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tow bar

  • Brooklynodog
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16 Aug 2015 17:45 - 16 Aug 2015 18:06 #149931 by Brooklynodog
tow bar was created by Brooklynodog
Can anyone plesse advise me on simplicity or otherwise of DIY fitting of tow bars please?
Last edit: 16 Aug 2015 18:06 by Brooklynodog.

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16 Aug 2015 18:02 #149932 by gusthegorilla
Replied by gusthegorilla on topic tow bar


I'm planning to live forever.....so far, so good !!

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16 Aug 2015 18:09 #149933 by Brooklynodog
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Thanks, thats helpful, presumably other makes use the pretapped holes as well? Would prefer a detachable ball. How complicated are the electrics?

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16 Aug 2015 18:15 - 16 Aug 2015 18:17 #149935 by gusthegorilla
Replied by gusthegorilla on topic tow bar
Here's another one for ya ;) www.bigjimny.com/images/documents/jimny_towbar_install.pdf

Gus :)

PS Personally, I think Scotchlocks are crap...much better methods are available.


I'm planning to live forever.....so far, so good !!
Last edit: 16 Aug 2015 18:17 by gusthegorilla.
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16 Aug 2015 21:01 #149945 by wombat
Replied by wombat on topic tow bar
Hi, took me an hour to fit mine, but two hours to wire it up !!

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16 Aug 2015 21:30 - 16 Aug 2015 21:45 #149951 by gilburton
Replied by gilburton on topic tow bar
All the different makes use the same holes.
They are not pre tapped what you are seeing is a nut on a long tab that is inserted into the open end of the chassis.
As stated it's quite easy to fit but put everything in place LOOSELY until every nut/bolt/bracket is attached then tighten it all up.
The electrics can be difficult if you go the method of removing the n/side interior trim as it can take a while to get access.
Once there the loom is very accessible (as in the pics)
If you take off the rear light lenses you can see which colour wires go where.
There are no electronics to worry about as the Jimny is an older design.
You can cheat on the wiring by tapping in to the rear lights etc. it just depends on what or how much you can do.
If you do take the n/s interior trim off it would be worthwhile doing the rear speakers at the same time as the wiring and holes for speakers are there but you'll also need to take off the o/side trim as well..
You can see the small white squarish connector in one of the pics. just in front of the scotch clips.

2x 4" (100mm) speakers and some speaker wire is all you need.

I started off high and worked my way down ever since :-)
Last edit: 16 Aug 2015 21:45 by gilburton.
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17 Aug 2015 14:18 #149967 by fozzie
Replied by fozzie on topic tow bar
I bought my tow bar from Amazon.

Tow bar Detachable Suzuki JIMNY 2doors 2-4WD ((08/01)-) It cost £99, free delivery.

The tow bar took just 4 days to arrive from Italy and I fitted it the next day. Believe it or not, every mounting hole aligned perfectly and it took me just 35 minutes to bolt it into place! Well made and has a good finish and comes with easy to understand instructions and all of the parts required to fix it to my Suzuki Jimny, including the removable tow ball. Fantastic value for money! Electrics etc. were not included in this deal (although I believe there is a bar with electrics included, it is a 13 pin kit where all I needed was a 7 pin to pull a trailer) and I bought them separately. I did grind a lump out of the mounting plate next to the exhaust as it will knock against it.

Wiring it all up also took me about 2 hours using the info from this forum. I soldered the connections into the loom behind the plastic side panel on the left side of the car and insulated the bare connections with amalgamation tape. (It was easier for me to access as I had already removed the rear seats and modified this area to make a larger boot space.)

Hope this helps.

2012 Jimny Black. Totally standard (except for rear seat removal mod).
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20 Aug 2015 20:48 #150273 by Brooklynodog
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I would be really interested in learning more about how you adapted the back without the seats

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21 Aug 2015 05:07 - 21 Aug 2015 06:00 #150289 by fozzie
Replied by fozzie on topic tow bar
Sorry in advance for going off topic, but as you were the original poster (OP)...

All I did was pull the rear seat out (it's only clipped in. unclip the plastics surrounding the area in-between the rear seat backs and remove the two bolts. Undo the nuts either side of the rear seats (where they swivel) and take out the seat backs. (I've put the old seats in plastic bags to keep them clean and stored them in the garage). I also put all the bolts back in the holes... bar two (see end of next para). I've kept the rear seat belts in place.

I used an old cardboard box to make a template of the new boot area, drew round the template on a sheet of 10mm ply and cut it out. (I also cut across the ply to make a flap to enable jack access). At the front seat end of the ply I glued and screwed a 75mm x 30mm piece of wood to act as a small barrier (up-stand) to prevent anything rolling into the rear of the front seats or falling into the old now unused rear footwells when you are loaded and braking. The plywood base is held down by using two countersunk bolts into the holes left by the rear seats.

I then bought some 3mm ribbed rubber sheeting from Amazon and covered the up-stand and flooring. The rubber acts as the hinge for the jack flap. I never glued the rubber down on the ply, but did attach it to the up-stand. (The rubber really stinks though, it took 3 months for the smell of rubber to go. Not that nasty if you have a rubber fettish!!)

If I need to, I can remove the rear mod and re-install the rear seats in 35 mins. I've tried :)

Doing the above mod and fitting a tow bar for my trailer enables me to transport most things I need to. Even an old 3 seater sofa to the tip :laugh:



2012 Jimny Black. Totally standard (except for rear seat removal mod).
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Last edit: 21 Aug 2015 06:00 by fozzie. Reason: Added pic
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23 Aug 2015 14:28 #150414 by Brooklynodog
Replied by Brooklynodog on topic tow bar
When fitting towbar, is a bypass relay necessary, and what does it do?

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23 Aug 2015 17:02 #150433 by fozzie
Replied by fozzie on topic tow bar

Brooklynodog wrote: When fitting towbar, is a bypass relay necessary, and what does it do?


Not for the Jimny. You may require a 7 way bypass relay if your vehicle has a bulb failure systems or multipex/cambus wiring.

Paul

2012 Jimny Black. Totally standard (except for rear seat removal mod).
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25 Aug 2015 06:27 #150569 by Brooklynodog
Replied by Brooklynodog on topic tow bar
How would that work Rhinoman? Is there a socket in the engine bay or something?

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