Removable towbars

[jo3]

Would welcome any advice on the pros and cons of removable towbars. Now that we have stowed the van for the winter, our towbar seems an ugly hindrance on the back of the mondeo.

 

[gavin_5121842]

Well thats one reason, another is you don't crack your shin on a removable towbar or get grease on you trousers if you brush against it,

Gavin.

 

[Del_374232870]

We have had removable towbars for years, and wouldnt want to have to go back to a fixed bar. Our current tow bar is a witter which can be locked in place with a key once on the car which gives extra security.

 

[Iain]

I personally don't want a removable towball.

I don't mind having the towbar on display and it keeps people away from the back of you car when driving and parking.

Just changed car and my dealer was so surprised we wanted neither a removable bar or 13 pin electrics. In the end we got what we wanted, and we now have a Skoda Octavia VRS TDi with a swan neck bracket and twin electrics.

 

[Lutz]

Another hidden advantage of a removable towbar is that accident repair in the case of a rear end shunt can be cheaper because you've got the bumper to protect you. If the towbar takes the full blow, you've got a 'crunch zone' to absorb the energy and you're more likely to have vehicle underbody damage. Although a new bumper is expensive, damage to the underbody is even more so and often turns the car into a write-off. Only if you're going considerably slower than walking pace where there is little energy to be absorbed does the towbar give you any form of protection that you might expect.

 

[Lutz]

Another hidden advantage of a removable towbar is that accident repair in the case of a rear end shunt can be cheaper because you've got the bumper to protect you. If the towbar takes the full blow, you've got a 'crunch zone' to absorb the energy and you're more likely to have vehicle underbody damage. Although a new bumper is expensive, damage to the underbody is even more so and often turns the car into a write-off. Only if you're going considerably slower than walking pace where there is little energy to be absorbed does the towbar give you any form of protection that you might expect.

Correction: you haven't got a 'crunch zone' to absorb the energy ......

 

[TLC]

We have a removable towbar on our X5. We prefer to remove it as when using the parking sensors it does not take in to account a towbar. Therefore I can park quite happily without the worry of hitting someone else with my towbar.

 

[bigbilly]

I had a Bosal (recommended by Citroen) removable tow ball fitted to my C5 from new mainly due to the fact that it had reversing sensors. No real problems with it for 5 years and then the ball mechanism seized despite regular use and maintenance resulting in a complete new tow bar.

I now have an X TRail with a fixed towball which I will admit I much prefer but there is an argument that you are stopping the designed rear 'crumple' area in the event of a rear shunt.

Bill

 

[Bezzer]

Had to have a removeable towbar on our new Rav4, it obscures the number plate when fitted so is illegal when not actually towing. I know you see loads of people doing just that but it's not worth the hassle plus it's got parking sensors fitted as well anyway.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi,

I've had a Bosal and a Brink removable tow-bar on the last two Mercedes, both have worked without fault. Except for when I snapped the release key in the Bosal lock - took the car to the specialist fitter - and they removed the tow arm and cassette as a module, sent it to Bosal UK for review, and they changed the module free-of-charge.

Bosal felt that the key shouldn't snap and that it was probably faulty - and Bosal UK hold the parts in stock. Good service.

I like the way the 13 pin electrical system swings up behind the bumper when you remove the tow-arm, and keeps it out the way of any road crud.

And a fixed tow-bar just looks wrong on a modern car.

Robert

 

[S-MaxJon]

I have a detachable bar on my Mondeo ST hatch with the electrics tucked under out of sight.I would agree with the comment about towbars looking out of place on modern cars.The fixed swan necks are OK but it is when you have the old 2 bolt flange with sockets mounted either side that look cumbersome and out of place - not to mention a beacon for shins !!!

 

[Pat_374304630]

Well everyone who's replied so far has a detatchable towbar,so as a non detatchable towbar person (over 30 tears towing)I am very happy with my towbar.Yes it has the 2 bolts and twin electrics.I love it .It looks the bizzzzzz and it's on a modern car.

