Monaro towbar info

[Doc59]

New member here, just registered but have been reading the forums for a while and already gained heaps of helpful information, seems like a good forum. Now I have a question.

I've owned the VZ Monaro for about 6 months now and decided a towbar would be useful (yes I know most people remove them from Monaros rather than fit them), main use would be to occasionally cart my grandsons pushbike around on a bike rack before I stuff my interior trying to squeeze it in the back seat besides his child seat. Also be handy to sometimes be able to tow a box trailer when something won't fit in the boot. This is probably a common mistake but I got a cheap Hayman Reese towbar off gumtree which of course came with no mounting brackets or bolts so wondering if anyone can tell me what main bits I am missing? Its a Hayman Reese 1600kg bar (PN: 1920R) and I can see where it will bolt to the bumper supports and also 2 more mounts through the rear of the boot, also looks like it will either bolt through the bottom rear of the boot or to a bracket like the sedans (I haven't pulled the rear bar off and sat it in there yet). Rang Hayman Reese and naturally they aren't willing to send parts diagrams or installation instructions for second hand towbars, heaps of searching on the internet and can't even find a decent picture of the towbar let alone the mounts.

Basically, if anyone can tell me what brackets/spacers/washers go inside the boot area and possibly between that lower mount and the boot it would be appreciated.

Still not sure if I want to fit this bar anyway as the car is totally stock and I pretty much want to keep it that way so might not want to drill holes in the boot, in that case I will go for a class2 towbar which I think only mount to the bumper mounts, I'll be checking it out at a towbar place in the next few weeks. The removable hitch type do look better than the bolt on tongue type though if I have to have a towbar.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[yamahahatim]

Noooo, don't do it!!! Buy a cheap shitter for yard/pa duty.... Use munro for good events/outings...

 

[Doc59]

Second cars not going to happen, I'm also into motor bikes so already have too many regos and insurance bills.

 

[loopie]

Second cars not going to happen, I'm also into motor bikes so already have too many regos and insurance bills.

its been a few years since I did my last one but I hope this helps, but it should go behind the your steel bumper , the middle bracket then bolt too 2 bolts already there u just need some nuts. buy a genuine harness off ebay its plug and play, on a vz with the harness you have too find a loose wire there too connect too your plug and play harness its the only thing different on the vz

 

[Benboy]

In the interests of safety - yours and others - I suggest you consult with a Towbar Installation Specialist in order to ensure that the job is done correctly. Seems to me that you don't really know what to do and how to go about such install. Towbars must comply with ADR's (Australian Design Rules) regarding their construction. It seems logical to me that the installation should also be compliant. Cheap is not always best as you have no idea what the towbar may have been subjected to and if it has sustained any metal fatigue or stressed welds etc.

 

[Doc59]

Thanks loopie, I know where it bolts behind the steel bumper and also about the genuine harness with a reed switch for the reverse sensors. I've also seen pictures (sedan though) of a bracket that goes on the studs under the boot then the towbar bolts to the bracket. Before I pull the rear bar off I'm trying to find out if this towbar needs a similar bracket or something different. My bar also has a bolt each side that go through the rear of the boot. Also trying to find out what bracing/brackets it should have inside the boot.

Benboy, thats a bit judgemental considering you don't know my mechanical experience. The reason I'm asking here is that I want to do it safely otherwise I just would have gone to Bunnings and bought a handful of nuts and bolts and bolted it up. I agree cheap is not always best but if I can safely save around $800 by fitting this myself I will.

I know there's only a slim chance of getting proper details here as towbars on Monaros aren't very common let alone the specific Hayman Reese bar I am asking about but I'll keep my fingers crossed that maybe someone has had some experience with it.

 

[rambunctious]

In the interests of safety - yours and others - I suggest you consult with a Towbar Installation Specialist in order to ensure that the job is done correctly. Seems to me that you don't really know what to do and how to go about such install. Towbars must comply with ADR's (Australian Design Rules) regarding their construction. It seems logical to me that the installation should also be compliant. Cheap is not always best as you have no idea what the towbar may have been subjected to and if it has sustained any metal fatigue or stressed welds etc.

I am not being offensive but I always smile when I read people quoting ADR's.
As I said, no offence meant.
In the 1960's we built everything ourselves including tow bars.
Picture this if you can
FC Holden Ute with 313 cu inch V8 and push button transmission from a Chrysler Royal (all done in the family shed with arc welder, drill, oxy, and large grinder), complete with home made tow bar towing home made car trailer with Custom HR on top towed to shows in Sydney and Newcastle.
Who needs ADR's.

Doc, once you remove the bumper you will see what you need.
Last one I fitted was VZ wagon and too long ago.

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You can purchase a fitting kit separately from a Hayman Reese dealer, it will have all the bolts and brackets required.

 

[Doc59]

NotAnAbbaFan, maybe not any more. I've spoken to Hayman Reese and 2 dealers in Brisbane. Hayman Reese won't sell spare parts and neither dealer could help. Thanks anyway.

 

[Doc59]

Thanks for everyones advice, good forum, got it pretty sorted now. A helpful bloke from a towbar place in Brisbane emailed me the fitting instructions, gives sizes of the plates (all just flat 6mm steel), bolt sizes, where everything goes etc. Still have to decide if I want to drill holes into my boot so might check out the 1200kg bars available, they look like they just bolt to the bumper mounts.