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Ford towbars

4K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  Alan14730 
#1 ·
Does anybody have a genuine Ford towbar fitted to their mk5 mondeo?

I'm interested to know if either the fixed or detachable version requires the bumper to be cut to fit it? (I'd rather not cut the bumper if I can avoid it!)

I'd also be interested to see what the detachable one looks like when detached, if anyone has any pictures?

Note that I'm talking about Ford's own towbar here, not witter or westfalia or other brands.

Thanks all!
 
#2 ·
#4 ·
I don't know but the pic is from Page 40 of the brochure and if you look closely you can see a small notch/reveal in the bumper to allow the retractable towbar to swing into place, so perhaps this is the Ford OEM bumper for a towbar? I thought I read somewhere that if you ordered the towbar pre-equipment pack you got this bumper too, but I cannot find that anywhere now. If I do I'll let you know. Hopefully someone on here has the genuine article and can confirm.
9bd7b5995795e705bd058003a9a59bca.jpg
 
#5 ·
Ford do not make towbars. My factory fitted MK4.5 towbar is a Westfalia.
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a factory-fitted, Ford branded, detachable tow bar and it sits just under the rear bumper - no need to cut anything.

My car has Titanium front spoiler / skirts / rear "diffuser" as well, so not even a beefed-up bumper was in the way.
 
#10 ·
Update for anyone reading this in the future...

I ended up buying an OEM 'Ford' towbar directly from Ford (although it is branded Oris I think), and paid Ford to fit it for me. Turns out it did need a bumper cut. Unfortunately, Ford did a p*ss poor job of cutting it, so I've got a massive hole underneath (330x220mm) and a visible bite mark out of the back of the bumper to boot. Complaints in progress and the hunt for a new bumper begins.

On the plus side, the towbar itself seems pretty decent, and would look very smart if it had been installed properly.

Lesson learned... would've been better getting a towbar specialist to fit it. The Ford garage admitted they hardly ever fit them, and that really showed in their workmanship.
 
#12 ·
A little disappointed you did not insert pictures, but I took the chance anyway on a St-Line. Mounted at our Ford dealer, because towbar can not be ordered from the factory on St-line.

#310 Pictures & video on link
 
#11 ·
That's painful to hear, I hated taking a knife to mine but the fact the cut cannot be seen means I'll happily live with it. Hope it gets sorted, at least it can be relatively easily remedied as it's just the lower part of the bumper that needs replacing, not the whole thing, still needs to be sprayed though. Garage better step up.
 
#13 ·
Is the ST-Line type approved for towing?

Like the old MK3 ST220, great towcar you would have thought 3L V6 220BHP. Useful as a towcar but Ford
did not type approve them with the towbar fitted.

Some places wont fit a towbar even though the floorplan is identical to the rest of the MK3 range. Just issues
with the 2nd exhaust box to be careful of. Of course thats probably highly illegal and 20 years hard labour. :D
 
#15 · (Edited)
Approval of a 2018 & 2021 ST-Line in Denmark:
2000 kg (With brakes) (2014 MK4.5 1800 kg)
750 kg (Without brakes)
...our previous MK4.5 & ST-Line 5 door with detachable towbar

The question is whether it's a shame to cut in the diffuser, but our previous MK4.5 & MK5, we never removed the towbar (too cumbersome) now it is only out when it's used & so easy to put power plugs directly on. 13-pin, now there is reverse light on trailer :)

Edit:
From Valencia to our Ford dealer. Completely forgot, of course I was inside the garage & taking pictures, it's a huge job fitting the Retractable Towbar

Video of Towbar
 

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