Tow Bar

[mystic]

Hi guys,

I'm in urgent need of a tow bar, could anyone advise me on the most afordable place i can get one for my rav4.2..

Im pretty new to the whole towing scene but new circumstances mean i need to learn real fast so is there anything i need to look out for?

Thanks

[redlew]

Well first of all do you need to pass a test? http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022521

Once over that hurdle, do you intend to fit it yourself or have it fitted?

If you use the search faciltiy you find quite a few threads -you may find that you need a detachable which means that once in place you won't be able to open the rear door more than six inches -complete pain.

Let us know how you get on .

[mystic]

I had no idea you had to do another test, thats a pain in the *****..

I will fit it myself, thanks for the advise, ill have a look around see what i come up with.

[DjRav]

It's all there in plain English;

Passing a test for category C+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E and also confers entitlement to subcategory C1 and C1+E and, if category D or subcategory D1 is held, these are upgraded to category D+E or subcategory D1+E. A test passed for category D+E upgrades category B and subcategory D1 to category B+E and subcategory D1+E respectively. But it does not upgrade category C or subcategory C1 entitlements because the trailer size required for a category D+E test is smaller than that required for a category C+E or subcategory C1+E test.

[Davrav]

It's all there in plain English;

Passing a test for category C+E upgrades category B entitlement to B+E and also confers entitlement to subcategory C1 and C1+E and, if category D or subcategory D1 is held, these are upgraded to category D+E or subcategory D1+E. A test passed for category D+E upgrades category B and subcategory D1 to category B+E and subcategory D1+E respectively. But it does not upgrade category C or subcategory C1 entitlements because the trailer size required for a category D+E test is smaller than that required for a category C+E or subcategory C1+E test.

Yeah, that makes perfect sense

[mystic]

I tried to understand some of the several hundred 'help' pages and it looks like you can tow anything up to 750kg unlaiden on a cat B licence (which i have) so that will save a lot of effort. Hated my test the first time wont be doing it again if i can help it .

[sniper9652]

Hi guys, I'm in urgent need of a tow bar, could anyone advise me on the most afordable place i can get one for my rav4.2.. Im pretty new to the whole towing scene but new circumstances mean i need to learn real fast so is there anything i need to look out for? Thanks

[sniper9652]

Hi guys, I'm in urgent need of a tow bar, could anyone advise me on the most afordable place i can get one for my rav4.2.. Im pretty new to the whole towing scene but new circumstances mean i need to learn real fast so is there anything i need to look out for? Thanks

Whatever you choose make sure its a 'Witter' tow bar! I have had one on every motor I've had over the years and they have proven to be the best! (for me anyway) Got one on my 4.2 now and its great! If you are not going to pull a caravan then I would just get 'single' electrics, it will also be a bit cheaper! These bars are quility and you 'get what you pay for'!

Steve

PS: You do not need to take a test! You will have B+E entitlement on your normal car... Cat B licence

[Hoovie]

...PS: You do not need to take a test! You will have B+E entitlement on your normal car... Cat B licence

Steve .... "Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain entitlement to category B+E and all larger vehicles"

Ref Towbars, Witter are good but I would look at the Brinks (now maybe badged as Thule) towbars for the RAV4. This is the one that Toyota OEM and rebadge themselves and are VERY simple to fit. I did mine in a relaxed 90 mins.

Brinks also do two types of detachable - one that fouls the rear door with the ball fitted, and another that is 20mm lower and allows the rear door to be opened even with the ball fitted (so same as a fixed bar in that respect) - MUCH more convenient!

[graham63]

I fitted a fixed Witter (£111 from atlas towbars with twin electrics) to my rav 4.2 fairly easy job, and the rear door still opens fully, only little problem I had were the 2 offside mounts being quite rusty, just had to re-tap them. I think the towbar with single electrics is about £96 ish, hope this helps, Graham.

[mystic]

Why would you need 2 electric ports? Surely you only need to plug the brake lights in so whats the other one for?

[Hoovie]

Why would you need 2 electric ports? Surely you only need to plug the brake lights in so whats the other one for?

It would be worth doing a bit of a google to find this out in full, but basically there are 2 different connections used in the UK - 12N and 12S (the europeans have moved to a 13 pin single connector to replace 12n + 12s) . One is used to continue the car rear lights onto the back of whatever you are towing - brake lights, indicators, etc, and is all you need for a trailer.

the other is used for a Caravan - charging the 'leisure battery', maybe powering the fridge, etc and I believe needs a direct (fused) connection to the car Battery.

[MarsKy]

Either get a 13-pin single electrics, which will do everything, but you may need 12N/ 12S adaptors for older trailers and caravans.

Or get single electrics 12N for trailers (for the lights) and single electrics 12S for caravans (if you plan to tow caravans and you want to power the fridge etc). But you may need an adaptor for more modern trailers and caravans which take the 13-pin.

And sadly you need to inform your insurance company of the modification. Fortunately I use Privilege, and there's no additional charge for towbars, but they still want to be notified.

Edit: Hoovie beat me to it. Don't know why it took so long for his post to appear though - I was on this thread at 1530 hrs.