marlot wrote: »

The time to have objected was when it was fitted, but yes it is clearly not suitable.

To bring this thread back on track....................

That was the whole point of this thread really. One question I need answering is, because I have been using this tow bar for fourteen months, all be it a struggle, does that mean I have accepted it and now run out of time to complain.
Is there a time limit on these things?

tfspark

loskie wrote: »

is the greenline a lowered model to make it more aerodynamic and eco?
I so the car(well specific model) is possibly not type approved to have a towbar fitted but a Superb standard model will fit.

Maybe?

Yes it is the greenling model which has the suspension lowered by 15mm.

Nothing I can find suggests you can't have a tow bar fitted to it.

When I spoke to the tow bar manufacturer they suggested it would be lower than the standard Superb but still be around 410mm.
Mine was 330mm.

ChumLee

tfspark wrote: »

Yes it is the greenling model which has the suspension lowered by 15mm.

Nothing I can find suggests you can't have a tow bar fitted to it.

When I spoke to the tow bar manufacturer they suggested it would be lower than the standard Superb but still be around 410mm.
Mine was 330mm.

And what has the dealer said about fitting a tow bar to that car?

tfspark

arcon5 wrote: »

Refund after 15 months, sorry but you'd be lucky.
It's very possible corrosion kicked in and the threads we're pulled out with the bolt.

Sorry Arcon5, but not after a refund. Just wanted a legal tow bar fitted to my car at no extra cost to me. If (and thats the big question) they got it wrong in the first place then why should I pay to have it put right.

It complicated matters when trying to refit the tow bar that they found stripped threads. I then paid for a replacement, which is what I objected to. I don't think I should have paid.

tfspark

ChumLee wrote: »

And what has the dealer said about fitting a tow bar to that car?

Nothing at all, and it has been to the main dealer three times for other things with no comment made about the tow bar.

ChumLee

tfspark wrote: »

Nothing at all, and it has been to the main dealer three times for other things with no comment made about the tow bar.

So you haven't bothered to ask if the changes made by the manufacturer to make your car Eco still make it suitable for towing?

tfspark

ChumLee wrote: »

So you haven't bothered to ask if the changes made by the manufacturer to make your car Eco still make it suitable for towing?

Good point, well made ChumLee.

No I haven't bothered to ask the dealer because a colleague of mine who drives an identical car has had problems with the electrics on his tow bar. It has been to the main dealer for repair.
Dealer didn't tell him he couldn't have a tow bar on his Greenline.

But I'll ask to be sure.

marlot

Herzlos wrote: »

It depends on when they passed. IIRC around 2012 it changed to use the actual weight, with a hard 3500kg limit, instead of all the MAM nonsense and exceptions.

Not true. there was a relaxation theothe of the need for the tow car to be heavier that the trailer, but that's all.

marlot

tfspark wrote: »

Good point, well made ChumLee.

No I haven't bothered to ask the dealer because a colleague of mine who drives an identical car has had problems with the electrics on his tow bar. It has been to the main dealer for repair.
Dealer didn't tell him he couldn't have a tow bar on his Greenline.

But I'll ask to be sure.

The weight plate on the car shouldhhave 4 weights. If it only has two, it's not homologated for towing