Fixed Flange or Detachable with Parking Centres
Hi, partner has just bought a Kia Sportage 2009 which has parking sensors. Been quoted £500 (ouch) for detachable towbar, opposed to £248 for fixed. I say the parking sensors can beep all they like LOL!! Any comments would be appreciated!! Thanks
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I actually prefer the fixed tow hitch as the previous detachable developed a bit of play and made a clunking noise if the caravan pitched on bumpy roads. Also you can fit a bike carrier between the two bar and tow ball. I don't mind the visual aspect on
a 4x4 and a permanently fixed to hitch does provide protection in car parks etc.0 -
Mine is push-button retractable on a BMW. Doesn't have any effect on parking sensors whether its out or in. Parking sensors do sound of course when you are reversing close to the van, prior to hitching up, you just have to ignore that.
Peter
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My disco has a fixed towbar with parking sensor and it makes no difference to it. Would agree that the fixed is better as Land Rover recently recalled my disco because the removable hitches were failing. Had the rear cross member replaced and a new fixed
towbar of charge. Not bad on a 9 year old vehicle.Dave
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Anyone got a fixed towbar with a vehicle that has parking sensors fitted ?
yes it makes no difference they don't go off because of the tow bar, the only time they go off when they shouldn't is in summer when it is hot , I suspect the crome bumper is expanding and nipping the sensors.
mine also have a button to turn them off for when you are towing.
Fixed tow bar is good for mounting a bike rack on.
I also use combined ball and pin type hitch so I have to use a fixed bar.
Also over the years I have had people run up the back of my motors and each time mine was ok due to the tow bar and their motors were damaged.
It also comes in handy when backing up near walls on the odd occassion the tow bar has touched , which has saved the body work.
I use my tow bar quite alot so having to keep putting it on when you need it would be a faff for me.
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Anyone got a fixed towbar with a vehicle that has parking sensors fitted ?
Yes I have a fixed tow ball/bar the advantage is if the tow ball needs replacing you can with a bolt on ball you should be able to switch your rear parking sensors off whilst towing
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This thread couldn't have come at a better time. I've just ordered a 2015 Mondeo which has the 'Active Parking Assist' system which I assume must rely on all sensors being working so that the system can work properly. My current Mondeo, (without Active Park
Assist), has a fixed towbar but I needed to have the two inboard rear sensors disabled as they picked up the towbar every time I put the car into reverse. This just left the two outer sensors working giving reduced protection.Only this morning, before I opened CT, I was discussing the probable need to have to spend a lot more money and have a detatchable towball. The alternative might be to unbolt and remove the towball whenever it is not in use and, whilst I'm quite capable
of doing this, it would be a bit of a faff. Any comments / thoughts about this 'problem' would be much appreciated.0 -
My Kuga ones don't get set off by my fixed towbar. I have mine turned off most of the time anyway as I find them irritating and of little help.
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This thread couldn't have come at a better time. I've just ordered a 2015 Mondeo which has the 'Active Parking Assist' system which I assume must rely on all sensors being working so that the system can work properly. My current Mondeo, (without Active Park Assist), has a fixed towbar but I needed to have the two inboard rear sensors disabled as they picked up the towbar every time I put the car into reverse. This just left the two outer sensors working giving reduced protection.
Only this morning, before I opened CT, I was discussing the probable need to have to spend a lot more money and have a detatchable towball. The alternative might be to unbolt and remove the towball whenever it is not in use and, whilst I'm quite capable of doing this, it would be a bit of a faff. Any comments / thoughts about this 'problem' would be much appreciated.
Write your comments here...can't the 2 inboard sensors be moved away from the tow hitch, perhaps use blanking plugs or 2 spare sensors to cover the holes. Just moved enough so they no longer pick up the tow hitch. It's what I did when fitting reversing sensors to my motorhome which has a fixed towball. This also applies to the OP, with their new Kia.
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regardless of sensors I'd pay for the detachable just so I didn't have to look at a load of steel work on the back of my car
Write your comments here...I find the metalwork on the back very re-assuring, no-one bumps you up the rear when parking.So many people drive foward until they bump, because they can't judge their vehicles length.
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I have rear sensors on my CX-5.
The detachable towbar does not activate the sensors, so i do not see how a fixed swan necked one would either.
You can put a dummy towball in place to check on your car, i would have gone for the fixed myself but at the time my fitter couldn't confirm that a fixed would be ok, so i took the easy expensive route.
With the car also being my first with rear sensors i was unaware that my car has a dash switch to turn them on or off.
I wouldn't buy another detachable myself its expensive and inconvenient. Ok it looks better with out one on show, but thats the only advantage IMO.
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regardless of sensors I'd pay for the detachable just so I didn't have to look at a load of steel work on the back of my car
Write your comments here...I find the metalwork on the back very re-assuring, no-one bumps you up the rear when parking.So many people drive foward until they bump, because they can't judge their vehicles length.
Write your comments here...Very true.
Having had two rear end shunts with a fixed bar both the cars where made unroadworthy due to their bumper and radiator being damaged, no damage to my car.
On a third occasion a woman ran into my rear on the A1 at speed in fast stop go traffic, i stopped she didn't. Her car was made undrivable, while mine continued on the road until booked in for a new rear panel.
With most minor shunts there has been no damage found on inspection.
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Until the car is connected to the 13 pin, parking sensors will act normally,whether or not the tow hitch is fitted. Once connected there is usually a trailer module with factory fit systems that cuts the activation of the parking sensors, and also the foglights
andbrake lights to avoid glare from bounce back.If you don't have such a module, then you can indeed switch the sensors off except that as soon as you select reverse again they will probably re-activate, which gets very annoying!
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Anyone got a fixed towbar with a vehicle that has parking sensors fitted ?
Write your comments here...My Kia Sorento has a fixed towbar and also a bumper protection plate and they don't affect the rear sensors. Also, even though my towbar is fixed/flange it looks very similar to a detachable because the cross member is behind
the bumper and therefor not visible.0 -
.... Also, even though my towbar is fixed/flange it looks very similar to a detachable because the cross member is behind the bumper and therefor not visible.
Doesn't look anything like my detachable then ...... you can't see my towbar
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I have a Kia Sportage with a fixed tow ball. I like to see people crack there shins on it when they walk behind. Doesn't trigger the sensors but if it did you can turn them off.
Write your comments here... dont seem to be able to find a switch anywhere. Its a 2009 XE model!!
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I have a Kia Sportage with a fixed tow ball. I like to see people crack there shins on it when they walk behind. Doesn't trigger the sensors but if it did you can turn them off.
Write your comments here... dont seem to be able to find a switch anywhere. Its a 2009 XE model!!
Do check the vehicle handbook as the sensors may automatically disconnect when towing electrics are connected.
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