Tow bar blues

The detachable version with a knob does not have to be tightened by hand. The towbar is a sort of bayonet fitting and the knob only serves to release the towbar when detaching it. The advantage is that it does have a positive locking position and is not dependent on correct tightening of bolts.

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A detachable bar & a two bolt flange should be two completely different things. Witter though appear to do a 2 bolt flange that is detachable for those that might want to carry cycles on a towbar mounted cycle carrier, so unless you want to carry cycles on the towbar, I'd discount it. So you now have the options of a two bolt flange bar, or a swan neck or a swan neck that comes off. The detachable bit generally fit vertically into a receiver up/behind the bumper, the single 'handle' doesn't tighten anything, but is there to unlatch the bar when you want to remove it. If you go for a detachable (and who really wants to see a towbar on a car?) you should attach & detach as & when otherwise it'll seize in place. If you want to 'protect' the back your car, just fit the cheapest ... though I'd have a swan neck as a minimum, preferably detachable.

PF Jones

I have a detachable tow bar and have had a fixed (12yrs) one in the past.

Having experienced the two types detachable wins by far. Having said that it depends on ones own mobility, kneeling down to put in place and also to remove it.

You just push it in and the locking device snaps in to place. There is a key also that secures the tow bar from possible theft. To remove it you just turn the knob at the right hand side and it pops out (fairly heavy). I have had this particular one for 3yrs now and would not go back to a fixed one. I kept banging my legs on the fixed one when I was not towing.

My make of tow bar is "Tow-Trust" (.co.uk) and like all tow bars you have to remove the paint from the ball before use.

 

I once had a detachable and never took it off After 3 years I did try to unlock it but  it wouldn’t unlock. Looking at a tow bar doesn’t bother me one bit. In fact once in France when driving solo I got rammed from the back at slow speed. I won he had a dent on the front and I had nothing. And yes I did check underneath. 

so (assuming you fitted it) you might as well have saved a few quid & bought a basic fixed tow bar. Anyway, I'd prefer to take the risk & have a detachable fitted, I hate the look of a towbar .... in 40 yrs of driving I can count the number of times someone has hit me from behind on one hand & have fingers left ... besides, if they hit you from behind, their insurance pays 🙄

Hi Geof, If I tried to lift the box of tools that I used to carry in the car, it was no if but when it would go wrong, I would likely get a hernia.

If you are prepared to have to carry tools and fit and remove, and then accept the appearance, then you may as well save the money.

However, I chose fixed in the past due to cost and as that is not so much of an issue don’t want a bar spoiling the look of my car so would go for removable.

Two previous cars had factory fit drop down bars and I had a Tow Trust fitted to latest.

Price was, as ever, a factor but main criteria was no bumper cuts and, when removed, there are no signs of the fitting at all.

The TT website was useful as it lists all the bars for each car and if they require a bumper cut.

EDIT-Just had a quick look and there are detachable but prices are no longer listed.

I negotiated the tow bar in with the price of the vehicle, started to walk when they said no. They changed their mind. I never asked for fixed or detachable they just put the detachable one on.

Trouble with insurance these days if some one hits your car and it Is their fault your  your policy still goes up up next time round. You have had a claim and according to them you are more of a risk. This happened to my daughter. Maybe they expect you to not get in the way. She still kept her no claims discount. But as I say premium went up as because she had a claim she was more of a risk. Work that one out I can’t.

What if the claimed you reversed into them?🤔

Over the years, I have had several vehicles with different types of tow bars.   I have never been concerned about their aesthetic appearance, believing that they are just an accessory.   From a purely practical point of view, I would go for a swan neck.   Yes, they are visible, but covers are available.   They can be used spontaneously, eg, assisting others, require no maintenance, do not need effort to prepare for towing and do not interfere with integrated electronic systems.   I have swan necks fitted currently to my XC90 and motorhome and I have received comments on how neat they look.   They work well for me.