P38 Tow bar - my experience

P38 Monkey said:

The LR standard towbar for the P38 has a detachable swan neck / ball, but it is usually held in place by a big rusty bolt with an equally rusty nut and locknut. Removing it means getting the spanners out and mucking up your tweeds or pin-stripes. So it stays put and rusts further. I replaced the bolt with a cotter-pin and R-clip, to make the operation much simpler, and clean. A cotter-pin that is exactly the right size is a Massey Ferguson top link pin off one of the old Fergies. It has Imperial dimensions of course, but is a much better fit than the metric bolt anyway.
Note that this is my own experience (750 kg un-braked trailer) and I am doing no more than recounting it - use a cotter pin at your own risk...particularly if you are towing a 20 foot container...
So, with its agricultural components, coil springs, manual seats, no cruise control, is my P38 evolving into a tratter? Obviously without the rust, draughts, noise, oil leaks and total lack of power of course.

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pwood999 said:

Mine is firmly bolted in place. My old classic had one of the height adjustable jobs with two clevis pins. Towed all sorts of stuff with no issues.

But as said above properly adjusted trailer braking is the key.

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Mark Piercy said:

Ron?

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Grrrrrr said:

A do Ron Ron.

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Mark Piercy said:

Later-on..

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Jon Dor said:

When I got my 2nd - current - P38, the securing mechanism was missing from the demountable towbar, so I got a suitably-sized, High Tensile bolt and permanently attached it to the car with that. Over the years, post-divorce, I did well over 15,000 miles with my HOBBY 700VIP Premium caravan without issue, both in the UK and on the Continent. It was 9.1mts long, 2.44mts wide and towed brilliantly. I've also driven many miles with 16'6" trailer, towing boats and all sorts over long distances. I've checked the bolt for tightness regularly and never had to tighten it up.

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Rubberknees said:

Can't beat a good tight un Mike

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Jon Dor said:

I'm DEFINITELY in favour of a nice tight fit matey! In engineering terms, of course!

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Rubberknees said:

Of coarse think thats what I meant

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Jon Dor said:

When I got my 2nd - current - P38, the securing mechanism was missing from the demountable towbar, so I got a suitably-sized, High Tensile bolt and permanently attached it to the car with that. Over the years, post-divorce, I did well over 15,000 miles with my HOBBY 700VIP Premium caravan without issue, both in the UK and on the Continent. It was 9.1mts long, 2.44mts wide and towed brilliantly. I've also driven many miles with 16'6" trailer, towing boats and all sorts over long distances. I've checked the bolt for tightness regularly and never had to tighten it up.

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