Is the streetwize 2 Tonne Steel Tow Bar any good for a micro teardrop?

[BerryC2025]

Just got this micro teardrop and I’m looking for a tow bar, ideally something bumper mounted? I came across the Streetwize 2 tone steel tow bar and was wondering if it would be much use? It does look more of a tow pole though they list it as a tow bar capable of 2 tones.

My little micro teardrop only weighs 400lbs!

 

[birdman101]

Tow poles are for towing a Broken down vehicle Your micro has an A frame for towing it. You need a proper towbar fitted to your car that meets regulations and CE marked just as if you were towing a large caravan. There is no easy way of towing. Tow bars have to be fitted to the towing points on the vehicle specified by the car manufacturer,

 

[otherclive]

I cannot think that mounting a towbar on the bumper is satisfactory. Towbars have to be type approved for the vehicle and are fixed to strong points on the car. Also you may wish to tow something a bit heavier and a properly installed towbar will do the job.

 

[RogerL]

I cannot think that mounting a towbar on the bumper is satisfactory. Towbars have to be type approved for the vehicle and are fixed to strong points on the car. Also you may wish to tow something a bit heavier and a properly installed towbar will do the job.

Towbars haven't been bumper mounted since bumpers were required to withstand low-speed impacts without deformation - about 60 years from memory - but that could be a bit hazy!

The OP specifies the weight in lbs so might be in North America where towbars are available in several weight categories - unlike in UK/EU where towbars (generally) meet the full rated towing capacity of the vehicle.

 

[otherclive]

Towbars haven't been bumper mounted since bumpers were required to withstand low-speed impacts without deformation - about 60 years from memory - but that could be a bit hazy!

The OP specifies the weight in lbs so might be in North America where towbars are available in several weight categories - unlike in UK/EU where towbars (generally) meet the full rated towing capacity of the vehicle.

That’s why I said that I couldn’t see a towbar mounted to a bumper as being satisfactory. The ease that modern bumpers can be removed would indicate it would not be practicable.

 

[RogerL]

That’s why I said that I couldn’t see a towbar mounted to a bumper as being satisfactory. The ease that modern bumpers can be removed would indicate it would not be practicable.

I was trying to add to your comment, not contradict it.

 

[Hutch]

Berry 2025, the streetwise towbar is for rescue/recovery and not permanent towing, as the others have said you need a dedicated towbar and wiring for towing.

 

[toad a caravan]

I wonder how it would comply for insurance

 

[GaryB]

The house behind the teardrop in the photo looks very "British" so probably over here and not the US. As everyone's said, tow bars are a custom made offering to suit individual vehicles, however, some vehicles cannot tow anything, even lightweights so it's always wise to check beforehand.

As an aside I have owned a few older American vehicles and one (1960 Chevrolet Impala) had a bumper mounted towbar when it came over. It was a very simple (crude!) affair comprising of a clamp/hook at each end that clamped around the top and bottom of the bumper blade, connected by two long threaded bolts that were tightened to get it to grip to the bumper. To be honest it was rock solid and as the bumpers were 3/16" thick it was a fairly robust bit of kit!

 

[AndrewAventura]

Non-professional towing was quite common back in the day, when cars broke down a lot and then you set about fixing them yourself. Never gave insurance a second thought then!

Very much etched in my memory was my Dad towing me in my Triumph Spitfire over Buttertubs pass in the snow. Couldn't see a thing, and he still moaned at me for not keeping the right tension in the tow rope.

 

[otherclive]

Non-professional towing was quite common back in the day, when cars broke down a lot and then you set about fixing them yourself. Never gave insurance a second thought then!

Very much etched in my memory was my Dad towing me in my Triumph Spitfire over Buttertubs pass in the snow. Couldn't see a thing, and he still moaned at me for not keeping the right tension in the tow rope.

I bought an old 2CV being used as a chicken shed. Towed home using rope by friend with his Maxi. Didn’t dawn onus to test brakes but handbrake didn’t work either. Gentle coming together at first traffic lights. But got home okay in the end. Our kids loved it as a plaything with its wide opening roof. Pretended it was Afrika Corps staff car.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I wonder how it would comply for insurance

Provided the equipment meets the construction and use approvals requirements for the UK, and is approved for you car, your UK insurance is obliged to cover you for third party

 

[Beachball]

Hi BerryC2025 Welcome to the forum like others you still need a proper tow bar fitted and electrics .

 

[ProfJohnL]

Just got this micro teardrop and I’m looking for a tow bar, ideally something bumper mounted? I came across the Streetwize 2 tone steel tow bar and was wondering if it would be much use? It does look more of a tow pole though they list it as a tow bar capable of 2 tones.

My little micro teardrop only weighs 400lbs!

View attachment 8857

The simple answer is no! The towing rod is not a towbar in the required sense. Towing eyes are designed for emergency use and not as a substitute for a properly designed tow bar fitted to cars assigned mounting points and a 50mm tow ball, to take the trailers hitch.

 

[otherclive]

Under a tow with that devise wouldn’t there normally be a driver in the car being towed?

 

[GaryB]

Under a tow with that devise wouldn’t there normally be a driver in the car being towed?

Yes, it's nothing more than a rope that's been starched! An A-frame does away with the driver but they're a completely different minefield for laws/use. I've used an unbraked one a few times in my naivety of youth, not pleasant when trying to stop.

 

[otherclive]

Yes, it's nothing more than a rope that's been starched! An A-frame does away with the driver but they're a completely different minefield for laws/use. I've used an unbraked one a few times in my naivety of youth, not pleasant when trying to stop.

Likewise.