Towbar Buyers Guide

Need a towbar but not sure where to start?  The Towbar Guy Buyer’s Guide has you covered!  Covering the different types and uses, components, electrics, wiring and maintenance, this guide and FAQs will set you right!

What’s going on the towbar?

What type of towbar you need starts with what you want to tow.  The most common uses and their key considerations are covered below.

IMPORTANT:  Many vehicles are only intended to tow light trailers and will be unsafe for heavy use.  Each model of car has specific height and weight towing specifications that need to be checked.

Parts of a towbar

From the ball to the hitch, knowing about each part that makes up the towbar will help you to make the best decision about which towbar is best suited for your needs!

Tongue

The tongue refers to the piece protruding out with the towball on it.  These come in varying styles. eg fixed, bolt-on, removable as shown below.

Towbar types

The types of towbars each have different purposes and functions that allow for a personalised towing experience. This ensures that the customer can maximise the benefits of their towbar for the type of towing they plan to do. Each brand of car also has a specific type of towbar that works best. Check out our extensive list of towbars here. 

Fixed/Bolt on Tongue towbar

Fixed tongue towbars refer to the type of towbar that has a tongue that can not be removed.  A bolt-on tongue towbar has a tongue that is bolted on.  There are two large bolts that come up from underneath to secure the tongue in place.  It can be removed but only for maintenance purposes or to replace if damaged. Typically these are cheaper options, a fixed tongue towbar allows you to tow whenever and wherever you need, with a simple design and less day-to-day maintenance and hassle.

Removable tongue towbar

Removable tongue towbars consist of the square tongue that fits into a square receiver which is attached to your vehicle. Many removable tongues come with the option for rising or dropping the height to accommodate different heights of cars and trailers, ensuring level towing. 

A removable tongue towbar allows the tongue to be removed for convenience when not towing.  Great for fitting your vehicle into a tight garage space and to save your shins!

Removable Tongue - How to adjust anti-rattle bolt and remove the tongue

Towing capacity and downward force

Towing capacity and downward force are terms you will hear often when referring to safety components you must consider when purchasing the right towbar for you! We will explain what each of them means and why it is important to know this information when buying the correct towbar. 

Towing Capacity

Vehicle towing capacity is set by the manufacturer and defines the maximum weight your vehicle can safely tow.

Why is it important?

It is important to have the correct towing capacity to ensure the safety of you and others around you. Overloading the vehicle beyond its towing capacity can also compromise the vehicle's body, brakes, chassis, wheels and engine.

Downward Force

Downward force is the amount of weight or force exerted on the towball of the towbar by the attached trailer or bike rack.  Downward force can also be referred to as tongue loading, vertical load, and downward load. 

Why is it important?

Carrying too much weight on the tow ball can damage the towbar and vehicle chassis, overload the rear tires of your vehicle and push the rear end of the vehicle around, causing safety issues for yourself and others around you. Conversely, if you don't have enough weight on the towball, the trailer may be prone to swaying from side to side, making it difficult to control.

Braked and unbraked weight

Braked and unbraked weight are another component of towing capacity depending if the trailer unit has its own brakes.

Braked weight is the maximum weight of a trailer, caravan, boat trailer or horsebox that has its own brakes. 

Unbraked weight is the maximum your vehicle can tow if your trailer has no brakes. This means it is the maximum weight of a trailer, caravan, boat trailer or horsebox that is not capable of braking independently. 

Most vehicle manufacturers have tow ratings specifying the gross trailer weight (braked, unbraked or both) the vehicle can safely tow. Although the law does not require these tow ratings to be followed, NZTA recommends that they be taken into account.

In addition, the law requires that every light vehicle and trailer combination must be capable of stopping within a distance of 7 metres from a speed of 30km/h.  In effect, this means the maximum allowable weight of an unbraked trailer is limited by the weight and braking ability of the vehicle being used to tow it.

As a guide, NZTA recommends that the laden weight of an unbraked trailer should not exceed three quarters of the laden weight of the towing vehicle - and then only if the towing vehicle’s brakes and tyres are in excellent condition.

Towbar electrics

Trailer wiring connection is used to power the indicators, brake and taillights on the trailer. In New Zealand the standard connection is the flat 7 pin plug, although we can order adaptors for the older round plugs if needed. When ordering your towbar there will be different options depending on vehicle model.

The towbar wiring will include indicators, brake and tail lights as standard.  If you require reverse lights or any other option not included please ask when booking to see if we can assist.

Options:

Towbar maintenance

Towbar maintenance is essential to keeping your towbar functioning properly for as long as possible. Varying based on usage and weight, towbars are expected to last for around 100,000 kilometres. 

Towbar wear and tear

Like any piece of metal that is frequently used, wear and tear can occur. However, a towbar that is out of level, or has been holding excessive weight above its designated weight class will wear significantly faster than others. Similarly, rough roads will accelerate wear due to the constant bouncing and pressure applied. 

To prevent wear on towbars, we recommend cleaning and freeing any debris that get caught in the towbar. 

Rust resistance

Rust is a large safety concern for towbars because corrosion can occur, making the product weaker. Water is the number one cause of rust. However, even with rust resistant products, moisture can build. Hitch covers, ball mount covers, and ball grease will all slow the rusting process and make your towbar last longer. 

Routine maintenance

Maintenance for each part of your towbar will keep it functioning better for longer and prevent any wear. 

Hitches

Routinely look for any visible scratches, dents, or dings. Since hitches are bolted to the bottom of the vehicle, damage can leave the metal on the car vulnerable to the weather. Bare metal rusts very quickly and should be dealt with immediately. Any rust should be sanded down and repainted to prevent the spread of more. 

Placing hitch covers on after each use will also keep debris and moisture out of the main areas and prevent wear. 

Towballs

Ball grease and ball covers should be used frequently to protect the towbar from the elements. Ball grease prevents rust and oxidation, reduces friction, and repels moisture. This can be used each time you tow to keep your towball in great shape. Ball covers should also be used when the towball is not being used. Proper storage will reduce the risk of rust and keep the towball newer, longer. 

Removable Tongues

Routinely remove the removable tongue from the hitch receiver to reduce the potential for moisture to build inside the receiver tube. Tongue bags can be kept inside the vehicle so that you can remove them each time after use and keep them in a dry place. Routinely checking inside of your receiver tube is also a great way to catch any rust formations early on. 

Warranty, safety, and insurance

The largest question we get from customers looking to install a towbar is if it will void their existing warranty and insurance coverage. We will reveal the facts that are universal across dealerships and the policies put forth by NZTA and insurance companies regarding towbar installation. 

Warranties

Simply put, a car fitted with a new towbar, will not void an existing warranty. Many people with new cars are concerned that if they have their towbar fitted by an independent installer rather than the dealer that their car warranty may be invalidated, but this is not the case.

Safety

The reality is that towbar fitting is so specialised that very few dealers, and even fewer individuals actually undertake the job themselves. A towbar is guaranteed to be fitted following all safety precautions when an independent company trained to do so, performs the job. Our technicians do countless installations on various vehicles, ensuring that customers and others on the road can rest assured that all parties are safe. 

Insurance

The largest insurance questions we receive when fitting customers with a new towbar are listed below and have been answered by experts. 

DO I NEED TO LET MY INSURANCE COMPANY KNOW IF I HAVE A TOWBAR FITTED?

Yes. A towbar counts as a modification to your vehicle in that it will differ from the manufacturer’s factory specification once fitted. Any modifications to your vehicle can affect your insurance policy, which means you will need to inform your company if you are planning on having a towbar so they can adjust your policy details accordingly.

WHY DO I NEED TO INFORM MY INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT MY TOWBAR?

Car modifications can affect how your insurance premium is assessed in terms of risk of accident, and any risk of theft. Having a towbar fitted means you can tow other vehicles, caravans, and even boats, which could increase the risk of accident on your policy. For this reason you need to inform your insurance company to ensure you are assessed correctly with the level of risk your vehicle presents.

Laws and regulations

The main concerns with laws and regulations regarding towbar fitting and installation are WoFs and NZTA legislation. We have outlined both regulations below: 

• WoFs - In order to pass a WoF with a new towbar fitted you must follow all the safety regulations put in place by NZ Transport Agency. A common reason people get rejected and fail their WoF with a new towbar are not having the towbar securely and professionally attached. Other reasons can be found on the NZTA website here. 
• Legislation - NZTA also provides a summary of the legislation surrounding different vehicles that have been fitted with towbars and the mandatory requirements that must be upheld. We follow each of these guidelines when installing towbars. 

Contact us today!

If you have any questions about our towbar buyers guide, contact us and one of our team will be happy to help. You can also look up your vehicle make and model on our website or  request a quote, to get an idea of what the cost for your towbar will be.