I just got a 2300kg Hayman Reese Towbar setup for my EF wagon, second hand off ebay. Just wondering if theres anyone thats got one that can clarify something for me

I bolted it up today, looking at where the marks where from where bolt heads sat last time to work out how to put it together. The final configuration as it was setup last time meant it looks like this





Then I went to refit the rear bar and found that it interferes with the bar in a pretty big way. The old 1600kg towpack comes through the bar, this one drops below it, which is all fine. BUT it sits too far backwards and the bar has to bend around it. If I cut out a whole in the bar, it would have to be big enought for the piece of plate with the three bolts in it to come through the bar, which doesnt seem right.

Then I was looking at it, and I realised that if I leave it the way it is, then entire strength of the towbar comes down to three bolts in tension. So I reset it up with the plate behind like this



This seems to make more sense to me, but at the other end, it puts the undertank support awfully close to the diff

Side on


From Below



Just wondering if anyone has any instructions or ideas on how its meant to be setup. The other thing I am curious about is whether theres meant to be two vertical plates at the front of the towpackage, as there are four holes, but my towpack only came with one upright?

I have a Class 4 H/R towbar in my ED sedan. Yours should have plates that go inside too.
You will need to alter the skin of the bumper to let the draw bar out and clear.
I did fit 1, Class 4 bumper to an EL wagon once.....but that was back in the 90's, and I don't remember......fitted a few to Fairlanes though.

Hey mate thanks for the reply, sorry got distracted by my other project car for a while, back onto the wagon again now. Its just been sitting there since I posted last. There was no bars to go inside, ive seen a couple of HD sedan towbars and they are different again. The wagon one is unique because of the box area that the spare tire and fuel tank go in

I have been thinking about it for a while though. The kit basically fits perfectly the first way, but I am really concerned by the way that 2300kg of trailer is held on by three 8.8 grade bolts, just doesnt seem quite right? Has anyone else had any experience with these kits?

I've got one fitted to my XR wagon - when I cbf, I'll have a look.

Thanks mate, that would be great!! You are a handy bloke to know when it comes to wagons that for sure!

Gidday.

As I recall from when I removed my Hayman Reese there are two vertical supports that are in front of the diff.

Pic.



While they were close, being either side of the crown wheel bulge they didn't appear to have touched.

On mine the rear bar sat on the tongue but did not bend it.

Cheers
BenJ

Thats a very telling photo and very handy! Looks like I am missing one of the verticals for the front section of the towbar, shouldn't be too hard to make one up out of angle iron though. The most interesting thing is the way that it attaches to the horizontal bar at the rear, looks like I got it right the first time. It just seems wierd that only those 3 bolts holt it to the strongest bit of the towpack. But if thats the way it is, thats it!! Thanks heaps. I take is that last bit bolts up inside the wagon for the two verticals to attach to?

Ummm, No.

That bar was the support for the rear child seat that was in the car. Just ignore that bit LOL.

Cheers
BenJ

I pulled the heavy duty towbar off my XR wagon a few weeks ago, for the LPG conversion.
The pics should help join the dots.

 

 

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