Each to his own.

 

[Sedo]

Hi Have been reading this about pro's and cons of removeable towbar. Would have thought it depends on the type of vehicle you're using whether form or function comes into play. If you're driving a saloon/hatch fine you'll probably swing towards form(looks) if you're driving a 4 * 4 looking vehicle it'll probaly be function and will suit the looks. As for a rear end shunt, I don't know if you,ve had one lately in a modern car but I shouldn't worry about the bumper, don't forget the front and rear are both crumple zones. Up to 5-10mph the bumpers probably fine but after that, well you'll find out how cheap bumpers are. As for reversing sensors, how long is your towbar? I get plenty of warning before my towbar hits, and in car park situations the towbar will probably save having the nice shiny bumper flexed in and cracked, especially if someones drives into to you, which is more common on car parks.

So coming back to it if is more aesthetically pleasing without a bumper, whip it off if not why bother? Perhaps they'll soon make one that retracts under the boot at the push of a button soon, it'll look ace as it slides ready to tow.

Regards Tom

 

[Sedo]

Hi Have been reading this about pro's and cons of removeable towbar. Would have thought it depends on the type of vehicle you're using whether form or function comes into play. If you're driving a saloon/hatch fine you'll probably swing towards form(looks) if you're driving a 4 * 4 looking vehicle it'll probaly be function and will suit the looks. As for a rear end shunt, I don't know if you,ve had one lately in a modern car but I shouldn't worry about the bumper, don't forget the front and rear are both crumple zones. Up to 5-10mph the bumpers probably fine but after that, well you'll find out how cheap bumpers are. As for reversing sensors, how long is your towbar? I get plenty of warning before my towbar hits, and in car park situations the towbar will probably save having the nice shiny bumper flexed in and cracked, especially if someones drives into to you, which is more common on car parks.

So coming back to it if is more aesthetically pleasing without a bumper, whip it off if not why bother? Perhaps they'll soon make one that retracts under the boot at the push of a button soon, it'll look ace as it slides ready to tow.

Regards Tom

oops should have been slides out ready to tow sorry

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Tom,

Mercedes, BMW, Volvo and probably others already offer the retractable tow-bar you suggested. And Westfalia tow-bars with this feature can be fitted to a range of cars.

Concerning rear-end shunts, I believe the point Lutz was making concerned the fact that a fixed or swan-neck tow-bar transfers the accident forces past the easily repairable crumple zone and onto areas that cost a whole load more to repair - or writes the car off. Whereas a detachable or retractable tow-bar at least has some crumple zone between the underframe and the rear of the car.

Robert

 

[Sedo]

Hi Rob

Had a Westfalia on our last car. Remember grinding my teeth when the dealers qouted me a price of the towbar. Which he countered by saying that the correct towbar was designed and engineered to have the least effect on the integrity of the crumple zone. May well be true but, although in town I was sure I got a strong whiff of a herd of male cattle passing by.

So I get the point Lutz was making but if I'd got a smart looking motor I'd be tempted to get a towbar with the minimum effect on the looks. Have noticed some of the new cars with really neat systems of hiding the gubbins for towing. We've just had a pretend 4*4 and the towbar with deflector plate actually helps give it a slightly more butch look.

Leaving crumple zones alone now else we're liable to open a Pandoras box.

best regards

Tom

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Tom,

Quote "Had a Westfalia on our last car. Remember grinding my teeth when the dealers qouted me a price of the towbar. Which he countered by saying that the correct towbar was designed and engineered to have the least effect on the integrity of the crumple zone. May well be true but, although in town I was sure I got a strong whiff of a herd of male cattle passing by."

I'm pretty sure your assumption is right - although there is some wiggle room for the dealer too.

The type approval process means that the mounting points are pre-located in the body shell, and taking into account the shape of the void behind the bumper, that really does set the dimensions and minimum torsional strengths for the design of the tow-bar.

