As others are finding out, the Westfalia tow bar armature appears to have been discontinued leaving the Witter version to supersede it. I've received a Witter rather than a Westfalia and having checked with the suppliers that they were happy me to continue, I opened the box up.




Ignoring any structural differences as I'm not qualified to comment, the main difference I can see is it's a fixed effort and not removable. There's some parts of it which make me question if it's suitable though. Witter are far more experienced than I am so I doubt these worries are justified, but it would be good to hear feedback from people who know how to stick two bits of metal together:

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i wouldnt be happy fitting that... ... - .- -.




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I have what looks like the same Witter unit on mine, but the welding on mine looks much better, the weld penetration looks good. Photos not much use from mine as I am just about to de-rust and re-coat it.
The mounting plate for the ball hitch is not bent on mine. Have used mine and it's been trouble free.

The main section on mine has a Witter label, here are some of the details from, it also has a bar code.
'WITTER label -(E11) 00-4168, R32B'

R32B reference is the part number for the main section.

When I can get my camera charged up again, I will try for a decent pic of the label / bar code sticker.

That's interesting. This is an R32B as well, so it sounds like production methods have changed, unless this one is an exception rather than the norm. It's got a QC label on it though, so Witter are happy with it.

Approaching it logically, it's going back anyway. I paid for a Westfalia item, and got a Witter item which retails at over £100 less. PFJones will do the Witter kit, wiring harness and a drop plate for only a little more than I've paid for the kit.

I guess the decision is get another Witter one at the right price, or try PCT which seems a similar design.

Have you tried Steinhof? Looks a good towbar was going to get a detachable one from Micksgarage.com but they sold out but they are doing a fixed swan neck for £195 plus if register you get a fiver off. A forum member called Anvil fitted the detachable one that I was after he did a cracking write up if you search for it. I managed to get a very good second hand Westfalia in the end I needed it to detach when not in use otherwise I would have bought the Steinhof he said it was good quality.

Interesting, that's another option.

It's a shame there's nothing else that tucks the electrics out of the way like the Westfalia and provides a good breakaway cable attachment.

Definitely a lot of competition in the ~£200 area though.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the second hand market, usually plenty around and you get the original Westfalia armature etc. which is much more substantial than the witter in your pictures.
OK you might have to spend a weekend stripping it and painting it (or send away for blasting and powder coating) but imho a better option.

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Yes and I had been browsing eBay last night. Given most of them are from scrappers though I'm not going to take a punt until I know which bits I need, in terms of fixings and the such. Basically so that I can identify from photos if I'm going to run into problems during fitting.

2006 onwards had the exhaust hung from brackets at the back legs of the armature a lot of the second hand Westfalia towbars on eBay are the earlier type the exhaust hangs from the centre of the two back legs don’t know what year your FF is both armatures will fit but you may have to fabricate a couple of brackets if you buy an early towbar to go on a later vehicle. I nearly made the mistake so waited for the right type to come up for sale.

Cool, that was where I was unsure, thanks.

Availability on the second hand market seems low at the moment, but there's a Tow Trust detachable effort that seems to be 'next best thing'. That and the Steinhof are my current favourites. My only thought on the Steinhof, and it might just be the diagrams being incorrect, but it seems the crossbar is open ended box section which would allow dirt and moisture in so corrode from the inside out.

https://www.micksgarage.com/d/tow-bars-and...-2002-2012

Dommo even the Westfalia has open cavities if buying secondhand buy the best you can fettle all the surface corrosion off or have it blasted then etch primer it and coat it with hammerite or something similar. The new towbars I would still key it then etch primer it then hammerite it. the manufactures are a little shy with the paint on new towbars as you can see on eBay the condition of some for sale.

Personally if you can find one go for a second hand westfalia.

Has anyone tried contacting westFalia directly to see if there is any new old stock armatures knocking around? Possibly there aren’t but it’s surely worth a call.

It may be that there is just a lack of stock at the moment as steel is in short supply. Westfalia - 01244 284555 There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
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Andygriff73 wrote:

2006 onwards had the exhaust hung from brackets at the back legs of the armature a lot of the second hand Westfalia towbars on eBay are the earlier type the exhaust hangs from the centre of the two back legs don’t know what year your FF is both armatures will fit but you may have to fabricate a couple of brackets if you buy an early towbar to go on a later vehicle. I nearly made the mistake so waited for the right type to come up for sale.