Fitting a tow bar
Discussion
Thinking of getting a tow bar fitted to our 2014 qashqai, not for towing but just to fit a tow bar mounted bike rack.
How does one go about getting a tow bar fitted? Main dealer? Independent garage? Or does such a thing as a tow bar specialist exist?
Di different options exist? I’m thinking as it’s going to have minimal load, I wouldn’t need anything heavy duty!
How does one go about getting a tow bar fitted? Main dealer? Independent garage? Or does such a thing as a tow bar specialist exist?
Di different options exist? I’m thinking as it’s going to have minimal load, I wouldn’t need anything heavy duty!
Specialist towbar fitter will probably be cheapest, loads of them about.
You can choose various types of towbar.
The traditional ball with two bolts which permits the fitting of a bolt on bike carrier or a swan neck which looks neater and takes a bike rack fitting which clamps around the ball. Swan neck fittings can be fixed, folding or removable.
You may need electrics as well as you are likely to need a lighting board if the bikes obscure your lights.
You can choose various types of towbar.
The traditional ball with two bolts which permits the fitting of a bolt on bike carrier or a swan neck which looks neater and takes a bike rack fitting which clamps around the ball. Swan neck fittings can be fixed, folding or removable.
You may need electrics as well as you are likely to need a lighting board if the bikes obscure your lights.
Definitely not main dealer. I use Trident Towing in Maidstone and there are probably many similar independent specialists near to you who are reasonably priced compared to main dealers.
I too only use my towbar for a bike rack and I specify that I will never tow a trailer/caravan etc. This means I don't need a vehicle manufacturers specific wiring which enables towing ESP modes etc. The standard wiring is fine. I always go for a detachable swan neck as it is less likely to interfere with the parking sensors due to it's slim profile - however some bike racks might need to be mounted on the hitch. I specify 13 pin at the point of installation for my Atera bike rack as it is neater than using and extra adaptor and normally no extra cost.
Trident even fitted a towbar to my Clubman S which is not homologated for towing and I had to sign a disclaimer that it was for bike rack use only.
I too only use my towbar for a bike rack and I specify that I will never tow a trailer/caravan etc. This means I don't need a vehicle manufacturers specific wiring which enables towing ESP modes etc. The standard wiring is fine. I always go for a detachable swan neck as it is less likely to interfere with the parking sensors due to it's slim profile - however some bike racks might need to be mounted on the hitch. I specify 13 pin at the point of installation for my Atera bike rack as it is neater than using and extra adaptor and normally no extra cost.
Trident even fitted a towbar to my Clubman S which is not homologated for towing and I had to sign a disclaimer that it was for bike rack use only.
Just had a detachable swan neck fitted to a Tucson.
Initially, went through the Westfalia website, picked a 2pm slot with a fitter.. got a message back saying they needed the car from 9am to 5pm. I could fit it myself in 8 hours I reckon! They refused to honour the 2pm drop off, so I cancelled.
Ended up getting a local independent who fitted one on my drive in around an hour. If you're near Alton in Hampshire I'll give you a recommendation.
Initially, went through the Westfalia website, picked a 2pm slot with a fitter.. got a message back saying they needed the car from 9am to 5pm. I could fit it myself in 8 hours I reckon! They refused to honour the 2pm drop off, so I cancelled.
Ended up getting a local independent who fitted one on my drive in around an hour. If you're near Alton in Hampshire I'll give you a recommendation.
Find a used one on Ebay and pop it on there yourself. I've fitted loads to the cars we've had.
Something like
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393455932411?fits=Car+M...
Towbar fitters are NOT cheap !
Something like
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393455932411?fits=Car+M...
Towbar fitters are NOT cheap !
littlebasher said:
Find a used one on Ebay and pop it on there yourself. I've fitted loads to the cars we've had.
Something like
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393455932411?fits=Car+M...
Towbar fitters are NOT cheap !
IT depends if you want it right or want it cheap? Anyone can fit a tow bar and scotch lock the wiring in and cause all kinds of faults with the can bus, or pay a reputable person/firm to fit a deadecated wiring kit desgin for that vechicle, which usually ends up needing coded in with diagnostic equipment. Something like
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393455932411?fits=Car+M...
Towbar fitters are NOT cheap !
I did a transit last week, witter bar took 30 mins to fit, genuine ford wiring kit had to be run to the front into the cab to be connected then had to plug in the diag equipment to tell it it now has a towing module fitted, total cost about £500 but it's as factory and won't affect the manafractures warranty (20 reg van)
Pays your money makes your choice
vikingaero said:
Trident even fitted a towbar to my Clubman S which is not homologated for towing and I had to sign a disclaimer that it was for bike rack use only.
Ooh now that’s interesting. I’m having a right dilemma with what to replace my current car with and a used Cayman is top of the list. The inability to stick a towbar mounted bike rack on has been a right old pain - if that is possible then I’d be happy.
