outandaboutlive.co.uk
YOUR FIRST
5
supportedby
THINGS YOU
NEED TO ASK
Key questions when
choosing a towbar…
Flange or swan neck?
Fixed, detachable or retractable?
Will it fit my tow-hitch/stabiliser?
How much does it cost?
What type of electrical socket
will be fitted? Will it match my
caravan?
Where will the socket be fitted?
Will it be easily accessible?
Is there somewhere to attach the
breakaway cable?
Bypass electrics or bespoke?
Will it require a bumper cut?
Will my parking sensors work
properly with and without a
caravan behind?
What guarantee is on offer?
Do I need to worry about towing
height?
Essential Tips
➲
Always clean your towball before
attaching a tow-hitch to it. Grease,
paint, rust or other contaminants on the
ball will contaminate the friction pads in
modern caravan stabilisers, preventing
them from working properly.
Use some Emery cloth or wire wool to
clean your towball back to bare metal,
before attaching the stabiliser.
➲
Check that your reversing sensors
will not be affected by the new towbar,
before it is fitted.
Budget towbar systems are less likely
to take account of reversing sensors,
which can cause problems later.
➲
When reversing your caravan onto
a pitch, remember to pull forward by
about a foot before uncoupling your
car and caravan. This will release any
compression in the hitch head ram,
otherwise the head may shoot forward
when lifted off the towball and might
damage your bumper.
➲
Ensure that your towbar fitter is
quality assured by the NTTA.
➲
For a custom-built towbar, for say a
classic car or supercar, we recommend
Watling Engineers near St Albans.
can use their parking
sensors when the towbar
is not in place. Removable
towbars can be twice as
expensive as fixed versions,
due to their complex
quick-release mechanisms
and premium nature.
Retractable towbar
Retractable towbars can be
folded or twisted from their
standard towing position so
that they are tucked out of
sight underneath the vehicle.
AL-KO compatible towball
The modern AL-KO stabiliser
has a bulkier hitch head
than other designs. It
therefore requires more
space around the towball
to turn without fouling.
AL-KO compatible towballs
protrude further, giving the
hitch head space to move.
Who makes
towbars?
Numerous companies
manufacture towbars.
These include:
Anker
ankertowbars.com
Bosal
bosal.com
Brink
brinktowbars.co.uk
RDF Eurobars
eurobars.co.uk
Maypole
maypole.ltd.uk
MVG
wer-parts.nl
PCT
pctautomotive.com
Thule
thule.com
Tow Trust
tow-trust.co.uk
Truma
truma.com
Westfalia
westfalia-
automotive.de
Witter
witter-towbars.co.uk
Take care if buying off, say,
eBay, that any product is
properly accredited.
A removable towbar
Now you see it…
…now you don’t!
A retractable
towbar
ALL ABOUT
TOWBARS
