Towbar Help with electric corsa / electric 208

[Spare tyre]

Helping someone buy a car. They have settled on an electric corsa / 208 - which appear to be essentially the same car - just badge engineering etc

Not a bad car for 15k new when comparing it to others

Does anyone have any real world experience of fitting / seeing a tow bar on the electric variants

They only want it for a bike rack, not towing trailers.

Some sites say yes, others no, some no mention

Dealers shrug their shoulders

You can fit a tow bar to the petrol variants as I’ve seen them / research has shown it up

Strap mounted / roof mounted options not an option as due to age / strength / skill

Any guidance would be much appreciated

[twing]

I don't think either have type approval for towing I'm afraid. If you call Roger at All-Tow (he's local to you in Hants) he'll tell you for sure # 07507039106

[vaud]

Of course a light bike will probably be safe, but they will need to tell their insurer as it’s a modification. They will need to be specific on the question. Not “I’m adding a tow bar” but:

“I’m adding a fixed tow bar that’s zero-rated for towing (for a bike rack only, no towing capacity). Does this affect my cover or premium?””

[sospan]

Fit a roof bar for the bike instead?

[twing]

How about these OP? https://www.roofracks.co.uk/thule-rear-mount-guide...

[vaud]

sospan said:

Fit a roof bar for the bike instead?

Read the first post…

[Spare tyre]

Hi all

As always perfect advice

I shall ring Rodger on Monday and have a look

I’m sure you can indeed sling a towbar on and just use it for bikes, but it needs to be legit so to speak

The owner in question are pensioners, they have some heavy e bikes that they take to Holland several times a year

The bike rack they use has small integrated wheels that allow fitting to the towbar with no lifting

The rack always o has a building ramp, so you wheel the bike up rather than lift it

The clip on ones are fine but I fear they don’t have the attention to detail to fit it correctly

I’m suggesting alternative cars but I know I’ll be on the hook forever more if they have issues

The alternative which seems sensible is a berlingo or variant

Thanks again all

[kambites]

twing said:

I don't think either have type approval for towing I'm afraid. If you call Roger at All-Tow (he's local to you in Hants) he'll tell you for sure # 07507039106

They don't need to be type-approved for towing in order to fit a tow bar for a bike rack.

There's a very good chance that the tow-bar from the ICE versions of the same car will fit.

[twing]

kambites said:

They don't need to be type-approved for towing in order to fit a tow bar for a bike rack.

There's a very good chance that the tow-bar from the ICE versions of the same car will fit.

I'm sure they'll fit but insurance will be an issue.

[kambites]

twing said:

I'm sure they'll fit but insurance will be an issue.

Will it? I've never had an insurance company take any interest in the fact that a tow-bar was fitted to a car, although admittedly I've never had a tow-bar on a car which wasn't type-approved for towing.

[sherman]

An E Corsa with 2 heavy bikes and a weeks luggage will only get around 150miles range.
It will need 3 full charges just to get to the Netherlands.

[vaud]

kambites said:

Will it? I've never had an insurance company take any interest in the fact that a tow-bar was fitted to a car, although admittedly I've never had a tow-bar on a car which wasn't type-approved for towing.

You need to declare it as a mod, if they add a premium is up to them. Been zero extra for me.

[parabolica]

Spare tyre said:

Helping someone buy a car. They have settled on an electric corsa / 208 - which appear to be essentially the same car - just badge engineering etc

Not a bad car for 15k new when comparing it to others

Does anyone have any real world experience of fitting / seeing a tow bar on the electric variants

They only want it for a bike rack, not towing trailers.

Some sites say yes, others no, some no mention

Dealers shrug their shoulders

You can fit a tow bar to the petrol variants as I ve seen them / research has shown it up

Strap mounted / roof mounted options not an option as due to age / strength / skill

Any guidance would be much appreciated

Definately doable as a colleague has the 208e here in NL and has a tow-bar fitted for his bike rack; pretty common addition to any car here regardless of the size of car or power train.

[twing]

vaud said:

You need to declare it as a mod, if they add a premium is up to them. Been zero extra for me.

But the car isn’t type approved to have one, regardless of whether it’s towing or not. Loads of discussion on mobile home forums about this, people fitting them and adapting so the can’t possibly tow but the upshot is you shouldn’t fit one.

[Dog Star]

kambites said:

twing said:

I don't think either have type approval for towing I'm afraid. If you call Roger at All-Tow (he's local to you in Hants) he'll tell you for sure # 07507039106

They don't need to be type-approved for towing in order to fit a tow bar for a bike rack.

There's a very good chance that the tow-bar from the ICE versions of the same car will fit.

Completely untrue; you don’t need type approval for it because it only needs it for towing.

You’re not towing. It’s a bike rack.

I’ve gone through all of this with my Merc SL; it’s not type approved for towing. However I’ve got a detachable towbar fitted supplied (and fitted as it happems) by a place in Germany (it’s sold as a cycle rack adapter and has a bobble on the tow ball which prevents trailers fitting). Came with reams of TÜV documentation).

I just rang my insurers, told them I’d had a towbar fitted and they gave me £26 back.

[twing]

Which bit is untrue? Everything I’ve said is correct according to law. The ability to tow, regardless of whether you are or not, makes not allowed. I’m not really fussed to be honest, just trying t help OP. I mentioned adapting the ball earlier btw

[vaud]

twing said:

But the car isn t type approved to have one, regardless of whether it s towing or not. Loads of discussion on mobile home forums about this, people fitting them and adapting so the can t possibly tow but the upshot is you shouldn t fit one.

It’s not binary. If you explicitly ask the insurer:

“I’m adding a fixed tow bar to a car that’s zero-rated for towing (for a bike rack only, no towing capacity). Does this affect my cover or premium?”

And then they issue a certificate explicitly stating that you are covered?

[twing]

Amazed they would but if so fair play.
I guess you wouldn’t need electrics so no messing around with CAN bus.

[vikingaero]

I had a tow bar fitted for a bike rack on my R55 MINI Clubman S. The S is not homologated for a tow bar, but the standard One, Cooper and D are.

Fortunately my local towing company (Trident Towing in Maidstone) is more switched on and were happy to supply and fit the towbar for bike rack use only. Apparently more and more cars are not being homologated for towing and they encounter this all the time. I signed a disclaimer which said I would pass this on to subsequent owners.

[Powerfully Built Company Directors Secretary]

twing said:

kambites said:

They don't need to be type-approved for towing in order to fit a tow bar for a bike rack.

There's a very good chance that the tow-bar from the ICE versions of the same car will fit.

I'm sure they'll fit but insurance will be an issue.

Lots of insurers these days don't actually ask if a towbar is fitted or if you tell them, they don't care. Admiral, one I use a lot, no longer has it on their list of mods.

My wife has a VW Up!, something that definitely cannot tow however you can buy towbars for them solely for bike racks.