Towbars... Series Ii

[DoubleChevron]

Hi guys,

I'm in Australia (where there is next to no XM's, let alone towbars for them). Does anyone have a template that shows how to make one ?? The DS and CX towbars could be make quite easily if you had one to copy. I'm hoping the XM is the same !!

seeya,
Shane L.

[Assich]

Check this out - diagram at end

Towbar Post

[DoubleChevron]

PERFECT !!!!!!

I did a search here and didn't find that ! I can't seem to find anything here, even when it exists

I think it's time to grab the 9" grinder and drop saw back from my father, and refill the MIG's gas bottle !!!

seeya,
Shane L.

[Assich]

Just click the underlined words and it will open in a new window.

[DoubleChevron]

Well I had a look around the local wreckers yesterday for an existing towbar to modify. They are either lightweight junk from old cars .... Or modern massively built hayman reece bars. the size of a standard commodore bar is staggering. It must be 80mm box section :eek: :eek: :eek: Bigger than most 4wd towbars by the looks of them. There is NO WAY they'd bend in an accident :roflmao: :roflmao:

Nothing even remotely close, I think 50mm box would be probably the biggest we'd fit.

I stopped at the "towing" place on the way home with little hope.... He had ordered in a towbar for someone that had never picked it up.... Obviously unless your a licensed engineer it's useless to anyone.... so I got this for $40bux ....... Now to make me up some mounting points and stick it on. It's 50mm tube ! It's brand new, just covered in surface rust from sitting.





seeya,
Shane L.

[DoubleChevron]

Well they took a lot of finding, but I've found the towbar mounting points ..... WTF ?? I couldn't see them as they were staring me in the face... And look almost substantial enough to hold a pusbike rack





Yeah 4 tiny little bolts, through what appears to be very lightweight body areas... not only that, your tying the rubber mounted subframe back to the body with a solid towbar .... I don't like it at all. I think I'll try and find somewhere substantial to put the tiedown points (eg: the boxmembers that run back along the boot floor).

Has anyone else fitted/made an XM towbar ?

seeya,
Shane L.

[Assich]

The tow bar only mounts on the subframe. The mounting points you have photographed look right so I don't know where you get the idea some are on the body. I have towed a car transporter with a 1600kg series land rover on it with mine and no problems. Perhaps you should do the maths on bolt area and tensile strength of steel to convince yourself.

[minijet]

Don't know if it's of any use Shane, but this is where my towbar is bolted on



It's also bolted on through the two bolt holes in your lower picture.

I have two XM's with towbars fitted, I can try get some photo's under the car if it helps.

That's assuming mine were fitted right in the first place .

Paul.

[DoubleChevron]

Brilliant ... I don't have those holes I don't think (the ones near the spheres).... I'll double check and verify !

Damn there's no room there. no matter what way I try to mount a standard towbar tongue, the spare tire snags it. That must be why it has strange tongue attachment that no cars out here have. Above in my piccies you can see the tongue mount extends backwards into the spare by 20+mm

seeya,
Shane L.

[Andmcit]

Shane,

the correct towbar design mounts totally onto the bodyshell/floorpan and doesn't touch the
subframe -at all!!

The main cross member mounts across the very back of the bumper box sections and then
uses two legs that run forwards either side of the main chassis ride rails; there is an
upstanding angle through which the bar bolts through - if you prod about the underseal
there will be a hole left by Citroen!! The principle of the design is similar to the plan posted
by Assich although I don't recall the mounting on the floor cross member being the same.

You may be in luck, I have several saloon towbars removed off cars that I can measure and
photograph for you - just not immediately handy until the weekend!! Not sure if one may
be indeed be a pukka Citroen one too!

Don't get the idea they'll be the same substantial well designed (overdesigned?) tow bars
like the CX wagons though!!

All the best,
Andrew

This post has been edited by Andmcit on September 18, 2008 11:53 am

[Andmcit]

BTW, stupid place for a spare wheel too, isn't it!?
Unlike other Citroens I could care to mention...

Andrew

[rowanmoor]

But there is no way on earth you could fit it under the bonnet on a 2.5 and I expect the V6's are the same.

[Andmcit]

They managed to fit the spare next to a 2.5TD motor mind! Just it was in a CX!!

Keeps the tyre nice and warm when you're changing it on the hard shoulder of a wet and
miserable motorway too! Probably acts as additional crash protection with the rear end
being substantial enough to manage without a wheel there!

Andrew

[DoubleChevron]

Don't you worry, I've cursed the location of the spare once or twice already

I'm sure I'll work something out. Life would be so much easier if I could just find a factory towbar somewhere out here .... But that's simply not going to happen !

seeya,
Shane L.

[DerekW]

Rowanmoor wrote " But there is no way on earth you could fit it under the bonnet on a 2.5 and I expect the V6's are the same."

Believe me, there isn't really room for a V6 under a V6 bonnet!