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MG MGA - Best towing point?

I recently had call to have my A towed home - how embarrassment (just imagine if it happened in New Zealand and all the sheep were watching and laughing)!
Has anyone fixed a tow lug to their car to make it easy to connect a shackle and rope or have they just tied the rope around the wishbone like me and bent up the number plate in the process of towing. Subaru's and Toyota's here have fancy eye bolts that screw into strategically located nuts behind the bumper bar - I was thinking of something on the cross member below the body line. Any ideas or comment. (I don't have a anti-roll bar fitted).
Mike Ellsmore

Mike, unfortunately unless you attach something to the outside of the body around the bumper you do run the risk of damage to number plates or lower valence from tow straps. Don't know how the MGA's were shipped to the US and down under, but later on the B's and midgets had tie down brackets bolted to the chassis near the front and these make handy places to attach tow ropes. Can still wind up damaging the valance if the rope angle is too high. I suppose something similar could be fabricated to bolt to the front frame extension on the A.
Bill Young

Mike,
I made a tow bar out of a picec of 1/2" all thread that has a loop welded to the end. It is 22" in length. It has large washers and double nuts and goes thru the crank starter hole and attaches to the section welded to the round frame crossmember. Have not had to use it yet but I am confident it should work OK. Hope this helps and have a good day!

John
John Progess

John
I have the same system stored in the trunk of my MGA but I would advise anyone using this type of towing method, to take the time and strengthen the inner metal area where the bar passes thru. If you do not, you have the possibility, that in a towing situation, should the bracket break loose you will destroy your front valence ,license plate, front bumper,internal support structure and possible even the grill.

USE THIS SYSTEM......TAKE THE TIME TO STRENGHTEN THE BRACKET
Gordon Harrison

Baaaa Haaa
Baaaa Haaa
Ian Fraser

Wow some really brave folks out there. That bracket is merely 16ga sheet steel folded and welded to the cross pipe. not very well suited for the stress of towing. Even after being reinforced, the lateral forces must certainly destroy the bumper and other sundry pieces of sheet metal.


The answer for me would be call for a flat bed tow truck and strap it over the rear axle. I admit to never having to do that though. I have had several close calls but always got her back under her own power.

Chuck
Chuck Schaefer

I had to get mine winched onto a flatbed a few years ago - they put a strop around each wishbone and joined them ahead of the car and one of the mechanics stood on the strops to protect the valence.
Dan Smithers

Mike
Just raise your number plate mount.
Got towed home several years ago on our Far North Run, 200 miles behind 3 metres of seat belt webbing behind a XJ6, in the rain, having to keep the moter running to keep the sceen demisted, interesting experiance and no damage to the car only my nerves shot.
martyn
Martyn Dunn 1

Hi Ian
Your timely, constructive, suggestion definitely merits
serious considiration.
Martin
Martin

I had a good look under my car again today (while didging oil leaks) and had another idea! What about mounting a plate against the chassis rail where the horn bracket is attached - there are a couple of 3/8 bolts there to secure. Say a 3/8 steel plate that protrudes just below the valence with a hole for a shackle (a length such that it is a little lower than the wishbone arm and valence). I am not too keen on the idea of using the crankhandle hole and guide bracket to support a long eye bolt.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

This thread was discussed between 09/03/2006 and 13/03/2006

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