fitting a towbar

[dave tregidon]

Hi there, I've just this week bought an '05 1.9D multispace and hadn't realised that a roof rack (for carrying furniture) was going to be too high, therefore am going to fit a towbar. Is there a definite answer to the question "do I need a wiring bypass relay?"...as in general the answer seems to be if there is a bulb warning system or a canbus fitted...both of which mean no more than goobledegook to a mechanical lightweight like me!!
Thanks in advance..Dave

[andy-womble]

Due to ill health, I had a professional towbar fitter to fit mine (54 plate multispace), however with hindsight I probably could have still done it myself.
Reasonably sure that mine has not got CANBUS wiring but belt and braces and for the sake of a bit more wiring and £25.00 extra had a full by-pass relay.

Must state that having coupled up to my caravan, the lights seem brighter than ever they did on other motors as a feed is taken directly from a permanent live to each of the lights so doesn't depend on the wiring of the vehicle which only sends a small signal to the relay.

Got to admit that from what I have seen of Peugeot and Citroen wiring it is a bit naff....

Elswhere on site a gentleman in Southern Ireland has recently made his own towbar but you are respectfully reminded that here in the U.K. any towbar fitted to a vehicle over a certain age has to be stamped and type approved.

Have a look at Towsure and Witter website for more details

[Chris]

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum

I am a bit of a mechanical ignoramus, so wouldn't like to give you a definitive answer. I am curious though as to what the problem is with using a roof rack?

[Andre]

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum

I am a bit of a mechanical ignoramus, so wouldn't like to give you a definitive answer. I am curious though as to what the problem is with using a roof rack?

Hi there, I've just this week bought an '05 1.9D multispace and hadn't realised that a roof rack (for carrying furniture) was going to be too high

[Chris]

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum

I am a bit of a mechanical ignoramus, so wouldn't like to give you a definitive answer. I am curious though as to what the problem is with using a roof rack?

Hi there, I've just this week bought an '05 1.9D multispace and hadn't realised that a roof rack (for carrying furniture) was going to be too high

I don't get the "too high" bit. Is the OP vertically challenged, in which case I can suggest employing a step ladder to make loading easier, or is he trying to transport an upright wardrobe under a low bridge??

Sorry Dave, we are not helping at all.....

[dave tregidon]

Hi Chris, well yes I am a bit of a short a***, but the furniture I buy and sell is pretty heavy stuff (leather chesterfields and the like) so getting them up there and then down again would be to say the least impractical.
Thanks..Dave

[andy-womble]

Don't forget that the height of the Berlingo Multispace is 1.8 metres from the ground to top of the roof plus say 5cm's additional height for the roof bars.
I too am not exactly tall and need stepladders to clean the roof on mine.
To lift heavy furniture on and off roof bars on a regular basis would be a right maul plus Chesterfields would run the risk of getting damaged and a hernia as well if you are really unlucky.....

[Chris]

Thanks for clearing that one up! I'm quite tall and still use steps for loading and securing. The in-built cross bars are only rated at 30kg each which is not a lot. The other thing that I have found is that there is little clearance between those bars and the roof and the are quite narrow.

Apologies for taking this off-topic

[dave tregidon]

Hi again, but regardless of my lifelong inability to see over a three foot fence, it does however give me advantage of being able to stroll around under the vehicle...but still don't know whether it needs this wiring bypass. I've previously had pug306s and they always seemed to be fitted with whatever came to hand on the day of manufacture. Do I assume that Citroen also adopt this gallic approach.

Regards..Dave

[Tutchi]

Hi Dave
if you Google the towbar you will find that it is not necessary. Having said that I just bought one and for piece of mind I am going to fit a byepass. With the bypass the trailer is fed from the battery so if anything goes wrong with the trailer i.e. short circuit or the likes it does not affect the vehicle circuits which I assume would be en expensive repair

Tutchi