FTO AUSTRALIA

HiRAEdd wrote:Tech specs would be very handy

btw, make sure you get a bike rack number plate. I've been booked for that in the past.

Really? I used to drive along in my dads car quite a bit with the rack/bikes on. And quite a few times I was in front of cops (I was sh1t scared thinking that they would book), but luckily I never got boked.

I guess for the sake of $30 I should get one...

As for specs, I'll see if I can dig them up at my parents place next weekend. All the work was done there and im sure it is still floating around somewhere.

I've been driving around for a day or so checking the clearance with the slide mount in. Driving without the mount in is fine and speed humps etc are not a problem. With the slide mount in, speed humps etc arent a problem either.

I did drive down a really bad driveway and it did scrape a little though. Where I live, it is abut a 30-40 degree angle down a long ramp and it cleared that fine so Im happy with the clearance.

When designing it, I was thinking of chopping a bit out of the bumper and mounting it higher but decided against it. Im glad I did because clearance is still fine for most situations!

Mike

Anyone ever tried towing a boat with an FTO?
I've found a company in NZ that wil supply a towbar for my 1995 GR, just not sure wehat I'd need to do to get it approved (if at all) and whether the car is actually up to the job. The boat is pretty small, with trailer it comes to around 800kgs.

Anyone know if it's feasible? Thanks.

I'd forgotten about this thread.

I did end up getting a tow bar made for my car. Mine is 100% invisible when you remove it from the car, needs less clearance than the one in the earlier pics and has a load capacity high enough to rip an FTO in half.

I only use mine to tow a trailer with two kayaks so we're talking in the order of ~350kg I'm guessing - it handles that just fine. I've got a small boat as well, I'm personally not game enough to hook it up. I've been told the FTO could handle it but I'm not willing to risk damaging a car that really wasn't designed to tow "heavy" loads.

Thanks for the reply. Must admit I'm slighty nervous about it myself, hence the question.

Really don't want to have trade the FTO in though!

OMFG that is awesome, *imagines*~ going trailbike riding driving in my turboed fto with towbar towing lightweight motorbike trailer with motorbike with matching plastics. OMG oh yea! creams!

lol

I was thinking that the other day actually, except no pants action of course.

blameless wrote:Anyone ever tried towing a boat with an FTO?
I've found a company in NZ that wil supply a towbar for my 1995 GR, just not sure wehat I'd need to do to get it approved (if at all) and whether the car is actually up to the job. The boat is pretty small, with trailer it comes to around 800kgs.

Anyone know if it's feasible? Thanks.

Bad idea small capacity engines or high revers like FTO re not designed to tow at all. Thre is not enough torque but if you want to shorten the life of it no probs.

So maybe look for old commonwhore or falcon etc

Yes it would put strain on the engine getting to highway speeds but the momentum once he reaches it would probably be the saving grace. that kinda weight would just be the same as taking 4 large people in the car along with a full boot of luggage. however if its a large boat could create a lot of wind resistance.

blameless wrote:Anyone ever tried towing a boat with an FTO?
...Anyone know if it's feasible? Thanks.

That's easy guys



Or for the heavy-duty boater, how about this...



Finally, something a little bit easier for bike transport - throw them up on top !!

Thinking about doing this to kates GR for the motorbikes, saves me buying a ute, going to couple it with a transmission cooler.

Hopefully Hirraed or whatever sees this post and he could tell me how much it would cost me.

silverGPX wrote:
Hopefully Hirraed or whatever sees this post and he could tell me how much it would cost me.

Sorry, my Dad made mine so no cost for me, it was a one off. All I remember was a crossbow going across the chassis behind the rear bar and a plate at the center that a gooseneck came out off.

Would he do another?

Haha I'd Pay him of course, can't hurt to ask

I've still got the part that you connect onto the car if you want it(I kinda forgot to give it the next owner), you just need to make the bit connecting to the chassis.

silverGPX wrote:Would he do another?

Haha I'd Pay him of course, can't hurt to ask

I'll ask when I see him on the weekend and get back to you.

Thanks for that

HiRAEdd wrote:

silverGPX wrote:Would he do another?

Haha I'd Pay him of course, can't hurt to ask

I'll ask when I see him on the weekend and get back to you.

Hey buddy any chance you could contact him a little earlier, was in need of a towbar by the 30th

If he cant then i can start looking at towbar places, stef how much do u want for the gooseneck and what not if hiraedd is a goer?

Bump

?

you can have it

Sweet, but yeah ive got cash ready to go to make up the towbar