Tow bar blues

There's pros and to both types

Fixed cons :- unacceptable appearance for some, periodically checking flange nuts are secure. Needs extended tow ball for stabilizer clearance.(not swan neck)

Fixed pros:- flange type gives easy access to electric/ brake cable connection, could be used in conjunction with bike rack if sufficient weight spec.

Detachable cons:- If left on can rust in place and be difficult to remove. Some have tricky access to electrics and brake safety cable. Some are actually a challenge to fit / remove. Keys can be lost! Have heard of detachable bit being stolen. Of course doesn't apply to electrically deployable or swing away design.

Detachable pros:- looks good when not towing. Can't think of anything else which annoys as I have got one!

In all cases check that the load / tow rating of the bar meets your needs. A car dealer once fitted a freeby detachable bar for me as part of the deal that didn't use all the recommended fixing points so the towing capacity was downrated by 20% or so. It was sufficient but always worried me.

 

I have camera in my car 🙄

@ Viatorem

If the detachable bit is removed each time nobody can nick it 😉 And re keys, the keys in the detachable bars I've had wouldn't come out when the detachable bit was removed.

I see many detachable bars left on cars which always makes me wonder.....

Can you see the towbar when you are driving the car!Are you able to kneel in the mud whilst it is pouring with rain attempting to fit the removable bit?Does parking by feel occur where you are parked?Are you rich enough not to worry about the extra cost of the removable bracket?Only you are able to answer these points.(just for the sake of correct description.........it is a towing bracket,not a towbar)

£40 on a car that would be £30K new is not worth worrying about.

If you do not mind the look of a fixed then go that route.

If you think it looks ugly then get a removeable and a mat to kneel on.

 

Colin

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

My detachable bars were fitted just prior to hitching up & removed soon after unhitching. I never needed to kneel on the ground to fit or remove. 

"Can you see the towbar when you are driving the car"

yes when using the rear view camera but as this is only functional whilst in reverse gear, do i care no, just have to be mindful that the tow ball is a sticky out bit at rear and does cause serious damage to metal garage doors, guilty as charged, could park a 56 seater coach to the inch without rear view camera but not my car 

"When I had one I would remove it over winter and leave it on during our caravanning season"

for me that would mean it would be on the car some 7 or 8 months per year, might just not bother removing it , would probably forget where I had stored it or loose the key.

Nothing wrong with fixed, KIA garage fitted my fixed when i bought the car so for me apart from removing the plastic protection cap which stores neatly in the rear glove box so i dont forget where i have put it,  it has been plug and play, no problems.

In the back too?🤔, wow that’s very cautious, do you encounter reckless drivers a lot🤷🏻‍♂️