Evening just after some advice.Are you allowed to weld a tow bar or would it fail a WOF.Cheers
franc123,
Oct 14, 7:58am
As in weld the towbar to the car instead of bolting it? Absolutely not. Welding repairs to the towbar itself if they are done competently are ok.
jane38,
Oct 14, 8:11am
No not weld to the ute but just a repair to the tow bar itself which has a crack.
skull,
Oct 14, 8:18am
I'd be unhappy with just welding a crack without understanding what caused it to be there.
sr2,
Oct 14, 8:23am
Ignore the #1 - #2 "experts"; current NZ state of play is surprisingly unregulated. The vast majority of tow bars passing WOF inspections are welded.
mrfxit,
Oct 14, 8:39am
BUT, not welded directly to the chassis. Anybody can weld up or build a towbar from anything they like to any design. The legal proviso's are . #1: Must be of suitable materials #2: Sound engineering design & construction methods for the job intended. #3: Sound welding practices/ bolting/ mounts etc.
Key words are "of sound construction methods & materials for the intended job"
johotech,
Oct 14, 9:24am
That's fine.
tweake,
Oct 14, 9:32am
i would be looking for why it cracked and part of that is also where the crack is. bars will rip welds off or bend but not crack. also i would dye it and see where it actually ends, then drill a stop hole at the end of it. then grind it out and weld it.
sr2,
Oct 14, 9:40am
See #3.
mrfxit,
Oct 14, 8:07pm
It would be a very rare situation. 90% or more, of domestic vehicles on the road in the last 50+ years, wouldn't have enough metal in the chassis system to support a towbar. Possible been done to a few full ladder chassis semi/ full commercial vehicles but would still be comparatively rare.
mrfxit,
Oct 14, 8:10pm
Did the research many years ago when building a few custom fit towbars for various vehicles. Slight correction in quote.
Key words are "of sound construction methods & materials"
purplegoat,
Oct 14, 9:36pm
Absolutely farken astounding given the consequences if a towbar should fail doing a hundy down SH1 that some people would support and condone potentially dodgy backyard repairs . FFS If the towbar is cracked take it to a reputable industry expert and get it repaired properly or replaced
johotech,
Oct 14, 9:51pm
Nobody said anything about dodgy backyard repairs except you. Maybe that's your "go to" stance.
Most sensible people would know to have it repaired professionally.
The original question was can it be welded - which of course the answer is yes - by someone with the necessary skills and equipment.
And FYI I learnt to weld in high school. Built my first towbar when I was about 16 or 17, to tow my motorbike around central otago behind a 1600cc Mitsubishi Galant coupe.
yz490,
Oct 14, 10:03pm
Depending where the safety chain is attached, it might pay to hook it a bit further forward of the weld repair--well--if repair is near the ball area, which i guess its not? is it where the tongue attaches to the cross piece Pic would be good. Is a bugger having to remove the towbar but will have to be done to get the angles right for a good penetrating weld most likely. Talking arc welding.
Part of an engineer's initial assessment will be to ascertain why the towbar cracked in the first place - overloading (using too thin a piece of steel in the design), fatigue, a faulty piece of metal etc Engineer - might suggest you start with a new design and new steel, add additional bracing and repair on existing tow bar etc. (Usually a certified welder sign off when complete) and keep a copy of the repair invoice with your warrant of fitness - to show next wof inspector etc)
lookoutas,
Oct 14, 10:17pm
So you can duck for cover if it breaks again?
Don't know why anyone is digressing onto welding it to anywhere - that's a complete no-no, and we all should know better. If you don't know better then that's OK, but you have just learnt not to weld a . tow-bar to anything if you want a WOF or COF.
As joho sez, if it is welded properly, then yes - it can be welded. Edit: Not necessarily by an expert, if you are good enough to make it look like it has been done by one.
tweake,
Oct 14, 10:28pm
this is why trailer rules are stupid. you have a certed coupling, but the towbar connecting everything, including the safety chain, to the vehicle can be made by anyone to any standard as long as it looks good. the local tow bar manufactures where complaining about cheap imported crap years ago. but nothing has changed. an ambo at the bottom of a cliff situation.
Read my original question before you go off on a tangent.It will be welded by a local engineering company and if they say its beyond it I will source another one.Just take a deep breath and read before you rant.
mrfxit,
Oct 15, 1:15am
Not in Purplegoats style to think 1st.
mrfxit,
Oct 15, 1:21am
Interesting snippets in this article http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/4847342/Towbar-rules-will-be-costly "The Ministry of Transport's crash records going back over 60 years has only one fatal crash (this one) attributed to towbar breakage which makes this crash very rare" Still looking for the build spec requirements
sr2,
Oct 15, 3:26am
LOL, very much as I expected.
I'm from the generation where if you needed a trailer or a towbar you got some RHS and fired up the stick welder; no one died unnecessarily, the sky didn't fall on our heads and if the local garage or cop didn't like it they'd give you a bollocking and make you fix it. This over-regulated PC world we've created has the snowflakes diving for rules and regulations amidst claims of "don't try and do it yourself" at the mere suggestion of someone repairing or making something themselves!
You would have thought this MB would be one of the last bastions of automotive diy but the choruses of 'it needs a cert", " take it to a reputable expert", . etc. are getting increasingly louder.
(Tongue in cheek rant over).
msigg,
Oct 15, 4:07am
Yes I'm with you sr2, I did a fitting and turning apprenticeship 35 years ago, as a apprentice I made a tow bar for my Hillman avenger, and before that my hb viva, all were fine and towed a small trailer for many years.Normally what happens is you tend to over build things, weld holes in car chassis and I remember welding lots of holes up in my mates combi van, was rotten( worth dollars now I bet) all great stuff to do back then and had no money anyway so it was do it your self. That's learning. never get those days back now, as said plenty more regs on the way.
The broken tow bar had been made by A1 Bars 1994 Ltd, Auckland, and police interviewed company director Roger Provan.
Police sought legal advice on whether criminal charges should be laid against Mr Provan, A1 Bars 1994 Ltd or the driver of the vehicle towing the boat. No charges were laid. Mr Scott also recommended the NZTA conduct random inspections of manufacturers.
‘‘To see that the standard is being implemented,’’ he said.
It was recommended that people who frequently towed heavy loads made every endeavour to find out the weight of the trailer and load and to carry out continual visual checks for wear and tear.
The NZTA would be directed to report back within three months to advise on the progress in implementing the new standard or why it was not appropriate.
Mr Scott reserved one further recommendation.
Constable Chris Pelosi, of the Serious Crash Unit, concluded the direct cause of the crash could be attributed to the failure of the tow bar assembly located near the chassis, the inquest heard.
A report by Dr John De Pont, of Transport Engineering Research New Zealand, found that although the tow bar was rated for a maximum towed weight of 1200kg, its design strength was totally inadequate.
Another report on the tow bar said: ‘‘The design and workmanship on this tow bar is so appalling that the manufacturer has built-in disaster and possibly bodily harm which, in the present unfortunate case, has resulted in even fatal consequences.’’
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