Thank you. Good to know as a tow bar will be my next addition. (The bars are those holding the rear diff in place, I assume?)
General 4x2 to 4x4
- Thread starter Leroypanda
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General 4x2 to 4x4
Motorcyclist Colin
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Hi Herts Hill Hopper (love the aaaaliteration!)
Tell us all about fitting a 4x4 towbar when you have done it, as that is the next thing I need to do.
Thanks in aaaaanticipation!
Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica
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DO IT! It turns a surprisingly versatile little car into a staggeringly versatile little car! You won’t regret it!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/neil_haslam/25497075658/
Also, useful for more than just a trailer:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/neil_haslam/43567126305/
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I fitted one a while ago (2 years maybe?) I shopped around but found that the FIAT accessories web site offered the best deal. The part is German made(from memory Witter?). Fitting is straightforward with Ikea style pictograms, you need a permanent live (fused) and the kit I had showed the recommended routing (back to battery) and required trim panel removal, fuses clips etc are all included.
There's a fancy grommet provided to seal the socket cable into the 50mm hole it recommends you cut through the boot floor; I drew a line here and simply ran the cable through one of the boot vent slots (also rubber seal - with flaps). Used some chassis sealant between mating surfaces to stop moisture getting in the box sections.
You have to cut the rear bumper but no drama there with one of those oscillating trim saws. Mine was a removable swan neck type and gets used to tow boats and to hang a bike carrier off; works just fine.
Take notice that there are differences between two and four wheel drive variants; make sure you buy the right one. None are available for the LPG version.
I did write a post somewhere in this forum at the time; it's in here somewhere!
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The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
gree with all you say. Cross and standard 4x4 use the same bar. I found my bar by constant watching eBay and got a Westfalia removable hitch bar for £125. This I think was the wrong price.... Fiat want 0v er 800 for the same thing. £250 seems to be around the going rate but patience may pay off.
Dedicated wiring kit was also about £125 and I well recommend it. I was told its necessary to preserve the warranty on a new car. A few pics I don't know if there are any that may help.
Dedicated wiring kit was also about £125 and I well recommend it. I was told its necessary to preserve the warranty on a new car. A few pics I don't know if there are any that may help.
Attachments
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Last photos of tow bar.
Remover FFL nad Rev light bulbs. Reach up behind bumper and twist quarter turn
Remove bumper. Detach wiring for the bumper fitted lights as above
Un-clip wire from bumper beam and remove this and the two plastic supports.
Keep the nuts the fix the tow bar on.
Look for and remove the two square rubber plugs from the chassis rails
Bolt the bar together loosely
Feed the two sort arms into the holes that were behind those plastic supports.
Fix the two round fixing plates from under the car where you can see the tow bar ends. Where the rubber plugs came from.
Check nothing trapped
Tighten to the required torque. Note the torque for the fixings is LOW.
If you are like me plaster rust proofing around.
Fir the foam pads on the tow bar wings. These prevent rattles and protect the bumper.
Clip the wiring to the tow bar.
Re fix the capped rubber pipe (fuel tank pressure relief???).
Fit the drop brackets for the lower bumper supports
Feed multi core wire from boot to socket and wire the socket.
Replace bumper.
Wire road lights
Job done.
Taking your time you should be done in a morning.
Its easiest to take the wheels off to get at the rear wheel arch liner.
Not around this week but may scan the fitting instructions and upload as a pdf.
I have done dozens of tow bars and can confirm this is one of the easiest to do. I cut the bumper with a Stanley knife. Its easy to do the outer skin this way. Even though its a big bit of the bumper you remove, it does not show.
Remover FFL nad Rev light bulbs. Reach up behind bumper and twist quarter turn
Remove bumper. Detach wiring for the bumper fitted lights as above
Un-clip wire from bumper beam and remove this and the two plastic supports.
Keep the nuts the fix the tow bar on.
Look for and remove the two square rubber plugs from the chassis rails
Bolt the bar together loosely
Feed the two sort arms into the holes that were behind those plastic supports.
Fix the two round fixing plates from under the car where you can see the tow bar ends. Where the rubber plugs came from.
Check nothing trapped
Tighten to the required torque. Note the torque for the fixings is LOW.
If you are like me plaster rust proofing around.
Fir the foam pads on the tow bar wings. These prevent rattles and protect the bumper.
Clip the wiring to the tow bar.
Re fix the capped rubber pipe (fuel tank pressure relief???).
Fit the drop brackets for the lower bumper supports
Feed multi core wire from boot to socket and wire the socket.
Replace bumper.
Wire road lights
Job done.
Taking your time you should be done in a morning.
Its easiest to take the wheels off to get at the rear wheel arch liner.
Not around this week but may scan the fitting instructions and upload as a pdf.
I have done dozens of tow bars and can confirm this is one of the easiest to do. I cut the bumper with a Stanley knife. Its easy to do the outer skin this way. Even though its a big bit of the bumper you remove, it does not show.
