There’s more to towbars than you might think. John Sootheran answers the questions you didn’t know you needed to ask!
1 What is a towbar?
The towbar forms a vital link between your tow car and your caravan or trailer. It provides a pivoting, secure metal-on-metal connection through the towball, but also includes an electrical link via the caravan’s towing cable, in effect, making the tow car and the caravan one fully integrated unit.
A standard towbar has a 50mm diameter steel towball (a size conceived by towing gurus, Al-Ko). This is securely connected to the chassis of your vehicle by a strong steel structure, capable of withstanding the rigours of pulling two tonnes of caravan along bumpy British roads.
2 Are towballs a standard size?
In the UK and Europe, towballs are standardised at 50mm diameter. Variety in towbar design comes in the way that they are fixed to the vehicle, and, to some degree, in the electrical connection.
In the US, imperial-sized towballs of various diameters are used, depending on the load being carried.
Towbars that are fitted in the UK must adhere to ISO 1102 and BS AU 113. This specifies the dimensions and the location of the towball, ensuring a safe tow.
In the EU, towbars are required to be type-approved by EU Directive 94/20/EC.
3 What kind of towbar should I choose?
There are several different types of towbar design and functionality to choose from.
Flange towbar
These basic towbars are usually permanently fixed to the towing vehicle, with the electric socket alongside. Their simple design makes them easy to use and relatively cheap to fit, but as they are a permanent fixture, some caravanners find them unsightly.
Usually, the towball is fixed to the towbar frame and chassis with two large bolts, meaning it can be removed and replaced with, say, a bike rack, when necessary.
Often, fitting a flange-style towbar means the rear bumper has to be cut or modified.
Some flange towballs are fixed to the tow car via a drop-plate. This steel adapter allows the height of the towball to be adjusted to two or more heights. These additions are a little ‘agricultural’ and are most often seen on pick-ups, vans and working vehicles.
When using a towing vehicle with a high stance, the drop-plate can be used to ensure that the caravan is towed at the correct (slightly nose-down) angle.
Swan-neck towbar
Swan-neck towbars feature a long steel shaft that curves out from under t
