Tow bar blues
Having just bought a gem of a CX-5 2,2D tow-car, I've now started looking for a good deal on tow-bars and I'm bewildered by the array of options available. Swan-neck would seem to be the way to avoid any interference with the reversing guidance system, but then there's a fixed or detachable option. Having looked closely at the Witter, I can see very little difference between the detachable version with a single hand-fixing knob and the "fixed" version which is attached by two bolts. To this bear of little brain it would take about 30 seconds longer to tighten two bolts with spanner and ratchet and it would surely be a lot more secure than anything that can be tightened by hand? The most attractive factor around this decision is that the two-bolt version is about £40 cheaper! Your thoughts please ladies and gentlemen.
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The detachable version with a knob does not have to be tightened by hand. The towbar is a sort of bayonet fitting and the knob only serves to release the towbar when detaching it. The advantage is that it does have a positive locking position and is not dependent on correct tightening of bolts.
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A detachable bar & a two bolt flange should be two completely different things. Witter though appear to do a 2 bolt flange that is detachable for those that might want to carry cycles on a towbar mounted cycle carrier, so unless you want to carry cycles on the towbar, I'd discount it. So you now have the options of a two bolt flange bar, or a swan neck or a swan neck that comes off. The detachable bit generally fit vertically into a receiver up/behind the bumper, the single 'handle' doesn't tighten anything, but is there to unlatch the bar when you want to remove it. If you go for a detachable (and who really wants to see a towbar on a car?) you should attach & detach as & when otherwise it'll seize in place. If you want to 'protect' the back your car, just fit the cheapest ... though I'd have a swan neck as a minimum, preferably detachable.
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I have a detachable tow bar and have had a fixed (12yrs) one in the past.
Having experienced the two types detachable wins by far. Having said that it depends on ones own mobility, kneeling down to put in place and also to remove it.
You just push it in and the locking device snaps in to place. There is a key also that secures the tow bar from possible theft. To remove it you just turn the knob at the right hand side and it pops out (fairly heavy). I have had this particular one for 3yrs now and would not go back to a fixed one. I kept banging my legs on the fixed one when I was not towing.
My make of tow bar is "Tow-Trust" (.co.uk) and like all tow bars you have to remove the paint from the ball before use.
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I once had a detachable and never took it off After 3 years I did try to unlock it but it wouldn’t unlock. Looking at a tow bar doesn’t bother me one bit. In fact once in France when driving solo I got rammed from the back at slow speed. I won he had a dent on the front and I had nothing. And yes I did check underneath.
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so (assuming you fitted it) you might as well have saved a few quid & bought a basic fixed tow bar. Anyway, I'd prefer to take the risk & have a detachable fitted, I hate the look of a towbar .... in 40 yrs of driving I can count the number of times someone has hit me from behind on one hand & have fingers left ... besides, if they hit you from behind, their insurance pays 🙄
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Hi Geof, If I tried to lift the box of tools that I used to carry in the car, it was no if but when it would go wrong, I would likely get a hernia.
If you are prepared to have to carry tools and fit and remove, and then accept the appearance, then you may as well save the money.
However, I chose fixed in the past due to cost and as that is not so much of an issue don’t want a bar spoiling the look of my car so would go for removable.
Two previous cars had factory fit drop down bars and I had a Tow Trust fitted to latest.
Price was, as ever, a factor but main criteria was no bumper cuts and, when removed, there are no signs of the fitting at all.
The TT website was useful as it lists all the bars for each car and if they require a bumper cut.
EDIT-Just had a quick look and there are detachable but prices are no longer listed.
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I negotiated the tow bar in with the price of the vehicle, started to walk when they said no. They changed their mind. I never asked for fixed or detachable they just put the detachable one on.
Trouble with insurance these days if some one hits your car and it Is their fault your your policy still goes up up next time round. You have had a claim and according to them you are more of a risk. This happened to my daughter. Maybe they expect you to not get in the way. She still kept her no claims discount. But as I say premium went up as because she had a claim she was more of a risk. Work that one out I can’t.
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What if the claimed you reversed into them?🤔
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Over the years, I have had several vehicles with different types of tow bars. I have never been concerned about their aesthetic appearance, believing that they are just an accessory. From a purely practical point of view, I would go for a swan neck. Yes, they are visible, but covers are available. They can be used spontaneously, eg, assisting others, require no maintenance, do not need effort to prepare for towing and do not interfere with integrated electronic systems. I have swan necks fitted currently to my XC90 and motorhome and I have received comments on how neat they look. They work well for me.
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There's pros and to both types
Fixed cons :- unacceptable appearance for some, periodically checking flange nuts are secure. Needs extended tow ball for stabilizer clearance.(not swan neck)
Fixed pros:- flange type gives easy access to electric/ brake cable connection, could be used in conjunction with bike rack if sufficient weight spec.
