RazMan
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:00 PM |
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Towing Eye?
It would have been very handy to have a towing eye to attach the winch when I was loading my car onto a trailer last week.
Are they available as a bolt on without too much chassis surgery?
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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StevieB
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:06 PM |
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You can get them from the likes of Demon Tweeks etc. as bolt ons for race cars.
My Elise had a very good system of having a large threaded eye in the front and the tow eye under the bonnet to screw in if you ever needed it, then a
little grommet at the front to make a nice job of the whole thing.
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RazMan
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:14 PM |
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DT have got this one for under a tenner....
But it needs to screw into an M10 thread. I don't really fancy drilling a dirty great hole in my painted chassis. I suppose I could alsway fab a
bracket of some sort though.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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StevieB
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:17 PM |
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A decent sized steel bracket braced across two members with a stainless rivnut in it should do the trick - then you don't need the eye attached
at all times
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RazMan
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:43 PM |
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I would be a bit nervous about using a single rivnut in a tension situation. I was thinking some hefty U section maybe something like this ...
The mounting bracket can be a triangle shape to help spread the load behind the chassis rail and rivnutted in place (no real strength required this
way as the rivnuts are under compression.
[Edited on 1-10-06 by RazMan]
 
Rescued attachment Towing Eye Bracket.jpg
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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lsdweb
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:46 PM |
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I've seen cars using a length of nylon strap (like a spare bit from tie down straps), looped around the chassis and just rivetted to stop if
falling off. You could do this and fold / tuck it away nicely so that you couldn't see it (cable tie or two) and just untuck it if / when you
need it.
Regards
Wyn
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oliwb
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:47 PM |
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Looks good could always weld another plate over the top or get some slightly larger diameter U channel to clamp the chassis and make it really really
strong....Oli.
If your not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room!
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StevieB
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:49 PM |
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Or a length of nylon strap with a couple of decent caribeeners on each end, so you can take it away altogether for the majority of the time you
won't need it.
I like the bracket idea though - a neater solution (and a chance to fabricate something a bit different too)
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RazMan
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 02:58 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by oliwb
Looks good could always weld another plate over the top or get some slightly larger diameter U channel to clamp the chassis and make it really really
strong....Oli.
Agreed it would be much stronger but I would like to avoid welding if at all possible (painted already)
Clamping some bigger U section might be ok though .... if a bit clunky.
 
Rescued attachment Towing Eye Bracket 2.jpg
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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RazMan
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 03:00 PM |
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The nylon strap is another option but I prefer the more permanent solution
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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viatron
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 03:08 PM |
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i used some oversized u bolts from the local agriculural supplies places made of 10mm round bar, drilled two holes straight through the front and rear
chassis members then welded them in on both sides of the hole, cheap, the u bolts were about £2.50 each the whole job took about 30 mins for both
ends.
Mac
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RazMan
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 03:14 PM |
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If I was to turn the clock back (pre-powder coat) that would have been the easiest way.
Still, the U bolts have given me an idea - clamping a small length of bar to the chassis rail and welding a nut to that.
edit: Nope, I think that would look rather agricultural. Back to plan A then. 
[Edited on 1-10-06 by RazMan]
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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zilspeed
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 03:26 PM |
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Suitable nut welded in (or welded to a clamp on fixture) , followed by one of those screw in towing eyes from a Mondeo.
Demon Tweeks indeed...
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Peteff
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 04:43 PM |
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Sleeve the hole
Drill it larger at the back and use a spreader plate or repair washer to hold the sleeve in then screw a seat belt eye bolt in from the front. you
could use a spreader plate both sides to distribute the load.
[Edited on 1/10/06 by Peteff]
 
Rescued attachment sleeve.jpg
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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RazMan
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 04:53 PM |
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Thats the neatest solution and I love the harness eye idea, but surely that means I will have to do something I was trying to avoid - drilling large
holes in my main chassis rail (even larger with a sleeve) potentially weakening it
[Edited on 1-10-06 by RazMan]
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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skydivepaul
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 07:17 PM |
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I need to fit a towing eye to mine to make it easy to fit on the trailer winch as i am getting pi55ed off with pushing it on and off the trailer by
hand. (its o.k. when I've had my three weetabix).
I hadnt thought of the nylon tie down strap idea, thanks guys I'll be fitting that this week.
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lsdweb
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 07:25 PM |
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skydivepaul
The straps I've seen have been very nicely done. All nicely bundled up and tucked away until needed. I did it on my Fury a few years ago and it
was quite neat. It also means you can use quite a long strap and get over the problem if you have a lot of bodywork (not a 7 problem though!)
Wyn
[Edited on 1/10/06 by lsdweb]
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rick q
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| posted on 1/10/06 at 11:14 PM |
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Here in the colonies, most tend to replace the top front wishbone bolt (just below the headlight) with something a little longer, and fit a forged
stainless steel eye (from a ships chandler) in place of the nut. Cheap and cheerful, and you put one on each side.
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