Towbar fitting

Townaceclive · 17th May 2008, 09:40 AM

The two plastic discs in the tailgate jam each side of the lock bit, prise them out and you will see two bolts in the holes. Undo those and pull the bumper backwards, if you have a rear fog light disconnect that first, there are small clip type fittings each side of the bumper watch that they don't scratch the body as you pull the bumper off.

wobbly · 18th May 2008, 09:15 AM

Only 2 bolts? I'll have a go of that, then. Thanks, Clive.

wobbly · 1st June 2008, 08:15 AM

No luck with this yet, I may have to get it done somewhere.

monsigna · 1st June 2008, 08:47 AM

Hi wobbly, is your bus a townace? or estima?... if its an estima the right-hand bracket doesnt look right...

ade.

wobbly · 1st June 2008, 08:58 AM

Hi Ade. She's a '93-model Ace - the newer shape. Thanks.

monsigna · 1st June 2008, 09:37 AM

ok bud, good luck...hope the rain holds-off.

buffallobob · 1st June 2008, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wobbly

No luck with this yet, I may have to get it done somewhere.

Either call me and i can run through with you where and what to take off to fit it but make sure you are at the car or let me know what part of the country you are in if you need it fitted
bob

wobbly · 11th June 2008, 07:06 AM

Thanks, Bob - I'll do that.

wobbly · 29th June 2008, 08:22 PM

I've had another go today, and I'm nearly there. I don't know which Aces this is likely to work on, but it works on my 93-model 4WD TownAce - this is the sensible & sequential version, therefore nothing like the way I actually did it:

Locate the two towing eyes on the back of the bus. Forward of each eye, you will find a 17mm bolt - first one is approx 2 inches from the eye, 2nd is about 2 inches beyond that. Remove these bolts (this takes some doing). Then, lie under the bumper & locate the brackets connecting the bumper to the car (there are two, each a couple of inches inboard of the towing eyes). You'll see two bolts going upwards, also two going forward into the bodywork of the bus. Undo the two going upwards. Carefully pull the wraparound sides of the bumper away from the bodywork (press-fit fixings underneath), and then ease the bumper off once you've disconnected the fog light & reversing sensors (if you can!). You'll then see that the bumper brackets have two forward-facing bolts, plus a 'flying' bracket over to the towing eyes. Remove all three bols & remove the bumper brackets & towing eyes. Then, using slightly longer bolts, fit the outer towbar brackets into the spaces left by the towing eye brackets (these a funny-sized bolts, by the way). Then fit the inner towbar brackets between the bumper brackets & the bodywork. Once you've reshaped the bumper brackets to fit around the towbar, bolt the towbar itself on, then replace bumper as per removal.

Wiring-wise, I haven't got to yet. Can anyone advise where & which cables I need to connect the electrics to? I just need the usual stop, tail, indicator & fog lights at the mo. Secondly, is there an easy (or any) way to undo the parking sensor plugs in the rear bumper? This would make my life much easier!!

loudcrier · 29th June 2008, 10:54 PM

Mine was fitted within the hour! Including wiring. you need to know what your doing.

And Bob did, thanks Buffalobob; another easy job. I'll just open the wine and relax.

R
Mike

1st June 2008, 08:47 AM	#14 (permalink)
monsigna Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: i live in andover hampshire 'doon south' Posts: 3,142	Hi wobbly, is your bus a townace? or estima?... if its an estima the right-hand bracket doesnt look right... ade. __________________ *if its not broke,dont try to fix it!*

1st June 2008, 09:37 AM	#16 (permalink)
monsigna Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: i live in andover hampshire 'doon south' Posts: 3,142	ok bud, good luck...hope the rain holds-off. __________________ *if its not broke,dont try to fix it!*

29th June 2008, 10:54 PM	#20 (permalink)
loudcrier Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: St Neots Posts: 79	Mine was fitted within the hour! Including wiring. you need to know what your doing. And Bob did, thanks Buffalobob; another easy job. I'll just open the wine and relax. R Mike __________________ Loud and Proud

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17th May 2008, 09:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
Townaceclive Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 4,658	The two plastic discs in the tailgate jam each side of the lock bit, prise them out and you will see two bolts in the holes. Undo those and pull the bumper backwards, if you have a rear fog light disconnect that first, there are small clip type fittings each side of the bumper watch that they don't scratch the body as you pull the bumper off.

18th May 2008, 09:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
wobbly Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 28	Only 2 bolts? I'll have a go of that, then. Thanks, Clive.

1st June 2008, 08:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
wobbly Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 28	No luck with this yet, I may have to get it done somewhere.

1st June 2008, 08:58 AM	#15 (permalink)
wobbly Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 28	Hi Ade. She's a '93-model Ace - the newer shape. Thanks.

11th June 2008, 07:06 AM	#18 (permalink)
wobbly Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 28	Thanks, Bob - I'll do that.

29th June 2008, 08:22 PM	#19 (permalink)
wobbly Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 28	I've had another go today, and I'm nearly there. I don't know which Aces this is likely to work on, but it works on my 93-model 4WD TownAce - this is the sensible & sequential version, therefore nothing like the way I actually did it: Locate the two towing eyes on the back of the bus. Forward of each eye, you will find a 17mm bolt - first one is approx 2 inches from the eye, 2nd is about 2 inches beyond that. Remove these bolts (this takes some doing). Then, lie under the bumper & locate the brackets connecting the bumper to the car (there are two, each a couple of inches inboard of the towing eyes). You'll see two bolts going upwards, also two going forward into the bodywork of the bus. Undo the two going upwards. Carefully pull the wraparound sides of the bumper away from the bodywork (press-fit fixings underneath), and then ease the bumper off once you've disconnected the fog light & reversing sensors (if you can!). You'll then see that the bumper brackets have two forward-facing bolts, plus a 'flying' bracket over to the towing eyes. Remove all three bols & remove the bumper brackets & towing eyes. Then, using slightly longer bolts, fit the outer towbar brackets into the spaces left by the towing eye brackets (these a funny-sized bolts, by the way). Then fit the inner towbar brackets between the bumper brackets & the bodywork. Once you've reshaped the bumper brackets to fit around the towbar, bolt the towbar itself on, then replace bumper as per removal. Wiring-wise, I haven't got to yet. Can anyone advise where & which cables I need to connect the electrics to? I just need the usual stop, tail, indicator & fog lights at the mo. Secondly, is there an easy (or any) way to undo the parking sensor plugs in the rear bumper? This would make my life much easier!!