Detachable cons:- If left on can rust in place and be difficult to remove. Some have tricky access to electrics and brake safety cable. Some are actually a challenge to fit / remove. Keys can be lost! Have heard of detachable bit being stolen. Of course doesn't apply to electrically deployable or swing away design.
Detachable pros:- looks good when not towing. Can't think of anything else which annoys as I have got one!
In all cases check that the load / tow rating of the bar meets your needs. A car dealer once fitted a freeby detachable bar for me as part of the deal that didn't use all the recommended fixing points so the towing capacity was downrated by 20% or so. It was sufficient but always worried me.
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Can you see the towbar when you are driving the car!Are you able to kneel in the mud whilst it is pouring with rain attempting to fit the removable bit?Does parking by feel occur where you are parked?Are you rich enough not to worry about the extra cost of the removable bracket?Only you are able to answer these points.(just for the sake of correct description.........it is a towing bracket,not a towbar)
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£40 on a car that would be £30K new is not worth worrying about.
If you do not mind the look of a fixed then go that route.
If you think it looks ugly then get a removeable and a mat to kneel on.
Colin
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"Can you see the towbar when you are driving the car"
yes when using the rear view camera but as this is only functional whilst in reverse gear, do i care no, just have to be mindful that the tow ball is a sticky out bit at rear and does cause serious damage to metal garage doors, guilty as charged, could park a 56 seater coach to the inch without rear view camera but not my car
"When I had one I would remove it over winter and leave it on during our caravanning season"
for me that would mean it would be on the car some 7 or 8 months per year, might just not bother removing it
, would probably forget where I had stored it or loose the key.Nothing wrong with fixed, KIA garage fitted my fixed when i bought the car so for me apart from removing the plastic protection cap which stores neatly in the rear glove box so i dont forget where i have put it,
it has been plug and play, no problems.0 -
In the back too?🤔, wow that’s very cautious, do you encounter reckless drivers a lot🤷🏻♂️
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Go for the fixed swans neck - we had a detachable and having taken it off couldn’t get it back on so had to go back to the dealer for.them to do it! It never came off again!
Our CX5 2.2 purchased just before Christmas had its tow bar fitted at indespension - Mazda approved wiring so that it didn’t invalidate the warranty cost £480. Nearly £400 cheaper than the main agent.
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I got the dealer to fit a dashcam when i ordered my present car and it has cameras at the front and back which record simultaneously.
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Many thanks for all your tips/comments, particularly how the removeable bar is removed! After comments about theft or seizing on I think I'd go for the fixed version. The plan would be to fit the bar at the beginning of a trip and remove it on our return home, thus no tools would leave my garage or be carried on the trip itself. I don't have a problem with the looks of a permanent bar, but I do have a problem with repeatedly rapping my shins on the thing when loading/unloading the boot! I do have a very small garage and the extra 4-6 inches also comes in handy. The bar (or hook) and bolts would be cleaned and stored in the boot of the car when not in use. Next question, has anyone had any dealings with Tow-Fit in Bristol? Their price including fitting at our home is very good but I always prefer to hear a few recommendations! Thanks again for your feedback folks, this is a great way of checking these things out.
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This thread just highlights the inability of some to be able to bend down & twist a handle to release a towbar & find fault with something they can't manage.
I too have a factory retractable .... I just have to shove it with my foot to finish off engaging or disengaging.
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the extra 4-6 inches also comes in handy.
That is some size of tow ball! Even bigger than the NATO hitch I sometimes use for army trailers.
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This reminds of a funny story 15 years ago when I was on my way to the pub.
I was waiting at the traffic lights in third position behind two boy racers. The lights turned to green and Boy Racer 1 shot off, Boy Racer 2 also shot off but he had selected reverse by mistake. He smashed into the front of my car. My first response was to go to the car behind me and confirm with the girl driver that I hadn't moved. Returning to the front of my car, I saw that his car was almost written off with major damage to the back end. Looking at my car and fearing the worst I couldn't even see a scratch!
Renault Lagunas were well made in those days. It was later inspected by the garage and needed little repair.
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at risk of going right off subject, years ago I had a 1936 Austin 7 Ruby and a guy went into the back of me in a brand new Triumph 2000. The Triumph's plastic grill and headlights met the Ruby's sprung steel rear bumper, his radiator met his fan and his Triumph met the tow-truck man. Not a scratch on the Ruby!
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Talking of vehicles going into the rear raises to me an important aspect.
Many towbars replace the crash absorbing armature. Therefore, if that is the case here, I would not seek the sharpest budget deal on any available towbar, but go specifically for the one Mazda as a responsible maker would fit.
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