WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 11, 2024 9:37:11 GMT
The one that does the long trips. That’s when you’ll most appreciate the reduced noise and fuel consumption.
My Atera rack has a clever (but heavy) rail system that slides the bikey part aft to clear the tailgate. Thule racks, I think use a different method, slackening the grip on the ball (not yours) to let the whole thing tilt.
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Post by Humph on Sept 11, 2024 9:41:12 GMT
Yes I see your logic, but equally the Merc might roll over and die at some point, whereas the Feep is much younger in miles and age.
Having said that too, I’d have no hesitation in taking the Feep on a long run either.
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Post by Humph on Sept 11, 2024 9:49:35 GMT
Hmmm, now, I wonder if it’s feasible to put a tow bar on a 124 Spider…
🤔
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2024 9:56:11 GMT
Don't put a towbar on the wife's car. Towbars of a habit of inserting themselves into other people's bumpers in Waitrose (Booth's in your case, I suppose) car park.
Could go on a Spider very nicely I expect.
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Post by Humph on Sept 11, 2024 10:01:03 GMT
There is, as always, my default position of inertia to consider.
😉
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 11, 2024 10:03:40 GMT
Don't put a towbar on the wife's car. Don’t put a fixed towbar on anything. Horrible, antisocial things. |
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Post by Humph on Sept 11, 2024 10:08:44 GMT
Spider + towbar + rack + Alps + Italian lakes + no agenda…
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Sept 11, 2024 17:24:12 GMT
Can you still buy a fixed towbar in 2024 ? I thought they were all detachable or fold away now.
I put the towbar on my Focus when going to Italy, the Netherlands or the UK. I would also fit it for France otherwise it lives in its little pouch in the boot attached to one of the tie down points.
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Post by Humph on Sept 11, 2024 17:51:12 GMT
I suppose a towbar is one if those right of passage things. A bit like a petrol powered garden implement. I confess to only having a petrol strimmer by the way… I have an electric mower. There, I’ve said it.
🥺
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Sept 11, 2024 19:25:14 GMT
I would imagine an aftermarket fixed towbar will always be available to fit to cars that doesn't have one?? But there won't be much difference in price so why not go detachable.
Tow bars on cars before parking sensors were handy I guess to gauge distance to cars when parking. But if you get a towbar on a car with rear parking sensors (so most cars) then this needs to be taken into account.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 11, 2024 20:03:11 GMT
Really no big deal. Proper towbar installers know all about parking sensors and their wiring. And Humph ‘s car, like my old Mercedes of similar vintage, has an off switch for the sensors. Detachable towbars are typically £500-£700, against £300-400 for fixed. But Humph is a decent human being, so he won’t be considering a fixed one. |
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Post by Humph on Sept 11, 2024 20:16:46 GMT
5-7 hundred pounds is probably 10% of the current value of my car I’d guess. And, it’s also quite a lot of the small amount of extra diesel it uses by having the roof rack.
Might make slightly more sense to fit one on the Feep.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Sept 11, 2024 21:39:29 GMT
The first car I had with parking sensors at the rear was a VW Passat CC in late 2011. It did not have an off button/switch for sensors. None of them since then has either. But as you say a competent fitter will integrate it into the CANBUS system so the car knows there's a towbar and that when towing there's something behind.
I know VW group cars with park assist in recent times (the Superb I had springs to mind) had a mode whereby you could reverse with a trailer - trailer assist. You enable it and then set where the trailer is going to go (angle etc.) using the door mirror controller. Then the car will handle the steering and you the brake/accelerator. You can tweak it as you reverse using the mirror control on the door.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Sept 11, 2024 21:44:54 GMT
Having the towbar on my car makes zero difference to the rear parking sensors or camera. Suppose it's only when something is attached it makes a difference and that's when the electrics would be hooked up even for a bike rack or towbar mounted box for the lighting board.
Only fitted a towbar because i thought I'm not getting caught out again. Bought a saloon car and five years later we got a dog.
Hedging my bets some form of trailer for my motorbike may be purchased, nothing more miserable than several hundred miles of motorway on a bike and a squared off rear tyre when you get to the fun bit.
The boss has been heard making mutterings of the 'c' word, Campervan. I don't see that happening, too many oily bits to make the mattress on wheels move eating in to space that could be more people friendly. Talk of hiring a van minus a car with a view to purchase has been mentioned. I just nod and smile. I'm not there yet, but I've got a towbar and electrics. Bit like buying a bucket and sponge as a teenager ready for the day you finally own a Porsche.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Sept 11, 2024 22:13:17 GMT
Further to roughing it and not sleeping inside four walls in a proper bed, I was browsing the accessories catalogue for my car and came across those roof mounted what looks like a roofbox that springs up into a tent.
I'd only fall out and break my neck.
Thankfully, they are not suitable for cars with a panoramic roof so that's a plus point for having a sunroof. They also cost the thick end of 4k€ for what looks like a two man tent and you still need a shovel to do your business with the bears in the woods.
Maybe thirty years ago, too old for that malarkey now.
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