The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Haydenw

Member

Registered: 2016-07-02

Posts: 55

Fitting towbar with reverse parking sensors

Morning all,

Looking to have a towbar fitted to my 2013 Expert. It is recommended that a detachable one is fitted if reverse sensors are present. However we also want to use a bar mounted bike rack which can only be used with a fixed towball.

Have any of you done / have this and will the sensors pick up the towball with nothing attached?

The van has the facility to switch them off when we will be towing but would like to use them when not. Do anyone have experience with this? Any help / insight appreciated.

tee_cee

Member

Registered: 2016-03-18

Posts: 633

Re: Fitting towbar with reverse parking sensors

Did this the other way round - van came with a fixed ball witter tow bar, I fitted the reversing sensors and they don't pick up the towbar. There was cutout areas where the sensors could be fitted - so I expect that you should be ok.

kenbw2

Administrator

From: Preston

Registered: 2017-11-26

Posts: 1,612

Re: Fitting towbar with reverse parking sensors

My Synergie had reversing sensors and a tow bar, it was fine. They weren't on the bumper though. Here's an annotated pic:

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2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD XUD9 Camper Conversion
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8 Disassembled Camper Conversion
1996 Peugeot 806 1.9TD XUD9 Spare vehicle
1998 Citroen Synergie 1.9TD XUD9 Snapped timing belt

Haydenw

Member

Registered: 2016-07-02

Posts: 55

Re: Fitting towbar with reverse parking sensors

Cheers all, the bumper has 2 of the sensors so not as high up as yours kenbw2 - perhaps i should just tape a cardboard box or something where the towbar would be fitted and see if that gets picked up.

tee_cee

Member

Registered: 2016-03-18

Posts: 633

Re: Fitting towbar with reverse parking sensors

Cheers all, the bumper has 2 of the sensors so not as high up as yours kenbw2 - perhaps i should just tape a cardboard box or something where the towbar would be fitted and see if that gets picked up.

Here's my setup - the sensors are 26.5cm (centre to centre) from the towball

Haydenw

Member

Registered: 2016-07-02

Posts: 55

Re: Fitting towbar with reverse parking sensors

update, got a removable tow bar in the end. Problem solved!

Also, FYI for anyone wanting to fit one, my sensors work fine with the removable towbar fitted in place!

JasonSivyer

Member

Registered: 2023-04-13

Posts: 7

Re: Fitting towbar with reverse parking sensors

Cheers all, the bumper has 2 of the sensors so not as high up as yours kenbw2 - perhaps i should just tape a cardboard box or something where the towbar would be fitted and see if that gets picked up.

Here's my setup - the sensors are 26.5cm (centre to centre) from the towball

https://dispatchexpertscudo.org.uk/forum/img/members/407/mini_2019-06-28-12_33_07.jpeg

Tee_Cee was the fitting and wiring a pain on your towbar?

Also did what towBar did you go for?

Im due to fit mine soon but never fitting a bar before.

Jason,
New Member

tee_cee

Member

Registered: 2016-03-18

Posts: 633

Re: Fitting towbar with reverse parking sensors

Hi Jason, the witter towbar was already fitted, but I've done a couple of these before and the mechanical bit is straight forward. The electrics are always tricky because the manufacturers always want to sell a proprietary overpriced cable. I always used a bypass relay and a multimeter to locate the wires for the lights.

Last edited by tee_cee (2023-04-14 09:57:53)