What towbar?

shoota · Nov 11, 2016

I always thought a towbar was a towbar but now I find that there are different types/specs and different electrics too.
I need to equip my 2005 Jaguar 2.0 diesel X-Type with a towbar and electric system in order to tow a 14' Burstner single axle van with a 13 pin electric system (no battery)
Can anyone help me with what I should be looking for please, or alternatively recommend a dealer/fitter (near Heathrow airport) that will sort me out without taking advantage of my ignorance.

Damian · Nov 11, 2016

There are basically 3 types of towbar.
1. Fixed Flange
2. Fixed Swan Neck
3. Removable .
It depends whether or not you want the towbar permanently on show or not.

The two fixed types are on show all the time but with the fixed flange type you will need the Al-Ko extended neck towball, not the standard towball usually supplied.

The removable one you stow in the car when not in use so keeps the back end of the car clear
.
The electrics will have to be fitted to a 13 pin socket via a car specific wiring loom which should all be part of the fitting service but make sure it is fully wired to include the fridge supply and battery charging circuits, even though you may not use the battery charging bit on this van but may need it in future.

The electric socket stays on the car , usually pretty inconspicuously under the rear of the car.

With each type you must make sure the towball is completely clean of all paint or protective coating and keep it that way.

Woodentop · Nov 11, 2016

Given that your model of Jag is basically a Mondeo with a different body it should not cost a fortune to fit. However do be aware that around that time the maximum noseweight on some Mondeos was 75Kg so take care to make sure you know what the limit is on the Jag - and that is the lower of the towbar limit or the car chassis limit.

shoota · Nov 11, 2016

Thanks for the replies.

Given that I'm not too clever at bending down, would I be best served with a Flange type with the electrics mounted on a plate to the side rather than a Swan neck where (I believe) the electrics are mounted under the bumper?

Also, as this is now an old car and there are no warranty considerations, would bypass electrics suffice or must I pay for vehicle specific? (I am trying to keep the cost as reasonable as possible within the bounds of safety and suitability.)

chrisn7 · Nov 12, 2016

To keep the rear of the car neat, the receiver for the detachable types is mounted inside the rear bumper plastic cover, so this where the 13 pin socket resides too. There is generally only room for one socket ie a 13 pin. Access to both may be through a removable hatch in the bumper, which sometimes has a cut line for this scribed or moulded on the inside of the bumper. This means access is limited and can be awkward - you might have to use a kneeling pad, so this may not be suitable for you.

The flange type usually traps a plate between the towball and the flange which will carry the socket (or 2 old style ones). Being outside the bumper, this will probably be an easier option for you. People will keep clear of in car parks as this type can do of lot of damage to their cars!

Whether you go for factory or aftermarket electrics, both are going to connect to the cars existing electrics as far as road lights are concerned. Factory systems rarely seem to accomodate our need for fridge wiring, so this has to be added in who ever installs it. The one advantage of factory is that you can be sure its all going to integrate with your car, as there will probably be a module that recognises the trailer attachment and do a few clever things. Many cars already have a small socket for road lights hidden in the boot, ready for factory trailer wiring when required.

pitpony · Nov 13, 2016

The chap across the road from bought his first caravan yesterday a 2 berth 2016 Swift , but he said the salesman said he would need a swan neck tow bar fitted to his Mondeo estate, why a Swan neck, any ideas why,

Woodentop · Nov 13, 2016

pitpony said:
The chap across the road from bought his first caravan yesterday a 2 berth 2016 Swift , but he said the salesman said he would need a swan neck tow bar fitted to his Mondeo estate, why a Swan neck, any ideas why,

It will have an Al-Ko friction stabiliser head on the hitch which needs extra spacing from the bumper. On a fixed bar you can fit a special ball that has extra standoff but with a removeable a so-called swan neck is often the only option.

xtrailman · Nov 13, 2016

Witter supply 4 options.
Fixed Flange
Detachable flange
Fixed swan
Detachable swan.

