So I've had several types of towbar over the years, my detachable type have fallen into two categories, belt and braces, shocking!
The first was a horizontal socket that the machined ball would slot into then twist 90 degrees upright to lock solidly together, a bar would go left to right through both with a locking pin to simply stop a twist 100% reliability guaranteed.
The next was a sprung loaded ball that inserted vertically into a receiver, a small cap would then send a finger bar out of the top of the towball unit in turn operating a kind of U in the receiver to lock the ball in place, a blue rotating knob indicated the success of the operation, 60% reliable.
On one occasion the entire mechanism including spring without any reason or notice flew out of the towball bit whilst stored in its bag, and even with our limited use the ball/receiver developed play and I believe exceeded the requirement of MOT, but when have you ever had a towbar checked?
The latter type of detachable towbar I will never ever purchase again as I lost complete faith in the thing convinced it could fail in use, and who knows it could explain the above.
My current towball is a swing down type, operate a button in the boot, electrics release it from its hiding place under the bumper my hand lifts the hinged ball into place with a reassuring solid clunk, the cars dash gives a warning if not in place correctly, a brilliant system apart from having to wrap the ball in self amalgamating rubber strip to prevent rust. Also there is a built in hoop for the breakaway cable as part of the balls casting. It is an expensive piece of kit if bought separately from the car, but without doubt in my experience the preferred detachable/cosmetic option.
I see lots of complacency when coupling up, even at work, I drive artics for a living, at least forums like this can wake people up to the real dangers of what can go wrong.
The first was a horizontal socket that the machined ball would slot into then twist 90 degrees upright to lock solidly together, a bar would go left to right through both with a locking pin to simply stop a twist 100% reliability guaranteed.
The next was a sprung loaded ball that inserted vertically into a receiver, a small cap would then send a finger bar out of the top of the towball unit in turn operating a kind of U in the receiver to lock the ball in place, a blue rotating knob indicated the success of the operation, 60% reliable.
On one occasion the entire mechanism including spring without any reason or notice flew out of the towball bit whilst stored in its bag, and even with our limited use the ball/receiver developed play and I believe exceeded the requirement of MOT, but when have you ever had a towbar checked?
The latter type of detachable towbar I will never ever purchase again as I lost complete faith in the thing convinced it could fail in use, and who knows it could explain the above.
My current towball is a swing down type, operate a button in the boot, electrics release it from its hiding place under the bumper my hand lifts the hinged ball into place with a reassuring solid clunk, the cars dash gives a warning if not in place correctly, a brilliant system apart from having to wrap the ball in self amalgamating rubber strip to prevent rust. Also there is a built in hoop for the breakaway cable as part of the balls casting. It is an expensive piece of kit if bought separately from the car, but without doubt in my experience the preferred detachable/cosmetic option.
I see lots of complacency when coupling up, even at work, I drive artics for a living, at least forums like this can wake people up to the real dangers of what can go wrong.