But each manufacturer can choose different gauge and strength steel, choose different construction techniques, etc., so ultimately the dealer may be making a valid point - but in reality, tow-bars are just thumping great lumps of steel.

Robert

 

[Lutz]

The towbar manufacturer, whether one of a quality product or of lesser quality, has little freedom to influence the performance of the crumple zone. That is something that primarily only the car manufacturer can do because he alone determines the location of the body attachment points. These are type approved and every towbar manufacturer has to follow suit.

The only scope for the towbar manufacturer cutting corners to save costs, thereby negatively influencing crash performance to some degree, is in the design of any additional bolt-on reinforcements within the body structure.

 

[Angus1]

I have two Passats.

One has a detachable (Bosal) bar, the other a fixed (EECO) bar.

I got the detachable one as I didn`t want to see the bar, but a few years down the line and TBH I found it becoming a pain in the nether regions to get down on my knees, take off the blanking cover and install the detachable bit (particularly as at the time the swan-neck had a clamp-on stabiliser bracket which made it unwieldy).

So for the new one I decided I wanted a fixed bar with twin electrics I dont need to grovel under the car for, with a stainless bump-plate and chrome flipper (so no oily trousers/legs) which I think looks great.

So having both I would personally opt for the fixed bar,although I gather the ALKO stabiliser will foul a flipper, it`s fine with my Winterhoff.

In addition, a detachable is invariably more expensive which may sway some peoples decisions. I don`t pay for the bars or their fitting so that doesn`t influence my choice which is made purely for reasons of convenience and function

 

[Lutz]

Westfalia make swing out towbars for some models, so that avoids having to get down on your knees and yet you still have the advantage of having the towbar out of the way when not in use.

 

[David_374301039]

The fact that you remove the tow ball, still leaves the tow bracket in place so a rear end shunt will still push the bracket forewared and crumple the rear end? Just a thought!!!

David G

 

[Icemaker]

We have just been getting quotes for a bar to be fitted to our new S max so this subject is pretty hot with us at the moment.

Up to know we have allways had removable bars from brink and witter and have had no problems with either.

My wife pointed put to me that i had not removed the bar from the alhambra for nearly six month up untill removing it to take it to the dealer when i sold it so we decided to cut our costs and just have a fixed type bar fitted to the S max.

the car was due to go in next week but only this morning i saw a new galaxy which has an identical rear end to the S max with a fixed towbar and it looked terible, i have now rang the dealer and a new westfalia removable is to be fitted when it comes in stock.

It is of course each to his own but i prefer form over the very slight inconveniance of bending down for a few seconds.

 

[Thorpedo]

I have a fixed Towsure tow bar on my new car as per my previous 4 cars and I'm very happy. It was a lot cheaper than removable.

It certainly provides rear protection from minor knocks which would otherwise cause expensive damage to my bumper.

It is definitely a deterrent to anyone parking behind me from coming too close causing damage whilst I'm not with the car.

I don't damage my own or other peoples vehicles, I have too much pride and consideration, but unfortunately many other people couldn't give a hoot, so protecting my car with a tow bar is a valuable asset.

I have a bumper protection plate easily fitted (I'm embarrassed to say it gets regular use and a regular respray!), not sure if those can be easily fitted to a detachable.

I have a good solid cycle carrier easily fitted which allows the safe transport of 2 bikes even whilst towing, I'm not sure if that could be accommodated on a detachable.

I would far prefer this to lugging bikes onto the roof of the car.

I don't feel any desire to hide my appendage, infact I

 

[Lutz]

The 'protection' that the towbar gives is rather a two edged sword. Although it does afford some protection against damage to your own car at minimal speed, it does do more damage to the third party AND it can actually increase damage to your own car at speeds anything over walking pace. This is because it transfers all the impact forces to the underbody where damage is very expensive to repair. In the worst case this can result in having to write off a car that externally shows almost no signs of damage at all.