Howdy campers. Wondering if any of you good folk could offer me some advice, please.
Got a 52 plate Vectra C with the factory fit LPG system and would like to fit a towbar.
Fairly handy with the spanners so was intending on fitting myself and getting the wiring done by a pro.
Reading up on fitting instructions it seems to be a case of drilling the dimples in the boot floor to take the bolts but after looking for these dimples today I think the LPG tank might've already taken them up or even be covering them with it's fixing plates as I can't see any which are obvious.
My question is.. Given the positions of the bolts in the pic, can anyone with a towbar equipped Vectra C advise if their fixing points are in the same spot?
Your going to need to undo the LPG tank to see where the hole need to be.
If the tank uses the towbar holes you can go through both. If they dont lift the tank and plates slightly and fit teh towbar bolts then tighten the tank back down over the top of them.
The tank brackets are not a critical dimension or fitting. Its only to stop the tank moving.
Just have a 2nd and 3rd check under and above to make sure you dont have anything in the way when drilling.
The tank will NOT be using the towbar holes. I don't know the Vectra, but I used to be in the Autogas industry, and know the tanks.
I can't tell from the photo if there are any solid pipe connections - if there aren't, you may be lucky and get enough movement in the tank after removing the fixing brackets. Run the tank dry before starting. If there are solid pipe fittings, get the tank removed and later refitted by an autogas fitter - don't try doing this yourself unless you know.
I'll double check but don't think either of the pipes were solid. If it turns out they're not i'll lift the gas tank plates and see what's underneath.
Looking at the size of the area they cover though I'm sceptical There's gonna be a pair of dimples hiding underneath.
Also whilst under the car I don't remember seeing those mounting bolts for the tank protruding through. Do they usually fit a rivnut or something similar Instead of going right through Del?
Don't know if you have had a go yet, but I think you will be very lucky to move the tank enough even if there are no solid pipes. The filler pipe to the tank, although flexible, is made from a heavy rubber - it has to be to carry a liquid at over 100 psi. Can't see from the photo, but it might be that this pipe does not go through the wall of the spare wheel tray, and you may have sufficient movement. On the other hand, there will (obviously) be a second connection which takes the gas from the tank to the converter, which will be in the engine compartment. In my day, this was a small-bore copper pipe, which in your case would go thru the wall of the spare wheel tray, and along the 'chassis' to the front of the car.
Basically, what I'm saying is that I do not believe it is possible. You will have to disconnect the gas pipes from the tank, and as I said before, don't do this yourself. It won't cost a fortune for a fitter to disconnect then later reconnect the pipes at a local autogas centre.
There should be four things attached to the tank:
1 Filler Hose - this is probably the one on the left in the photo
2 Output pipe to converter
3 Electric connection to the float
4 Pressure release valve.
The ones we used to fit also had an electrical shut-off valve, so that when the ignition was off, the gas could not flow thru the outlet pipe.
Items 2 and 3 are probably within the gaiter which I believe is the lower 'connection' - if so, you will NOT have sufficient movement to get bolts/nuts under the tank.
If you haven't got item 4, please please please do not drive anywhere near me!!
Del
Have since done a bit of Googling and found this pic showing a vectra boot with towbar fitted.
You were right in that the bar won't use he same holes as the tank Del, as these are right out to the sides but if you compare this pic and mine above it looks like my problem now is how far the gas pipes protrude on the other side of the hole through the wheel well as they might foul the fixing plate or drop plate of the towbar underneath.
Looks like I got hold of the wrong end of the stick. I thought that the fixing bolts for the tow hitch were going UNDER the tank - everything I said was true but largely irrelevant!!
It looks from the photos that you will be OK as far as the fixings are concerned, and I would hazard a guess that the pipes and cables going thru the wall of the well will be well clear.
Wasn't irrelevant info until I realised the bolts weren't actually going to end up under the plates, so no probs Del. Again, all input on this is very welcome.
If the gas pipes on the other side of the well don't look overly intrusive into the space the bar will occupy I might be cheeky and pm someone who's flogging one on ebay to see if I can get measurements of the clear size between the drop plates. I think that's likely to be the thing that catches me out.
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Topic: Towbar on LPG Vectra