Dog Star said:
vikingaero said:
Trident even fitted a towbar to my Clubman S which is not homologated for towing and I had to sign a disclaimer that it was for bike rack use only.
Ooh now that’s interesting. I’m having a right dilemma with what to replace my current car with and a used Cayman is top of the list. The inability to stick a towbar mounted bike rack on has been a right old pain - if that is possible then I’d be happy.
Robmainstgarage said:
littlebasher said:
Find a used one on Ebay and pop it on there yourself. I've fitted loads to the cars we've had.
Something like
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393455932411?fits=Car+M...
Towbar fitters are NOT cheap !
IT depends if you want it right or want it cheap? Anyone can fit a tow bar and scotch lock the wiring in and cause all kinds of faults with the can bus, or pay a reputable person/firm to fit a deadecated wiring kit desgin for that vechicle, which usually ends up needing coded in with diagnostic equipment. Something like
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393455932411?fits=Car+M...
Towbar fitters are NOT cheap !
I did a transit last week, witter bar took 30 mins to fit, genuine ford wiring kit had to be run to the front into the cab to be connected then had to plug in the diag equipment to tell it it now has a towing module fitted, total cost about £500 but it's as factory and won't affect the manafractures warranty (20 reg van)
Pays your money makes your choice
I even re-coded the last one (a Range Rover sport) to tell the car that it now had a towbar as that ensures a couple of functions are locked out when towing.
DIY doesn't always equal cowboy, in fact I've discovered a few bodges over the years performed by supposedly reputable garages (the Ferrari sump cross-threaded and then bodged with sealant rather than being replaced being a case in point!!)
For most modern cars fitting the towbar itself is relatively straightforward as the mounting points are already in place for the correct towbar & the biggest mod you need to make might be a bumper cut.
Far cry from the days when you had to drill your own holes in the bodywork.
Using the proper plug'n'play harness is again straightforward BUT there are any number of electrics kits on ebay etc where you just have the bare cable ends.
These are cheap (often very cheap!) compared to the proper harness & the temptation is to save a few ££s & just scotchlock into the vehicle wiring - usually in the rear light clusters.
This was standard practice years ago when the only need to harmonise with the car's wiring was to fit a heavy duty indicator flasher unit.
As already said many cars now need the ecu telling that it now has towing electrics fitted.
Have a look at this website & it will generally tell you which cars need that doing.
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/towbar-wiring-kits.html
FWIW my own car, 1986 Range Rover Classic, came with a towbar fitted & wired - 12N & 12S sockets. Despite LR making the harness with proper plug'n'play connectors whoever fitted it just ignored them & scotchlocked the wires into the various light wires. Right next to the sockets which they completely ignored.
I tow & it caused a number of problems until I just fitted the proper wiring kit.
I should add I'm NOT a fan of scotchlocks. Far too many issues with them over the years.
I do bodywork for a local used caravan dealer & it isn't THAT unusual for a customer to arrive to collect their new-to-them caravan & find the systems aren't compatible. Invariably the result of improper connection of the towing electrics to the vehicle.
Don't forget that the correct functioning of the 13 pin Euro socket now fitted as standard is part of the MOT.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-...
Far cry from the days when you had to drill your own holes in the bodywork.
Using the proper plug'n'play harness is again straightforward BUT there are any number of electrics kits on ebay etc where you just have the bare cable ends.
These are cheap (often very cheap!) compared to the proper harness & the temptation is to save a few ££s & just scotchlock into the vehicle wiring - usually in the rear light clusters.
This was standard practice years ago when the only need to harmonise with the car's wiring was to fit a heavy duty indicator flasher unit.
As already said many cars now need the ecu telling that it now has towing electrics fitted.
Have a look at this website & it will generally tell you which cars need that doing.
https://www.pfjones.co.uk/towbar-wiring-kits.html
FWIW my own car, 1986 Range Rover Classic, came with a towbar fitted & wired - 12N & 12S sockets. Despite LR making the harness with proper plug'n'play connectors whoever fitted it just ignored them & scotchlocked the wires into the various light wires. Right next to the sockets which they completely ignored.
I tow & it caused a number of problems until I just fitted the proper wiring kit.
I should add I'm NOT a fan of scotchlocks. Far too many issues with them over the years.
I do bodywork for a local used caravan dealer & it isn't THAT unusual for a customer to arrive to collect their new-to-them caravan & find the systems aren't compatible. Invariably the result of improper connection of the towing electrics to the vehicle.
Don't forget that the correct functioning of the 13 pin Euro socket now fitted as standard is part of the MOT.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-...
Edited by paintman on Thursday 22 July 09:55
Scrump said:
You can choose various types of towbar.
The traditional ball with two bolts which permits the fitting of a bolt on bike carrier or a swan neck which looks neater and takes a bike rack fitting which clamps around the ball. Swan neck fittings can be fixed, folding or removable.
