Fitting a tow bar on Nissan Homy?

paislydoll, Oct 6, 9:25pm
I have a desire to fit a tow bar to my van. but have been told by some one that thinks they know every thing, that it would cost around $2k to buy and have fitted. this would make it not worth my while if it is so. can some one please advise how much I could realisticly expect to pay for a possibly pre loved bar and have it fitted by a proffesional . thank you in advance.

hawkeye30, Oct 6, 9:35pm
Not much help but hubby has our bus booked in for compliance for a new tow bar and its costing $250 plus gst. Timaru. That is just to get a specialist to check and legalise it. If you can get a preloved one at a reasonable price it shouldn't cost 2k.

paislydoll, Oct 6, 10:08pm
thank you for that hawkeye30. I couldnt see how it could cost so much. but never having done it before. had to check to be sure.

skin1235, Oct 6, 10:28pm
thats for a bus, which has a COF, a van only has a WOF, a towbar for a van is already certified and can be fitted at home, all you need is the correct model towbar for that van
cannot help on that part, but the local nissan agent or towbar fitters will send you in the right direction
price will depend on the vans limits - up to $600 for a 3.2 tonne, as low as $160 for a standard 800kg bar

sr2, Oct 6, 10:29pm
Sometimes people just overly complicate things!

Buy a 2nd hand tow-bar off one of the many Homy's being wreaked out there and ask your local mechanic (or mechanically minded neighbor) to bolt it on and hook up 5 wires to a trailer plug.
Simple, safe and cheap!

paislydoll, Oct 6, 10:30pm
thanks skin. I dont intend hauling a logging trailer. just normal stuff like a small caravan or a ordinary trailer.

jbsouthland, Oct 6, 10:34pm
Are you planning on getting a caravan Paisly ?

skin1235, Oct 6, 10:36pm
I'd be checking the wreckers as sr2 suggests, $80 to $100 should cover it
the bolt holes are already drilled and threaded under the van, simply bolt it in, you don't actually have to have lights wired for trailers unless using them after dark,

paislydoll, Oct 6, 10:42pm
not today jb. but so many times I could have done with a trailer to pick up stuff with, as opposed to putting stuff in the van, I am still sweeping straw and gravel aswell as coal dust out of the carpet. so over the mess. lol

paislydoll, Oct 6, 10:44pm
might be nice to have a wee caravan. just so I can park up with the kids at the river for a day of fishing in luxury. tee hee.

tamarillo, Oct 7, 2:07am
Not sure about that.
If the view to car is not cut off so people can easily see hand signals trailer doesn't need lights, but even this changed couple of years ago and now they must.
I think that if lights are fitted they must work.

tamarillo, Oct 7, 2:08am
I had a camper trailer for over nighters etc. it was great. For one or few nights it was all that was needed. Easy tow, cheaper.

intrade, Oct 7, 4:01am
what year is the vehicle ? new vehicle with stability control do cost a fortune to have towbars fitted as the towbar needs programming in to the system managment , also fitting tow bar for 250$ was 15 years ago its now 600 to 800$ for normal standard towbar and clip-on wiring looms to tail lights

bigfatmat1, Oct 7, 4:34am
Last three towbars I have fitted to homy's are through the chassis holes need to be drilled no captive nuts. All in all though our cost is around $500 towbar, wiring and fitting. Takes about a hour and a bit to do.

paislydoll, Mar 14, 4:24pm
its an older deisil. 1996