Advice on fitting a towbar

[sproutdreamer]

I need to fit a towbar to use a trailer for a couple of month so not a long term thing. I was looking at a number of towbars on eBay and the fitting details seemed very varied. Some demanded a bumper cut, some bumper removal and some no cut or removal. Some towbars seemed to require the silencer removal and others seemed to have several brackets.

Any wise words about a minimum effort installation.

[sproutdreamer]

I could really do with some advice here.

Some bars seem to have just 2 holes each side for mounting bolts through to the bar brackets, others seem to have extra brackets and then there is the silencer issue.

[Heidfirst]

would the Toyota fitting instructions for the OE help?

go to http://www.toyota-tech.eu/Aim/Aim.aspx?pubtype=AIM&menuitem=2

In the search boxes tick Out of Production, put in Avensis, 2006/04 MMC Gen 2, Installation Manual & Towing Hitch or Towing Hitch wiring.

 

[sproutdreamer]

Thanks Heid...

The fitting guide is a bit incomprehensible and mostly in multi languages but not english.

I have ordered a towbar and am wondering how long it will take me to fit it as there is a good trailer for sale near to me. There are rubber grommets in the boot floori I assume these are for towbar fitting so no need to drill holes?

[sproutdreamer]

I made a start and fitted the nearside bracket. I was pleased to see that two of the 3 bolt fixings use the two threaded holes left after removing the tow loop bracket. The other bolt hole was just a 12mm drill up through an existing hole in the box section and through the top of the box section. I was also pleased I went for a curved towbar which tucks up neatly behind the return curve of the bumper and does not need the bumper off or a bumper cut, the swan neck towball curving up nicely. The driver side needs the rear silencer box off to access the right hand side box section so I have dosed the flange bolts with plusgas and saved that side for another day. Now to find a trailer!

[Heidfirst]

On 8/30/2021 at 2:17 PM, sproutdreamer said:

There are rubber grommets in the boot floori I assume these are for towbar fitting so no need to drill holes?

tbh I think that they are there for drainage.

[sproutdreamer]

I assumed that the two rubber caps were for towbar fitting but not so, they are in different positions altogether and towbar bolting is in a standard position for all bars. Still the third hole is pre-drilled in the bottom of the box section and just need to drill through this hole and up through the top of the box section. There is a tube spacer supplioed to avoid squashing the box section by the third bolt.