Tow Bar?

[Simon_P]

I might just go a whishker over 60 but never the 3rd lane!

I have neglected wind resistance which becomes significant as it is proportional to the square of velocity (1/2 rho V2 S Cd)

[dapinky]

What a choice, what a choice......

1) Exceeeding the speed limit
2) Prohibited traffic in lane 3
3) Careless driving
4) Dangerous driving
5) Using a vehicle in a manner whereby personal injury could be caused - - - maybe a bit tennuous that one, but plenty of others to write on the ticket

[theelanman]

theelanman.
the material poperties of fibreglass are exceptional it is a question of how you spread the load and attach things that determines if you rip the floor out of the boot - Just a different set of design rules
Yes I have other cars. at the moment my towing veichle is an Audi Quattro - I wan't to get rid of it hence the need for the tow bar.
I'm going to make it myself so low cost.

I agree fibreglass is pretty good......and design is a good part of it....
however please dont forget that the car is not a whole piece.....it has some large bonded sections so what youd be relying on it some 20 year old sealant.....

[Gary]

What a choice, what a choice......

1) Exceeeding the speed limit
2) Prohibited traffic in lane 3
3) Careless driving
4) Dangerous driving
5) Using a vehicle in a manner whereby personal injury could be caused - - - maybe a bit tennuous that one, but plenty of others to write on the ticket

Twas the one and only time I got some points....

[Rusty]

Try this site for towbars:

http://www.towequipe.co.uk/products/lot ... -9098.html

Wouldn't want to fit one to my Elan in case it perverted me in to wanting to tow a caravan...

[mikeydude]

Hmm,
My understanding is that to be used on a british highway a car has to be specified as to be able to have a tow bar fitted by the original manufacturer...so the first thing to do id to ask lotus if they have ever approved there car for towing...if not then I would guess you would have your insurance voided and it would fail the MOT...HMMMMMM!

[Simon_P]

mikeydude,


Hmmmmmm.... I think you are a bit pessimistic.

MOT’s, the law, insurance void – all have a distinct set of rules and circumstances.

Ie if I took an old Morris Minor with the tow ball bolted to the rear bumper (as they are) it wouldn’t fail its MOT, is unlikely to be subjected to any laws and my insurance wouldn’t be void, and it could have been driven on British highways for the past 50 years.

So help me out….. Which law says it has to be specified by the original manufacturer and when did it come into force.

Where does the MOT test say that it has to be specified by the original manufacturer?

worth checking, but laws are usually sensible, I will need to abide by them, but they are unlikely to stop me.

Simon

[bobbrown]

New regulations came into effect for all cars registered after 1st August 1998 If you look at the current regulations you can not fit a tow bar to a Ford KA amongst others as it was never type approved and I doubt that the Elan has ever been type approved for towing.
All cars that are type approved for towing and registered after 1st August 1998 have an “e” mark on the VIN plate, I wonder if they have one on an Elise?

Bob

[mikeydude]

New regulations came into effect for all cars registered after 1st August 1998 If you look at the current regulations you can not fit a tow bar to a Ford KA amongst others as it was never type approved and I doubt that the Elan has ever been type approved for towing.
All cars that are type approved for towing and registered after 1st August 1998 have an “e” mark on the VIN plate, I wonder if they have one on an Elise?

Bob

Hey...that's what I said!!...so it's true...but...is it the case for cars registered prior to 1998?

Dam..I no matter how much you may laugh, I had plans to fit a tow bar and make a sort of light wieght trailter based on a large top box for our euro tour planned for next year....but looks like Our lovely government has put a stop to it....

[dapinky]

...is it the case for cars registered prior to 1998?

Regulations are NOT retrospective - so as long as your Elan was registered before the incepcion date, there is no (legal) problem.

[mikeydude]

Hey...all go then

[Simon_P]

So here are some facts...

New part of the MOT came into effect for tow bars April '09 - Suitably practical:
http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/reposit ... 20test.pdf

Then there is the type approval stuff:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicle ... uently4577

There are 2 parts to this:
1. A type approved tow bar - effectively you can't make it yourself
2. A type approved vehicle

Hey...that's what I said!!...so it's true...but...is it the case for cars registered prior to 1998?

mikedude, not quite what you said

a car

but your second point is valid. "New legislation came into effect" doesn't mean that there was no "old" legislation .... the jury is still out!

Just trying to read this I would blame the european's rather than our government...

[bobbrown]

I think this new MOT legislation covers all towbars and is not year dependant, and the critical bit is "attached to the vehicle structure".
The body is NOT vehicle structure so you would have to attach the tow bar to the chassis and I think you will find this very difficult to do. Never mind the fact that the chassis was never designed to have a towbar fitted.
You may think that the loading on a tow ball is just the nose weight of the trailer plus the load to pull/push the trailer but this is not the case the tow ball is subject to all sorts of loads even with a very light trailer this can and does exceed the weight of the trailer.
I also think the Morris Minor scenario is now ruled illegal as will be some other home made towbars.

As a point of interest the VX220 has this comment "the manufacturers of the vehicle (Lotus) do not recommend that it is suitable for towing. I am almost certain the same will apply to the Elan.


Bob

[mikeydude]

Thanks Guys, for th info, sorry if I have hijacked your thread a bit...but it is very much on topic.

I think I will consult the company mentioned on here that do a towbar for the elan.
See what they have to say.

[Simon_P]

Bobbrown,

Interesting... Lotus refer to "Body Structure" and deem it of sufficient strength to attaching seats seatbelts etc and for jacking the car up.

I don't think that the loading is just the weight +push pull and I haven't said that it is.

I'm not an MOT inspector but I don't see why the Morris Minor example is not still valid - Provided that it is deemed of sufficient strength (they would have all been banned years ago if it wasn't). Incorrectly attached type approved tow bars would also fail - MOT instructions seem clear to me.

Simon

[Simon_P]

Thanks to all those who have replied.

I'll respond to further posts if they are detailed, constructive, and contain facts.

Simon

[Dave Drury]

Hello all, an old post i know but did anyone get anywhere with the elan m100 tow bar? as i'm putting one on mine ready for the spring. I'm fed up of choosing the camper or the lotus so i've bought a 1965 micro van that normally get pulled by ford anglia's mini's 2cv smart car etc etc.

Any help out there appreciated, please don't bore me with the legals or the chassis damage stuff i'm doing it one way or the other, and with elans now at disposable prices in the uk i.e £1800 i could always buy another if the monstrous fibreglass 400kg trailor rips my chassis in half.

Cheers

Dave

[Nickydee]

This thread predates last years Donington and the appearance of Albert from Germany.

viewtopic.php?f=120&t=19579&p=251954&hilit=albert#p251880

Think peoples views have changed a bit since!.

[Dave Drury]

Wow now thats an eye catcher does anyone know who the owner is so i might get n touch with him for some photo's of the tow bar set up,

Cheers

[trig]

Wow now thats an eye catcher does anyone know who the owner is so i might get n touch with him for some photo's of the tow bar set up,

Cheers

His name is Albert and his is the last post on the link viewtopic.php?f=120&t=19579&p=251954&hilit=albert#p251880

try giving him a pm, I wish I took some pics of Albert car underneath to show how its' attached, it was a really nice job