Only the first two require an Alko bolt on ball.

I have bypass electrics and detachable swan neck, however next time it will just be a fixed swan.
You do have to bend down however, and a caravan mover is ideal to save bumper damage.

So i would say a fixed flange with bumper plate along with bypass electrics would be fine.

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bar-types-explained.html

shoota · Nov 14, 2016

Thank you pf, that was what I was inclining towards. I will just confirm that the X-type has no hidden problems with bypass electrics before I go ahead and seek quotes.

chrisn7 · Nov 14, 2016

shoota said:
Thank you pf, that was what I was inclining towards. I will just confirm that the X-type has no hidden problems with bypass electrics before I go ahead and seek quotes.

Well the clue is in the name - the bypass unit is used to bypass the cars bulb failure module, which might otherwise be confused when the caravan road lights are added to the cars own load. This is one of the functions of a factory module, which may also turn off the cars foglights, reverse lights and brake lights, to avoid reflected glare from the van at night. In addition factory modules may turn off the rear parking sensors when reverse is engaged with the van on, which can be very annoying indeed. Its very unlikely that aftermarket will have these functions

xtrailman · Nov 14, 2016

Rear parking sensors on my car can be turned off with a dash switch.

chrisn7 · Nov 14, 2016

xtrailman said:
Rear parking sensors on my car can be turned off with a dash switch.

That's true, then can, but I would guess they re-activate as soon as you select reverse again, since you wouldn't want to forget they are off if you are used to having them on. This is how mine operate.

xtrailman · Nov 14, 2016

True but how often does one reverse with the caravan on?

Woodentop · Nov 14, 2016

Strange, my Passat has both front an reversing sensors and they never activate if the van is hitched up but if someone walks near them with the van hitched they start shouting.

CampingTom · Nov 21, 2016

Hey Guys,

I had the same issues with the parking sensors when I had someone come to fit the towbar onto my Ford Mondeo.

I agree, its not often that you reverse with your van still attached :lol: but if you've got parking sensors you may as well have them working right?

Anyway, I managed to find a local garage on Towbar Fitting that could reset the electronics on my car and since then they have worked fine.

People recommend going back to your dealer when you have a towbar fitted but I managed to find a cheaper solution so it may be worth checking out,

Hope this helped guys.

ProfJohnL · Nov 21, 2016

CampingTom said:
Hey Guys,

I had the same issues with the parking sensors when I had someone come to fit the towbar onto my Ford Mondeo.

I agree, its not often that you reverse with your van still attached :lol: but if you've got parking sensors you may as well have them working right?

Anyway, I managed to find a local garage on Towbar Fitting that could reset the electronics on my car and since then they have worked fine.

People recommend going back to your dealer when you have a towbar fitted but I managed to find a cheaper solution so it may be worth checking out,

Hope this helped guys.

Hello Tom,

When I contract someone to do a job like fitting a towbar, I expect then to do it right . So if it does not work the fitters have failed to do the job properly. So why should I go and spend more money elsewhere to have the job the fitter should have done, put right?

Sadly its this attitude we seem to have in GB, that we expect jobs to go wrong so we are prepared to put up with shoddy work. I always chalance shoddy work, and usually it gets put right, becasue that what I paid for. On the odd occasion where for whatever reason its beyond the original workmans capability, I arrange to have it put right but the original contractor foots the bill.

Hutch · Nov 21, 2016

My rear sensors can be deactivated before reversing and reactivate when you go back into drive, as for how often do you reverse with the caravan , everytime out, not lucky enough to get a drive into place, pitch.

20170602yuanyuan · Jun 2, 2017

Search

What towbar?

shoota

Damian

Moderator

Woodentop

shoota

chrisn7

pitpony

Woodentop

xtrailman

shoota

chrisn7

xtrailman

chrisn7

xtrailman

Woodentop

CampingTom

ProfJohnL

Hutch

20170602yuanyuan

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts