A Guide to Fitting Tow Bars: Ease, Compatibility, and Troubleshooting

Introduction

Ease of tow bar fitting varys greatly between different vehicles, the level of difficulty depends on various factors such as the car make, model and year as well as the fitters skills, knowledge, and access to tools. However, for those who are comfortable working on their vehicles, the majority of tow bars can be easily installed. To provide personalized assistance, we recommend referring to the tow bar fitting instructions available on our website. Additionally, we have developed a comprehensive database of step-by-step fitting guides for your convenience. For further inquiries, please reach out to us at info@budettowbars.co.uk

Can I legally fit my own towbar?

In short yes. However, a towbar is a crtical safety item. If the towbar was to become loose or detached from your vehicle on the road the consequences could be catastrophic. So for the safety of all road users please follow the fitting and safety instruction supplied or have someone suitably competent fit the towbar for you.

Finding the Right Tow Bar for Your Vehicle: 

To ensure the compatibility of a tow bar with your car, it is crucial to have the following information at hand: make, model, and year. For vans, you may also need to determine the wheelbase, front or rear wheel drive and rear axle type. Incorrectly ordering tow bars commonly occurs due to model change over years. For instance, a 2019 Vauxhall Vivaro might fall into either the 2014-2019 range or the significantly different 2019 onwards model. This is further complicated as vehicle manufacturers are known to early and late register some models. Model years given therefore, can only be a guide. Identifying the precise model required will enable you to select the correct tow bar from the start.

Can I Determine the Suitable Tow Bar by Providing My Registration Number?

The answer is not always definitive. Unfortunately, there isn’t a foolproof registration-based tow bar checking database. This limitation arises from the aforementioned issue of model change over years, as well as the manufacturers’ registration practices. An example is the Citroen Berlingo, where the original model was said to have been registered until 2008, but instances of registrations as late as 2012 have been discovered. While providing your registration number can be helpful, we recommend visually comparing your vehicle to model year pictures for better accuracy.

What to Do If the Supplied Tow Bar Doesn’t Fit Your Vehicle:

Encountering an incompatible tow bar may have several causes, including:

  1. Selection of the wrong vehicle model: We advise cross-checking the fitting instructions provided with the kit. If your make, model, and year are not listed in the instructions, it is likely that you have chosen the wrong tow bar.
  2. Failure to read and understand the fitting instructions: If you require assistance in this regard, please contact us at info@budettowbars.co.uk.
  3. Missing or incorrect parts in the tow bar kit: It is advisable to compare the parts received against the parts list in the fitting instructions. Should you identify any discrepancies, kindly inform us at info@budettowbars.co.uk, and we will promptly provide the correct components.

Conclusion:

Fitting a tow bar can be a straightforward task for individuals who possess the necessary skills and regularly work on their vehicles. To simplify the process, we recommend consulting the tow bar fitting instructions available on our website. Additionally, we offer a growing database of fitting guides and are always ready to address any concerns or inquiries. Reach out to us at info@budettowbars.co.uk for further assistance.

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