Rover help please

[Melody2]

Hi we have a Rover 414 98 and need to fit a second hand tow bar next week. Is there anyone who has done this or by any chance have any instructions on how to do this. I have been looking on the web but to no avail at the moment.

Cheers

Melody

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi melody

it depends on what you are going to tow with it there are two types of fitting one is the cheap type body pull (not recomended for anything greater than say a camping trailer ) and the chasis pull (witter type) for heavy loads.

the rover 200/400 mk1 and mk2 does not have a pre drilled chasis so a 10mm drill will be required to drill up through the boot floor to take the mounting bolts the exhaust bracket will also have to be removed as the tow bar goes between the bracket and chasis (witter type) as will the back lower valance (it will go back on aftr the bar is fitted with a small divot cut out at the btm) apart from that it is pretty straight forwards offer it up drill holes bolt through the chasis to the boot floor (using flat plates in the boot)and replace the exaust bracket (might need bending slightly) to get the bolts in thats it realy.

you will not forget though will you that ALL rover models in the 2and 4 series have a maximum tow weight of 1000kg

colin

 

[colin-yorkshire]

melody

try this it is the tow sure one slightly different from the witter. but the princible is the same

http://www.towsure.com/home/pdf/140.pdf
colin

 

[Melody2]

Hi Colin, Thank you so much for that. WE have two old cars, one is a rover 414 and the other is a rover 600. What we are having to do is put a tow bar on the rover 414 just to collect and bring down from yorkshire to the midlands (still trying to find out the exact weight of the van as am struggling to find out all the details. I was told it was a elddis sprite, late eighties, but was struggling to find out any info off of the net. From what i have searched, i think it is a Sprite from about 1985) Praying to god now that the weight will be ok just to get it back here. To use next year for holidays we want to tow it with the 600 but cant collect with this as it needs a new drive shaft which we cant afford to do until after xmas.

Thanks again Colin for your help. I did look at a site (cant remember name) which allows you to match car with van weight ect.. but as dont have exact model of van couldnt do it.

Melody

 

[Melody2]

Sorry, didnt mean to type WE in capitals and dont know how to edit once posted. (I know some people call it text shouting or something like that) I just class myself ok if i manage to spell right!

Melody

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi melody

glad to be of help I think the sprite is about 14 to 16cwt unladen (depending on size)so you should be ok with that.

just put any heavy items in the car on the back seat

as a matter of interest when we bought our bailey 380/2 from a dealer in halifax we towed it home with my brothers 214 sli which towed it quite good even up the long 5miles drag (1in 8) out of halifax onto the m/way so hopefully you should be ok.

the low towing limit on rovers is more to do with the tow bar fittment and disign rather than the cars ability to tow.

good luck in your venture let us know how you get on

colin

 

[Angus1]

I`m sure with a bit of commonsense you`ll be fine, its a light van and I`ve seen these cars pulling much heavier vans (I`d question their legality though).

We used to spend a lot of time in Wales, and frequently came across a Rover 218SD towing a large twin-axle Abbey between Newtown and Aberystwyth (which is very hilly with sheer drops into the valley). Frightened me to death seeing this thing with four adults in it on this route. Always seemed to get there in the end though.

 

[Melody2]

Colin and Angus, thank you both, you have put my worried mind to rest! The van will only have the fixtures and fittings in it as it is just being collected. My husband is now going up to collect it on his own as i though it best to stay here with the kids. I am itching to see it and have it here but the thought of me and the kids sat in the car, half way home, car going in one direction and van going in the other is just too much! but i am more excited about getting it than i am about christmas!!!

Thanks again

Melody

 

[Angus1]

I can understand your excitement Melody.

We`ve been vanning for 20 years and this year finally bought a brand new van (it`ll have to last a long, long time) but you know what, I wasn`t anywhere near as excited as with our first van which was very old, and bought with money borrowed from the in-laws.

Thing is, a new van is more or less what you want when you get it. An old van is much more a blank canvas which you will take pride and pleasure in making your own.

I hope it is all you expect and that you and yours have lots of happy times in it.