You will require electrics regardless of what your towing, as the law states you have to have lights on the rear most point of your vehicle. Please visit our informative guide on the different types of electrical sockets available depending on your need by clicking here.

As vehicle have become more complex and contain more safety related systems so have the electrics. A dedicated wiring loom takes full advantage of all of the safety features incorporated into the vehicle. When towing with a dedicated wiring loom the vehicle knows what’s happening at every step of the way. We recommend fitting a dedicated loom to vehicles purchased within the last 5 years. However, you can still fit a standard universal wiring loom to the vehicle but you won’t be able to take advantage of the safety features built into the vehicle.

For a more detailed guide on the advantages of a dedicated wiring loom please visit here.

Unfortunately certain models do require a bumper cut, each bumper is different so the cut size will vary depending on the vehicle model. Some vehicles do not require a bumper cut.

Certain vehicle manufacturers such as Audi and Volkswagen have rear lower valances you replace so no cut is required.

For more information on whether your vehicle requires a cut please contact us.

Parking sensors and reversing cameras have become the norm for most cars, however in the event you wish to tow the parking sensors may detect the towbar. Certain vehicle manufacturers such as Mercedes and Audi have a setting built into the parking sensors module where it automatically allows a 2-5cm clearance. The reversing camera will not be affected by the installation of a towbar.

As a general rule of thumb if the two central parking sensors are a number plates width apart than they shouldn’t detect the towbar.

 

Every vehicle manufacturer has to give a maximum towing limit. This can be found in the vehicle handbook and also on the chassis plate, usually found under the bonnet.

The information can be presented in a variety of ways. The clearest is when the plate gives the towing limits for both braked and unbraked trailers.

Sometimes the car’s Gross Train Weight (GTW) is given. This is the combination of the car’s Maximum Permitted weight (MPW) sometimes called Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and the trailers Gross Trailer Weight. To get the towing limit simply deduct the MPW from the GTW. It is an offence to exceed the car’s towing limit.

The VIN plate will display either 3 or 4 sets of weights, it is these weights that DVSA or the other vehicle authorities use to determine whether your vehicle is towing or being driven within the law.

 

• The top figure ‘A’ is the gross vehicle weight, the Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) of the vehicle including occupants, fuel and payload.
• The second figure ‘B’ is the gross train weight, this is the combined maximum allowable mass of the vehicle and trailer.
• The third and fourth figures ‘C’ and ‘D’ are maximum axle loads front and rear respectively.

 

The manufacturer’s recommended maximum towing capacity for your vehicle is the gross vehicle weight subtracted from gross train weight. (4200kg – 2505kg = 1695Kg)

Note: Certain performance, hybrid and city-car models or similar variants of standard models are not homologated to tow, this means that the vehicle manufacturer has deemed that the model is unsuitable for use as a tow vehicle. With this type of vehicle, the towing capacity will equate to zero or a gross train weight will not be displayed.

For a towbar to be fitted to your vehicle it usually takes around 2-3 hours. Some vehicles are quicker than others as certain models require the bumper to removed along with the internal boot trim.

All towbar installations and work is carried out at our premises in Hersden which is just outside of Canterbury, unfortunately we are not mobile.

On any bookings we take a 50% non-refundable deposit to order parts in for your towbar installation as the towbar is designed to fit your model of vehicle. There are 1000’s of vehicle models each having their own towbar designed for that vehicle, some are more popular than others. In the past we have never taken a deposit, but as a result of having ordered parts and customers not showing up for an appointment they’ve booked, we’ve been left with some very obscure towbars for vehicles we see once in a blue moon.

We do keep a good range of towbars in stock for vehicles we do on a daily basis.