What are Different Types of Tow Bars?

April 11, 2022

Tow Bars Explained in Detail

If you want to transport your quad bike safely to the desert for a spot of quad biking on the dunes or looking to take your boat for a weekend trip, you may require a trailer and a tow bar to hook the trailer to. It’s all good if you know exactly what you are doing and what kind of tow bar is suitable for that purpose. However, if you are not sure what kind of tow bars are available in the market and which tow bar is more suitable for the purpose that you intend to use. Partfinder UAE is here to help you out in this respect. We can help you find all types and shapes of tow bars in various qualities at remarkably low prices for tow bars. Following is a detailed view of what different types of tow bars are available and which tow bar is suitable for what purpose.

Different Types of Towbars

Tow bars come in an assortment of varying sizes, weights, and shapes and all of them serve different purposes in different ways. What kind of tow bar is suitable for your purpose depends upon what vehicle you drive, what is it that you would like to tow, and where you are planning on venturing? Following are the types of towbars available in the market.

Rear Step Towbar

The main beneficiary of the rear step towbar is the 4WD vehicles. Those towbars are better suited to SUVs or 4WD vehicles because they provide better ground clearance and can handle the load even on off-road surfaces. It is fitted on the rear steps of the vehicle and the only downside of this towbar is that it’s way too heavy and only suitable to 4WDs and Utes.

Flat Tongue Towbar

If the load that you intend to pull is light and agile then a flat tongue towbar is more suitable for this purpose. The flat tongue tow bar has a detachable tow ball that fits into a horizontal slot on the towbar. This ball is secured with two large bolts placed through the top of the hitch.

Horizontal Hitch Towbar

If you are carrying a heavier load then you may require a towbar that can handle extreme loads. The horizontal hitch towbar has a square tongue that connects to the trailer hitch. It is like the flat tongue towbar but way stronger. You can choose 40mm to handle medium-sized loads or 50mm which is for heavy-duty towing.

Swan Neck Towbar

If you travel to Europe then chances are that every second vehicle you notice would be supporting swan neck towbars. Swan Neck towbars are usually U-shaped or rounded L shape. Those towbars look like the neck of a swan hence the name. these are attached directly to the underside of your vehicle and are easy to use.

Detachable Towbars

Towbars usually come in two major types and then subcategories. Detachable towbars are the main type. The advantage of this towbar is that there is very minimal towbar is visible when it is detached and it can be detached very easily. This towbar can tow and carry cycles and trailer at the same time and it won’t trigger any parking sensors. These towbars are usually expensive and are not the most aesthetic.

Fixed Towbars

As the name suggests, these towbars are fixed and can not be detached from the vehicle. These are fitted permanently and are ready to use all the time. The only problem is that these are not compatible with a bumper shield.

Classes of Towbars

There are three main classes of towbars that reflect on the weight classes. It is dependent upon the type of towbar and how it is mounted to the vehicle.

Class Two

Class two is the lightest of the classes. The majority of them are rated up to 1200kg and are appropriate for towing small six-by-four-meter trailers, or single motorcycle trailers. Towbars of class two typically utilize a flat tongue hitch.

Class Three

Class three and four are for loads of medium weight and are usually capable of carrying up to 1500kg. They're suitable for towing multi-motorcycle trailers small boats, bigger trailers, and smaller automobiles. The class three model isn't as popular since most people prefer the class four model which is able to haul more weight for just a small increase in cost.

Class Four

Towbars of class four are typically used for heavy-duty towing since they are typically designed to handle as high as 3500kg. If you're towing an item that is large and heavy like an equine float, boat car trailer, caravan, or horse float it is necessary to use a towbar of class four. Hitches for weight distribution are compatible with this type of towbar.

How Do You Choose the Right Towbar?

The best way to know what towbar is most suitable for your vehicle is to consult the owner or car manufacturer’s manual. Your manufacturer can provide the best advice keeping the specifications and capability of the vehicle in check. An SUV would require a different towbar than what a family car is compatible with.

Choosing the right towbar is also dependent upon what kind of towing you require. If you are towing just lightweight stuff then you do not need to put a heavier class of towbar and put unnecessary weight on.

Make sure that you consider the following factors before you finalize the sale and installation of the towbar. Make sure that the towbar is built to the state or national design standards and complies with safety regulations. Ensure that the towbar you are installing on your vehicle does not void the warranty of your vehicle. Take a closer look at the towbar and see if it can affect the reversing sensors of your vehicle or not. Make sure that the additional spare of the towbar such as tongues, pin, and bolts are easily available in the market. Make sure that installing the towbar does not affect the ground clearance of your vehicle. We understand that there is so much to consider when you have to choose a new towbar. However, it is always better to make an informed decision instead of hurrying into a decision. Buying a towbar that is not compatible with your vehicle or one that is not appropriate with the towing load can cause complications.