DS3 – my perfect utility vehicle

[Owd git]

Just taken my Bultaco for its MOT. She’s an off-road beast really but needs a daylight MOT to travel between the hilly muddy bits.
Top speed must be in the region of 20mph so the trip to the test station is best done by trailer, which is one of the reasons I chose the DS3 THP above its competitors..............because you can legally fit a towbar.




Clever Citroen people – I wonder if they realise that they have such an advantage?

[Gareth]

Looks great!

[mix]

It's not something that I've ever given much thought (having never needed to tow a trailer) but what aspects of a car would mean that you couldn't legally fit a tow bar?

[Jimbob]

I was thinking of getting a towbar - makes a great parking sensor! Clunk - stop reversing!

Jimbob

[keld747]

Nice car and bike, not seen a Bultaco for years, my friends brother had one , might be slow top end but will get over most obstacles.

[Owd git]

It's not something that I've ever given much thought (having never needed to tow a trailer) but what aspects of a car would mean that you couldn't legally fit a tow bar?

Some have central exhausts like the Cooper S, and Corsa VXR, so your fecked there, and you can't find towbars for some such as the Fabia VRS and Renaultsport Clio which don't have type approval for towing

FAQs from somewhere or other

I have a Ford KA and want to tow my small trailer but nobody lists a towbar. Can I have one specially manufactured?

NO. When EC Type Approving the vehicle, the manufacturer did not declare that it was suitable for towing. It therefore has no specified towing capacity and no specified mounting points. Towing with, or even the fitment of a towbar to any such vehicle registered on or after the 1st August 1998 would make you liable to prosecution.

How can I find out if my new car or model variant, is EC Type Approved for towing?

For a new car or model variant a definitive answer could be obtained by examining the vehicle VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) plate, which should have four figures stamped into the lower edge denoting its carrying capacity. VIN No. (known as chassis number) XXXX kg -(Max vehicle weight) XXXX kg -(Max train weight i.e. vehicle and trailer) 1. XXXX kg -(Max front axle load) 2. XXXX kg -(Max rear axle load) If no train weight is specified then the vehicle is not approved for towing, and therefore cannot legally do so. If a train weight is specified then the towing weight is this figure less the maximum vehicle weight The VIN plate is usually located under the bonnet. However it can sometimes be elsewhere.

[Jimbob]

Wow - you can't get a more comprehensive answer than that!

Jimbob

[Bensds3]

i might need to put a tow bar on my ds3 as i might need a change of career (lol), anyhow thanks for being the first to do it, would the bar be easy to remove when not in use? Also do you know what the trailer weight limits are? I'm limited to 750kg by my license but i have a trailer at exactly that capacity.

btw amazing colour scheme I'm not sure I've seen one like that yet. you also have the white centre caps? was thinking of not putting them on but now I've seen them on the bellones they look great, must order some soon

[Jimbob]

Theres one on Ebay thats quite easy to fit and remove but you do have to cut the bumper

Jimbob

[Owd git]

here is my post on fitting the towbar

According to my V5 the 'technical permissible maximum towable mass of the trailer' is 1150 kg braked, and 570kg unbraked, but you'd have to check that you don't exceed the max gross train weight of 2467kg.

Car mass in service is 1240kg with a max permissible mass of 1597kg. so subtracting the actual mass of the car at the time of towing from 2467kg gives you the max trailer mass that you can tow...........I think.

Wasn't sure about the colour scheme but it had just come into stock as the dealer demonstrator as is. I put the first 7 miles on it and the rest is history!

[wbryan]

A further bit of information regarding type approval... it's sometimes possible to get a tow-bar fitted specifically for a cycle carrier or similar even when a vehicle doesn't have type approval for towing. The VW Scirocco can't tow, but Thule do have a tow-bar and carrier for it.

[Petewete]

I was thinking of getting a towbar - makes a great parking sensor! Clunk - stop reversing!

Jimbob

^^^
lol, thats one way of knowing when to stop!

[Frankj]

I thought that I was the only one to use a DS3 as a Tow Truck, see attached picture of mine with my 1969 Thruxton Bonneville race bike in tow

[Owd git]

sweet!

[Bensds3]

i know im bringing up an old thread but the time has come when i actually will need to get one fitted. Do you mind me asking how much it cost? also is it removable or permanent? time for me to go hunting on ol google.