When deciding on which towbar to purchase for your car, there are a few things to consider. To make sure your towing experience is as simple, safe and practical as can be, you need to consider various aspects. Here, we run through the tow bars available on the UK market, choosing the right one for you, and the consideration of your vehicle type and the need for vehicle specific wiring. First and foremost, you will need to establish the approximate weight of the load you will be towing.

Do I have the right car for the job?

It goes without saying that a small car or one with a small engine which does not harbour adequate power will struggle pulling any large trailers or caravans and, conversely, a small trailer with light contents simply does not require a large 4×4 vehicle to tow it. When you have decided upon size of the load you need to tow, the right choice of vehicle can be made a lot simpler.

Types of tow bar

There are three main types of tow bar available within the UK, and they are as follows:

Fixed flange ball tow bar: These are traditionally used in the UK for serious towing, and are considered an extremely cost effective option, allowing drivers to tow whilst simultaneously carrying cycles, and allow for total adjustment of towing height and additional accessories to be fitted.

Detachable swan neck tow bar: These tow bars, used throughout the rest of Europe, are a slimmer option than the flange bar, and can be used to carry cycles but not tow at the same time. They do, on the plus side, allow total unrestricted access to a vehicle’s boot.

Fixed swan neck tow bar: These tend to be used outside of the UK, and have the least flexible design as no additional accessories can be used with them. They are, however, compatible with AL-KO stabilisers; a factor accounting for their slightly higher price.

Do I need vehicle specific wiring?

Vehicle specific wiring allows a vehicle’s electrics to be used within a trailer or other vehicle being towed such as a caravan. Though not always necessary when towing, it does improve the practicality of the towing experience, as well as the safety and the sheer pleasantness of the drive. Many cars nowadays have electric systems that are able to recognise the connection of a trailer or caravan, so if you are looking to get a tow bar fitted and tow a vehicle on a regular basis, it may well be worth looking into getting a car with this technology.

Here at Towbar2u, we are proud to provide an expert tow bar fitting service to our customers and their vehicles across the country. For any further information on our service, or for any other enquiries into our range of services, simply get in touch with our friendly team of experts today and we’ll be more than happy to help.