I'm also thinking about getting one to carry a bike rack. Is there a preferred type for bike rack use only? It seems a little silly to me having a ball that's specifically designed to allow fittings to rotate on it, and then clamping something you want to remain fixed to it. Are there alternate fittings to a ball that work for bike racks?The traditional ball with two bolts which permits the fitting of a bolt on bike carrier or a swan neck which looks neater and takes a bike rack fitting which clamps around the ball. Swan neck fittings can be fixed, folding or removable.
Beware of people hacking up the loom.
On my Vectra I used the local main dealer who was only about £20 more than the towbar specialists. I thought it worth the extra as the car was only 8 months old and still under warranty. As it happened they can't have sealed the scuttle up properly as it leaked and filled the passenger footwell. Having only one group to deal with was certainly a lot easier as it was fixed quickly.
On my Audi I used a the trailer centre. They did a good job.
On my Talbot Express camper I went to a specialist as they had to design and make the carrier. It cost over a grand and they did a good job except for the electrics as I found last weekend. Scotch locks onto the lighting cable and almost all of the insulation tape had dropped off exposing them to road spray. Fortunately it's hardly been used in wet weather but what a mess. I did the wiring for my VW camper myself making breakout connectors for the tow bar which did not damage the original wiring in any way a far neater if more time consuming job. In the scheme of the bar it wouldn't have cost much more to do a proper job on the Talbot electrics and I would have cheerfully paid it.
On my Vectra I used the local main dealer who was only about £20 more than the towbar specialists. I thought it worth the extra as the car was only 8 months old and still under warranty. As it happened they can't have sealed the scuttle up properly as it leaked and filled the passenger footwell. Having only one group to deal with was certainly a lot easier as it was fixed quickly.
On my Audi I used a the trailer centre. They did a good job.
On my Talbot Express camper I went to a specialist as they had to design and make the carrier. It cost over a grand and they did a good job except for the electrics as I found last weekend. Scotch locks onto the lighting cable and almost all of the insulation tape had dropped off exposing them to road spray. Fortunately it's hardly been used in wet weather but what a mess. I did the wiring for my VW camper myself making breakout connectors for the tow bar which did not damage the original wiring in any way a far neater if more time consuming job. In the scheme of the bar it wouldn't have cost much more to do a proper job on the Talbot electrics and I would have cheerfully paid it.
Dog Star said:
Smitters said:
I'm thinking Mini Clubman, not misspelled Cayman. For a Cayman you can look at sucker mounted bike racks I should think.
No use for ebikes. And to be fair I’m not suckering anything to my bodywork. And yes, I can read “Clubman”.
2) I'm pleased you can read. Nothing in your post leads me to believe you'd done anything but misread Clubman.
In short, I'm so pleased I bothered to type something helpful. Nope, wait, I'm not. Wind it in eh?
Smitters said:
Dog Star said:
Smitters said:
I'm thinking Mini Clubman, not misspelled Cayman. For a Cayman you can look at sucker mounted bike racks I should think.
No use for ebikes. And to be fair I’m not suckering anything to my bodywork. And yes, I can read “Clubman”.
2) I'm pleased you can read. Nothing in your post leads me to believe you'd done anything but misread Clubman.
In short, I'm so pleased I bothered to type something helpful. Nope, wait, I'm not. Wind it in eh?
The only Clubman homologated for towing are the Cooper and D. The S (and I presume the Works) do not have homologation. Trident said that I had to sign a form and undertake to pass on said form to my subsequent buyer - I left a copy in the glovebox when I sold the car. The fitter said there was no difference between installing on the Cooper/D and the S other than half a fag packet of horizontal bumper plastic to cut out. Having a bike rack on a tow bar is not towing - towing is pulling something (normally on wheels) that touches the ground itself.
Thanks all...
Few questions...
1. Am i best if going for one of the nationwide people or the local independent? I have emailed TheTowbarMan (south) (thanks for the reccomendation) and also got quotes from Tow Bar Express (£577 for wastfalia swan neck) and PFJones (£418 Brink Swan neck)
which brings me on to..
2. Is there any difference between the brands of tow bar? There seems to be a big difference in price?
3. Im assuming 7 pin and universal wiring kit will be all I need, or am I better off going for the vehicle specific one? I don't need to actually tow anything, just attach a bike carrier.
Few questions...
1. Am i best if going for one of the nationwide people or the local independent? I have emailed TheTowbarMan (south) (thanks for the reccomendation) and also got quotes from Tow Bar Express (£577 for wastfalia swan neck) and PFJones (£418 Brink Swan neck)
which brings me on to..
2. Is there any difference between the brands of tow bar? There seems to be a big difference in price?
3. Im assuming 7 pin and universal wiring kit will be all I need, or am I better off going for the vehicle specific one? I don't need to actually tow anything, just attach a bike carrier.
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