Detachable tow bars replacement query
Hi.. I am new to this group and touring alike. I am yet to buy my first caravan and am currently trying to get my tow bar sorted before I start looking to purchase.
I have a 2006 Kia Sorrento which has a GDW detachable tow bar but unfortunately it did not come with the bar attachment. As I am unlikely to find the relevant bar attachment, my the main questions I have are below. If anyone could help me navigate this mine field I would be very appreciative and it would enable me to start the fun bit of looking at caravans 😁.
1. Are the tow attachments in any way universal? I'm guessing not.
2. Could I buy a replacement detachable socket and bar and fit to the existing frame?
I'll add some photos once I've reduced the file size enough to upload here. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Comments
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Some detachable bars are horizontal, others are vertical. I'd suggest OM4RCO's is/was horizontal
https://brink.eu/en-gb/about-brink-towbars/blog/detachable-towbars/
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I agree, it may be better to replace the whole thing. Personally, I'm not a fan of detachable tow bars - I would get it replaced with a permanent one. That's the first thing I did when we bought the Discovery. To have to keep attaching and detaching a tow ball is just one more little job!
David
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Thanks for all your prompt replies.. much appreciated. I could only find whole assembly's anyway so maybe I'll go with this or similar.. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F173811548771.
The electrics are already in place although in tested.
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Given that you do not know what has happened to the tow bar and cannot guarantee that there was damage at some time I would replace it. Assuming the electrics are working the cost should not be too steep.
Having said that get the towbar fitter to check if it has the additional wiring needed for your caravan as it may have been used for a trailer.
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Why not simply contact GDW, sending a photo and details of any identifying characters.
I have little doubt they will be able to identify what is needed and probably where you can obtain the required new fresh tow ball from.
https://www.gdwtowbars.com/en/our-catalog/tow-bars
If buying that is way more expensive than a total supply and refit from your local towbar installer then try e-bay for the bit identified. I suspect just buying the insert is going to be cheaper and less hassle.
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There will be (or there was when fitted) a type approval sticker on the rear of the beam. Find this and it should tell you the part number and hence the manufacturer. You need to lie down with head under car and look backwards.
Also, looking at your pic, there seems to be a logo on the cover cap, this may give you a clue.
To be honest it doesn't look like a standard receiver I have come across.
Without knowing the part number it would be far easier to get a new one fitted.
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This is the way I feel about detachable tow balls. Having had two cars with them fitted at new (my choice), one Brink and one Westfalia, I learned the disadvantages as opposed to the superiority of the 2 bolt flange ironwork. For those owners who keep their vehicles for several years, whether a detachable tow ball is removed or not when not needed, mating connections of the two components do eventually suffer wear and some degree of rusting. When the time for replacement of worn items becomes necessary, the significant high cost of new components compared to the comparatively economical changing of a flanged tow ball should be not be ignored.
Some car owners might be concerned about the looks of their vehicle, and remove the tow ball when it isn't needed (although the number of detachable tow balls which are left on permanently is quite surprising) - perhaps bothering to fiddle with the tow ball eventually gives way to fading obsession with the new toy.
For myself, my vehicle is my servant with a job to do. One of its chores is to pull our caravan, and towing equipment to do it has been chosen with the best safety arrangement in mind, which includes the economic option of fitting a new tow ball before any worrying signs of wear become obvious.
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I have kept my detachable towball for years now. Just change the Land Rover into which it is plugged.
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With both my detachable tow balls, even with the 'protective covers' for the sockets in place, water and dirt got in during bad weather, particularly when on M-ways. A light coating of oil or grease resulted in dirt ingress sticking to the surfaces and the need to thoroughly clean before attaching the tow ball. I finally solved that problem by stuffing the socket with an oily piece of cloth.
The fact is, some degree of wear does eventually occur, albeit very small and not easily detectable. I have read somewhere that a "slight rocking" of the tow ball in its socket is acceptable. But how slight? I never had this happen, and i would have been very concerned if I had. With the tow ball fitted, I used to grip the spherical end and forcefully try to feel any degree of 'play'.
When I see new cars fitted with fixed tow balls, I do wonder if any of the owners have reverted from detachable ones because of problems.
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It takes seconds to fit or remove (provided it's not rusted itself to the car due to being left attached)
