The ends of the bar were cut to the right length and capped off. The next part of the project is adding the Hayman Reese towbar for my recovery point. Starts by cutting out a section from the front of the bar. That done, the welds where the towbar will sit are ground and the bar plates are notched to take the towbar.
This shows the towbar with the forward part of the square tube cut off to reduce weight as it is not needed as the front wall of the bar will replace it. It has some plates welded in place to sit behind the hole cut in the bumper so the number plate holder will sit flush when in place.
It is also fully welded around the front opening in the bar as well as to the chassis and joining plates in the back. As it will be difficult to get to the hitch pin, I make it so it can be used from under the front guard. A hitch pin is cut just before the bend and welded onto a pipe. A support bracket is also there to hold it up when fully retracted and will be positioned so it can not be pulled out too far.
This shows how it is retained when in the closed position. A large thumb screw goes through the tag into a threaded hole in the chassis bracket. In the right photo you can see the new chassis re-enforcement bracket made to be supplied with the old bar when it is sold as I leave mine in place. Also the beginnings of the new number plate holder that slots into the Hayman Reese is being readied.
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