Cost v aesthetics. A fixed will be at least £100 less than a detachable. There are also fairly rare incidents of detachable ones coming off due to not being correctly fitted. Saw it happen to a big caravan once when pulling away from a site. I tried not to laugh. Honest.
We have a detatchable, didn't expect it but it was fitted for us by the dealer when we bought the car new, we were quoted for a fixed towbar but the detatchable was the only one compatable (their error) so we got detatchable for the price of the fixed. Great no more bruised shins
------------- Barbara
I have a photographic memory....I just can't get the lens cap off
I`ve had both, and TBH would opt for a fixed one given the choice (and I don`t pay for them so the cost isn`t an issue).
I`m less likely to scuff the bumper hitching up as I have an SS plate fitted, anyone parking `by touch` gets a nice hole in the front of their car whilst leaving mine unscathed, and I don`t regard having a towball as any sort of `stigma`.
I still have a detachable fitted on the OH`s car (my previous company car and so my back-up tug), but its a pain getting it out of the boot, getting on my hands and knees to to remove the blanking plate which fits in the bracket then having to locate the thing before locking it. By the time I`ve jessied about doing that I could be hitched up and well down the road. (And I spent an hour last wek dismantling and cleaning the locking mechanism to stop it getting stiff and seizing).
It was a good bar (Bosal), and I really thought it was the way forward before I got it. Yes, they are more expensive, and as with many things caravan-related it seems, if you spend more money it just HAS to be better than a cheaper alternative
Its each to his own at the end of the day, as I say I have both, paid for neither, so make my judgement on practicality.
I agree with Angus, Fixed towbars are the way to go, stick a plate on it for hitching scrapes and save your bumper. Also one of the best rear parking sensors.
Also I have had the detachable one and if you take it out of the car, and leave it in your garage, then you suddenly need it to tow something and you have to go home first, and if you have it in your boot it bangs around a lot.
I am always impressed with cars that already have towbars!
If you have reversing sensors on the Focus you may find that the fitter won't fit any other than detachable just in case the fixed one sets off the sensors.
Having said that my last 3 cars have had sensors and none of them have been set off by the towbars.
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Topic: Fixed versus detachable towbar
