towbar / rear chassis difference question....

[Doris]

Hi chaps,

still :roll: looking for a suitable towbar for the 69.can anyone give me a year within early bays when the rear chassis rails etc or anything on the back end changed that would affect me getting the right towbar? obviously the big lights on the 71 changed,and the bumper mounts moved slightly - but did underneath change?

for example I've seen a towbar for sale from a 72 - will it fit my 69?

In a nut shell.....when looking for a tow bar - from what year busses will a tow bar fit my 69 ?

Thanks in advance - Rob

 

[Cali_bay]

The fixings changed in 71 on the crossover and then again from 72 on the late bay. The pre 71 should all be the same. I bought one of gadgets westy towbars which fitted easily and looks the business 8)

 

[Doris]

OK Thanks Cali,so loking for pre 71 bar.

RE Gadgets tow bars - yeah I know they're lovely!!! However I can't use it for my single wheel trailer as its a different hitch arrangement. I need a tow bar that has the ball that can be un bolted as I have to bolt an adapter plate in place of the tow ball. The one Wander lust had for sale was ideal but just too far away!! sandblasting and powder coating or paint is no trouble,if I can get one!

This sort of one....

 

[junkyard_dog]

not trying to hi-jack the thread but reading this is it right that the cross-over bus is a single year specific tow bar (to go with all those other difficult to find cross-over only parts)?

 

[Cali_bay]

OK Thanks Cali,so loking for pre 71 bar.

RE Gadgets tow bars - yeah I know they're lovely!!! However I can't use it for my single wheel trailer as its a different hitch arrangement. I need a tow bar that has the ball that can be un bolted as I have to bolt an adapter plate in place of the tow ball. The one Wander lust had for sale was ideal but just too far away!! sandblasting and powder coating or paint is no trouble,if I can get one!

This sort of one....

That looks a bit like a Justkampers version.

The Just kampers one I fitted to my previous bus was good and easy to fit, but I know that there have been issues in fitting these on a pre71 if you are running a non standard exhaust. It does have a removable ball though.

...............but reading this is it right that the cross-over bus is a single year specific tow bar (to go with all those other difficult to find cross-over only parts)?

Yes it does seem that way. The crosser has wider spacing on its chassis rails to suit the larger type-4 engine so pre-71 towbars won't fit.

I found that when I first got my previous bus (crossover) I got hold of a late bay tow-hitch and it would not fit due to the engine support bar for the type-4 engine being in the way. The JK version does fit the crosser with a standard exhaust fitted, not sure it does with other exhausts though.