I would love some advice about swapping my fixed towbar on my 54 plate Toyota Rav4 to a detachable. Anyone out there that has got a detachable fitted and if so how high does it sit and how does it tow your caravan ?????
In my opinion i would stick with the fixed towbar ,I used to have a detachable towbar on my last car and found it to be slightly high for towing also found when the towbar was off the car, road dirt used to clog the socket for the towball thus making it difficult to get the towball in if not used for a few weeks. It was not a cheap tow bar it was a Brink at nearly £400 fitted. Now changed my tow vehicle and had a good old fashioned towbar with alko towball fitted ,cant go wrong.
I'm lucky I guess have a completely unpractical towcar, as it is quite low to the ground my brinkmatic classic detachable system tows quite low.
It's my first towbar so can't compare it to a fixed system, but you are right it was not cheap, just over £400 fitted, and as I have bodykit styling they had to cut into the bumper but it does look quite neat when the towbar is detached, although the plastic bung does look a little cheap and nasty and does not keep the slot dry as snoopdog mentions.
I've got a detachable towbar on my Suzuki Vitara. A Witter, £425 fitted incl twin electrics. Needed this type because fixed ball would obstruct number plate (ilegal!).
Also didn't want to bang my shin every time I went to the back door. Plastic cover ovr socket clips on and seems to work well. Height is well within requirements.
Have a look at the Witter website and you should find full details. I don't know what make you have, but I beleive some fixed bars can also modify to accept removable ball hitch.
My problem is that my fixed towbar sits so low on the Rav that it is really difficult to hook our caravan up to.
Also when travelling over bumpy surfaces etc the jockey wheel can actually get grounded as it sits so low. The detachable is a compromise really so the towbar will be a bit higher.
Unfortunately the design of the back door of the Rav means that the fixed towbar sits too low, it's ok for towing a trailer but not good with the caravan.
That said though it tows our Bailey Ranger beautifully.
I fitted my towbar, a witter. Cost me £105. How many of you can see the towbar whilst driving?
Good point Dorset Belle. I have notived a couple of broken number plates at the back of my car in the past, but never any damage to my car. People seem to be more careful whilst parking against a car with a towbar. It takes a lot more than a little shunt to bend a towbar.
------------- Reality is an illusion created by lack of alcohol!!
I've had a detachable bar on my 05 Passat. Had no problems but I am only thinking about parking sensors. Seen some on ebay cheap enough but do I need them?. Now parking senors with a camera that sounds good, so I can understand what my wife means when I am reversing onto the van. Just how much is "left a bit".
We have reversing sensors on my wife's ford focus and my dad has the factory ones on his car, the camera runs rings round both, the sensors are OK but you can't beat actually seeing the rear.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Buying a towbar
