So, I've just bought a new towbar for the car. Useful for oiking boats around (I'm a Sea Cadet Instructor, and our heaviest trailered boat is under 500kg - even with a trailer it comes in under 750kg).

Spotted one on ebay at £70, reduced from £198. Thought the original price was a bit inflated for a no-brand cheap Chinese import, but worth a punt for £70.

The picture on the listing is just a general one that they use on most of their ads so didn't pay any attention to it.

Well, it arrived today. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a Witter towbar, with towball & electrics kit. Only thing missing was a bypass relay - but picked that up for another £15 after being advised to fit one (messaged them).

Not bad going, eh?!

This is the one:

http://r.ebay.com/WVdS63

I got mine from PF Jones as well and I'm very happy with it. It came as a kit with good instructions and easy enough to fit - the hardest part was getting to the wiring in the boot and working out which cable is which. The skotch-lock connectors are not brilliant and I've had to get back in to reconnect one, but apart from that its all great - I've since found out that I should have soldered the joints instead). The instructions say you need to cut out a bit off the bottom of the skirt under the bumper for the tow ball to fit but in the end I didn't need to.

I use the tow bar to mount a bike carrier for 4 bikes and the focus manages no problem at all with that although the nose goes up in the air a bit when fully loaded. I also have a 1 tonne trailer and exceeded that a few times again without any problems.

I started fitting it at half-9 this morning...finally finished about 4pm lol

I didn't bother cutting the flap either - put a bit of gaffa tape to reduce any potential irritating vibrations lol

Wiring was a pig!! Thought it'd be easy to do - wrrooonnngg lol

I didn't bother with Scotch locks. Stripped the insulation off and taped it up good and proper (don't like soldering - too awkward to get into and I'm scared of burning stuff lol). I've used this method for everything else (parking sensors, dashcam, DRLs) with no problems at all)

I did forget to pick up my fuses this morning - so it still needs testing lol

Do it tomorrow when I swipe a boat lol

I started fitting it at half-9 this morning...finally finished about 4pm lol

I didn't bother cutting the flap either - put a bit of gaffa tape to reduce any potential irritating vibrations lol

Wiring was a pig!! Thought it'd be easy to do - wrrooonnngg lol

I didn't bother with Scotch locks. Stripped the insulation off and taped it up good and proper (don't like soldering - too awkward to get into and I'm scared of burning stuff lol). I've used this method for everything else (parking sensors, dashcam, DRLs) with no problems at all)

I did forget to pick up my fuses this morning - so it still needs testing lol

Do it tomorrow when I swipe a boat lol

got a good bargain there Sean.

I was thinking about a towbar for my focus (mk2.5 2009 1.6 zetec) but was not sure if it would be up to pulling a small trailer or if it would take too much out of the engine/clutch? A Towbar is a handy thing to have on a car.

what is your focus version and let me know how you find it towing.

Mine tows great with the 1.6TDCi engine. I have a 1 tonne four wheel trailer and have pulled it a couple of times fully loaded from Ireland or Wales to the south of France without any issues, just dropping down a gear on the motorway when hitting the mountain regions. Constant 65-70mph alll the way stoppping only for fuel and toilet breaks.

I thought I had done the clutch once when pullling uphill out of the local quarry loaded up with sand - it was a choice of ruining the tyres with wheel spin or controlling it on the clutch. Plus when I told the loader driver that I wanted 1 tonne he thought I was asking for 1 cubic metre with is more like 1.5 tonnes! I wasn't going to start shovelling it all back out.

Forgot to say, I checked mine over the weekend and its a Witter brand as well - can't fault it.

got a good bargain there Sean.

I was thinking about a towbar for my focus (mk2.5 2009 1.6 zetec) but was not sure if it would be up to pulling a small trailer or if it would take too much out of the engine/clutch? A Towbar is a handy thing to have on a car.

what is your focus version and let me know how you find it towing.

Mine is the 1.8 petrol.

The only thing I've towed so far is a boat - that and the trailer was probably only around 200kg

Seemed fine though. Took it easy because I didn't fancy knackering the boat on the potholes lol

The 1.6 tdci should be easy up to the job. Good low-down torque being a diseasal lol

I might keep an eye out for one. i think the detachable ones look good and it great they can be removed when not needed. :)

I purposely went for the non detachable one so I could keep the cycle rack bracket ready to use...and it stops others parking too close to my rear end!

the company i work for tests the Witter towbars and they are good. If the tests fail then they cant sell them - simple as that!