Hi, on my draw bar I have to shackles which seem to be a bit small for towing a 850 kg van. The shackles are 65mm long ,diameter 9 mm,the next size up would be to big for the holes in the draw bar. There is not enough steel to bore the holes bigger . Also , the shackles don't look right the way they hang on the bar.In case of an accident , the shackle could open up as all the weight is on the thread. (Pic 5) Are there any different shackles on the market ? It is a bit of a worry.
Shackles are supposed to be rated to bear certain weights... is there anything stamped on them Hans? Otherwise, will leave the experts to answer your question.
I use bigger ones on my Avan Hans and connected the same way as in your pics. I had an occassion about this time last year when it put them to the test and all lived to tell the story.
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Hi, on my draw bar I have to shackles which seem to be a bit small for towing a 850 kg van. The shackles are 65mm long ,diameter 9 mm,the next size up would be to big for the holes in the draw bar. There is not enough steel to bore the holes bigger . Also , the shackles don't look right the way they hang on the bar.In case of an accident , the shackle could open up as all the weight is on the thread. (Pic 5) Are there any different shackles on the market ? It is a bit of a worry.
Cheers Hans,
Hi Hans,
I have seen bow shackles that certainly look stronger than some of the D shackles.
Ok, if the holes in the bar would go from right to left unstead from from to back , then I could put bigger shackles on. See Pic. 3,the way it is now ,any heavy load on the shackle would open it up.
go to a shop that sells approved lifting gear [alltools etc ] and ask for Bow shackel tha has either SWL WLL stamped on it ... it will be much stronger.... the shackel you are using is a chineeeeees special and will give up as soon as any real pressure is applyed
go to a shop that sells approved lifting gear [alltools etc ] and ask for Bow shackel tha has either SWL WLL stamped on it ... it will be much stronger.... the shackel you are using is a chineeeeees special and will give up as soon as any real pressure is applyed
Ditto; rated shackels are small in section compared to the cheapies but made of high strength steel. So a high grade rated shackle will be much smaller & will fit the holes you have.
JC.
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go to a shop that sells approved lifting gear [alltools etc ] and ask for Bow shackel tha has either SWL WLL stamped on it ... it will be much stronger.... the shackel you are using is a chineeeeees special and will give up as soon as any real pressure is applyed
I got my partner to come and look at your photos Hans, and he wondered who fitted that tow-bar? And to what is it attatched? The holes for the shackles are as you say sideways to how they should be. He suggested you take it it to a reputable tow-bar supplier, or to the dealer where you bought the vehicle if it wasnt dealer-fitted. Its not the size of the shackle thats a worry, ours are rated to 3 ton and arent huge.
Well I just got back from 7 shops including one caravan supplier and there is nothing that would fit the bar. The tow bar was fitted by a VW dealer and the bar came from NZ .NZ approved , "Best Bars Limited Auckland" . All I can say is that any body with a VW Tiguan must have the same problem,not safe at all.
Hi, on my draw bar I have to shackles which seem to be a bit small for towing a 850 kg van. The shackles are 65mm long ,diameter 9 mm,the next size up would be to big for the holes in the draw bar. There is not enough steel to bore the holes bigger . Also , the shackles don't look right the way they hang on the bar.In case of an accident , the shackle could open up as all the weight is on the thread. (Pic 5) Are there any different shackles on the market ? It is a bit of a worry.
Cheers Hans,
Try this link and it may give you an insight of what you are looking for.
Look in the index under shackles.
http://www.dawson-group.com/
Another web site http://www.liftingonline.com.au
-- Edited by patrolst on Friday 7th of September 2012 11:53:30 AM
-- Edited by patrolst on Friday 7th of September 2012 12:01:06 PM
Hi, on my draw bar I have to shackles which seem to be a bit small for towing a 850 kg van. The shackles are 65mm long ,diameter 9 mm,the next size up would be to big for the holes in the draw bar. There is not enough steel to bore the holes bigger . Also , the shackles don't look right the way they hang on the bar.In case of an accident , the shackle could open up as all the weight is on the thread. (Pic 5) Are there any different shackles on the market ? It is a bit of a worry.
Cheers Hans,
Try this link and it may give you an insight of what you are looking for.
Look in the index under shackles.
http://www.dawson-group.com/
Another web site http://www.liftingonline.com.au
-- Edited by patrolst on Friday 7th of September 2012 11:53:30 AM
-- Edited by patrolst on Friday 7th of September 2012 12:01:06 PM
Jim, dawson-group excellent side, I am going to look into it.
Hans
-- Edited by Recoup on Friday 7th of September 2012 02:21:33 PM
It looks like I stumbled on a major design fault from the manufacturer, my neighbour just got a new VW Amaruk and the holes for the shackles in his tow bar are in the same direction as on my Tiguan.( facing to the front)
It means that in case the van will come of the ball , all the weight is on the screw pin of the shackle.
I wrote to the manufacturer yesterday and asked how I could connect the van safely to the tow bar ,but no replay sofar.
Also I went to a caravan dealer and asked him what I could do ? He said "get some D chackles and don't worry, the van is behinde you" .
I got a drawing from the manufacturers side which shows the holes for the shackles in the rigth position , but in practice ?
Cheers Hans,
-- Edited by Recoup on Friday 7th of September 2012 02:47:56 PM
I'm surprised that such poor design would pass NZ standards. Did any of the people you talked to suggest a way of bolting or welding something that would make it right?
I'm surprised that such poor design would pass NZ standards. Did any of the people you talked to suggest a way of bolting or welding something that would make it right?
Well there is nothing wrong with the tow bar, it's just a poor design,
It looks like I stumbled on a major design fault from the manufacturer, my neighbour just got a new VW Amaruk and the holes for the shackles in his tow bar are in the same direction as on my Tiguan.( facing to the front)
It means that in case the van will come of the ball , all the weight is on the screw pin of the shackle.
I wrote to the manufacturer yesterday and asked how I could connect the van safely to the tow bar ,but no replay sofar.
Also I went to a caravan dealer and asked him what I could do ? He said "get some D chackles and don't worry, the van is behinde you" .
I got a drawing from the manufacturers side which shows the holes for the shackles in the rigth position , but in practice ?
Cheers Hans,
-- Edited by Recoup on Friday 7th of September 2012 02:47:56 PM
That looks like a rated shackle in the pic, . The weakest part of the shackle is the SWL. The only problem I see is the shackle may tend to work its self undone easly fixed with a tie wire. The SWL of the shackle would appear to be greater than the point of attachment
Hi, on my draw bar I have to shackles which seem to be a bit small for towing a 850 kg van. The shackles are 65mm long ,diameter 9 mm,the next size up would be to big for the holes in the draw bar. There is not enough steel to bore the holes bigger . Also , the shackles don't look right the way they hang on the bar.In case of an accident , the shackle could open up as all the weight is on the thread. (Pic 5) Are there any different shackles on the market ? It is a bit of a worry.
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