Deceivingly complicated, fitting a towbar requires an expert hand. The process is designed to be followed strictly by the experts, otherwise, it’s recommended to contact the professionals for a fitting. This article provides a rough guide to generalised towbar fittings, helping you understand what will happen during a towbar fitting, whether carried out by yourself or a professional.
Why Fit a Towbar
Before installing a towbar, it’s worth understanding why so many people across the UK choose to have them installed. Read on to find three reasons to consider fitting a towbar to your vehicle.
Ideal for Towing
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, towbars are excellent for towing heavy goods with your vehicle. Designed to be strong and resilient, towbars are long-lasting investments and can be fitted to many different types of vehicles.
Available in Many Varieties
Nothing is as disappointing as believing you have found the perfect product, only to learn that it won’t work with your specific requirements. Thankfully, towbars are available in a vast range of varieties, allowing you to easily find the right one for your needs. From detachable towbars to different designs, it’s simple to find the right option for you.
Greater Potential for Trips
Getting outdoors with your family is a great way to bond with them and improve mental health. However, walks and hikes can feel limiting quite quickly. To make your trips more fun and engaging, consider installing a towbar to take bikes, boats and trailers along for the ride.
The Types of Towbars
Towbars are available in several key varieties, offering a potential customer a range of choices. In this section, we’ll cover some of the key types of towbars and why they might be considered a good option for a buyer.
Flange Towbars
Consisting of two main components, flange towbars are a popular choice for those looking for a suitable towbar. The towbar itself is connected to a handy plate using large bolts. The plate itself is fitted to the underside of the car, providing a secure and strong connection which is desirable for potential customers. Many people steer clear of this design for aesthetic reasons, as the components consistently remain visible.
Swan Neck Towbars
Curved and strong, the swan neck towbar is a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to a flange towbar. Shaped and designed like the neck of a swan, this towbar is fitted to the underside of a vehicle, hiding the bolts that secure it.
Fixed Towbars
Both swan neck and flange towbars are available fixed, and for very good reason. Fixed towbars cannot be easily removed from a vehicle once installed, providing security and deterring theft alongside proving helpful for towing purposes.
Detachable Towbars
Detachable towbars can be removed from your vehicle easily, allowing you to freely choose whether you’d like the towbar available during your drive. With a simple handle to detach, these are easy to take apart and store when unneeded. Despite their detachable nature, these towbars are still incredibly secure and should only detach when you use the release handle.
Towbar Electrics
Towbar electrics are an especially important part of a towbar installation, as they ensure that whatever you might be towing can be powered. Trailers, for example, will need functioning indicators, brake lights and reverse lights to let drivers behind you know your intentions. In this section, you’ll learn how three different varieties of tow bar electrics work.
7 Pins and 7 Pin Twins
Designed to power the equipment that you’re towing, single 7 pin towing electrics will power indicators, tail lights, fog lights and brake lights. 7 pin twins, on the other hand, are the combination of the single 7 pin 12N electric socket with the 12S electric socket. Twin electrics will provide more power than a 7 pin socket can alone, making it a preferable option for powering certain caravans.
13 Pins
As the most modern style of towing socket, 13 pin towbar sockets are now commonly found when it comes to towing electrics. These systems consist of a single socket, yet they have higher capabilities than a 7 pin socket, making them a worthwhile choice for modern towing needs.
Once you’ve chosen the electric socket you think you might need, you should then be able to find the relevant towbar wiring kit that will work with your system, whether a universal wiring kit or a dedicated wiring kit.
Fitting Your Towbar
When it comes to installing your towbar, many steps will need to be carefully followed to do so safely. In this section, you’ll find some generalised guidance to help you get started with the process.
Remove the Bumper and Rubber Covers
For many vehicles, the first thing you will need to do is remove the bumper. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, you might need to make some incisions into the plastic of the bumper. In a towbar kit, you may find a template for this. If you do need to cut the plastic bumper, use a small cutting tool to do so.
Beneath the bumper, you may find that it is dirty and needs cleaning. It’s best to give it a clean before you begin the installation and remove the rubber covers found on the vehicle.
Locate Holes and Install the Crossbar
Once the first steps have been completed, you can begin to search for the bolt holes. This is where you will attach the brackets using bolts, installing the main crossbar. You should then use a torque wrench to reach the ideal tightness of the bolts, This will prevent them from shaking loose while in transit, making it a very important step.
Attach the Towball Housing
Next, you can attach the housing needed for your towball. This information will be included in the instructions received for your towball, as different varieties of towbars will have different requirements and specifications. Ensure that these instructions are read carefully and well before proceeding with any attachments.
Refit the Bumper
Once you have carefully read and followed the instructions that help you to fix the housing in place, you can refit the bumper back in place. This allows you to finish the project by installing the towball perfectly.
While this guide can be generally helpful, it’s vital that you follow the instructions provided alongside your towbar, or contact professional towbar fitters if you require assistance. It’s worth noting that you should not attempt to fit a towbar as a beginner, as it can be a dangerous process. Instead, consider hiring a mobile towbar fitter, able to quickly install one at your convenience.
Wiring Your Towbar
Towbars are equipped with wiring which will need to be connected during the installation process. You should never attempt to wire a towbar if you’re unsure of what you’re doing, as this can lead to further problems and potential damage. As mentioned before, if you’re inexperienced the safest thing to do is contact a towbar specialist.
Find Your Entry Points
Before beginning the process, it’s important to check the electric circuits within your vehicle to ensure they are properly working before the towbar installation. You will then need to work out where your entry points will be.
Connect Electrics
The next step is the difficult process of connecting your chosen electrical socket and main cable. This stage will include attaching the main cable to the fuse box, however as mentioned you should only carry out this process if you are entirely sure that you can safely do so as an experienced person.
Test Your Lights
Following your fitting, it’s important to test your work to ensure that it is fully functioning before you start to drive. Remember to tidy up and secure your cables properly too, to prevent them from causing any accidents while driving.
Our Range of Towbars
Based in Cardiff, our experts at SGM Towing can offer you all of the products and services needed to accessorise your vehicle. From motorhome accessories to trailers, our products are high-quality and designed to make your life simpler. We even stock products from well-recognized manufacturers, including both Thule and Rhino Products.
Our Fitting Services
As mentioned, you should not attempt to fit a towbar if you are inexperienced or feel unsure of the process. Instead, our friendly team would be happy to fit a towbar on your behalf. As experts, we understand how the process needs to be carried out and will use our experience to provide you with a secure and reliable towbar.
Reach Out to Us
Visit our website to learn more about our team and our products and services. Alternatively, for further advice and support, please get in touch with us directly.
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