Estima Towbar

[drivinghome]

Have you had a towbar fitted to your Estima successfully? Any tips?

We've a 2016 Model Estima. So far I've approached a couple of companies and one has got back to me to say they can't do it. The other hasn't replied.

[Brenw]

My 2010 Estima came with one already installed from Japan. I can take pics if that helps any.

[Bper]

Hi Jim, 

While dealerships might not always be the most cost-effective option, they have access to genuine Toyota tow bars and technicians familiar with your car's specific configuration.

Inquire about the availability of tow bars for your Estima model and year, and get a quote for installation.😄

[Paulscarbs]

Have you tried Watling tow bars near London?

https://www.ntta.co.uk/directory/members/watling-engineers-ltd-847

[JohnGW]

Warning about Watling towbar. Poorly made, too narrow, off centre and crooked.  I cut mine up and made it fit whilst also made it a removable towbar.

 

[RUToyota]

I'm sure I read that Watling closed down last year.??

[JohnGW]

Cant say I am surprised, they didnt offer to help me with the bar they sent me, completely disinterested.

Hence I had to make the best of a bad job. Thankfully I am able to do this work but I could have saved the money and made the whole thing myself.

[Paulscarbs]

14 hours ago, JohnGW said:

Warning about Watling towbar. Poorly made, too narrow, off centre and crooked.  I cut mine up and made it fit whilst also made it a removable towbar.

 

Is the welding in the photo of yours what was handed to you from Watling?

[JohnGW]

No, I have to take the blame for the welding 🤣  although some were multipasses due to my good welder being elswhere I bought one from Lidl and it couldn't hold a decent consistant arc.  The short length of extra tube is to additionally brace where I had to cut the Watling bar because it was too narrow and in all honesty too low, its very tight on space due to the 3rd row of seats dropping into the floor. I only use it to tow my garden trailer not caravans etc.

[Paulscarbs]

Was the tow bar fitted low due to restricted space between your vehicle and the rear bumper?

I know, when I contacted Watling, and explained I didn’t have an Aeras but a G variant, that they recognised the different shaped bumpers and increased restrictions on mine.

Watling advised the tow bar would be lower due to this.

[JohnGW]

Yes I guess it was, however there is actually slightly more space above as it allowed me to add the additional brace over the cut area. If I was making from new I would have utilsed this but adapting Watling's means only about 5mm of clearance between the bar and bumper.  Doing that would also require slightly longer side plates to ensure correct tow bar height. I also used my old car's removable tow bar rather than the shin pain of a fixed one. 

[DavoedMcC]

On 3/1/2024 at 2:51 PM, drivinghome said:

Have you had a towbar fitted to your Estima successfully? Any tips?

We've a 2016 Model Estima. So far I've approached a couple of companies and one has got back to me to say they can't do it. The other hasn't replied.

Did you get anywhere with this? Just got a 2013 model and worrying I won't be able to get a towbar at all! Not handy when I want to tow my boat/bike trailer!

[drivinghome]

A local towbar fitting company to me uk-towbar.net , say they know an engineering company who have designs for an Estima towbar. I need to take the vehicle to them for assessment.

I’ve not tried my local Toyota dealership yet. They were not keen to service my vehicle so unsure if they’ll be up for towbar fitting but will check. 

[DavoedMcC]

On 3/10/2024 at 12:42 PM, drivinghome said:

A local towbar fitting company to me uk-towbar.net , say they know an engineering company who have designs for an Estima towbar. I need to take the vehicle to them for assessment.

I’ve not tried my local Toyota dealership yet. They were not keen to service my vehicle so unsure if they’ll be up for towbar fitting but will check. 

Thanks, would be grateful to know if you get anywhere.

[Paul john]

23 minutes ago, DavoedMcC said:

Thanks, would be grateful to know if you get anywhere.

These guys are in sheffield and say they can fit to the older models. It might be worth a quick phone call. 
 

https://towsure.com/collections/toyota-estima-towbars

 

 

[DavoedMcC]

15 minutes ago, Paul john said:

These guys are in sheffield and say they can fit to the older models. It might be worth a quick phone call. 
 

https://towsure.com/collections/toyota-estima-towbars

 

 

Thanks, I've dropped them an email just in case but their website only has ones for up to 2006.

[JohnGW]

A lot more room on the older models. Later ones where 3rd row of seats drop into the floor it is very tight on space. 

[DavoedMcC]

1 minute ago, JohnGW said:

A lot more room on the older models. Later ones where 3rd row of seats drop into the floor it is very tight on space. 

Yeah, and it doesn't seem to help that these models were never sold in the UK at all. Hoping I'll get something sorted somehow!

[drivinghome]

I spoke with the Toyota dealership. Was told that they are unable to look up towbar part numbers for imported vehicles and they are unable to import parts for them.
 

We would need to order the official Toyota tow-bar from abroad, but it would be unlikely the foreign Toyota dealership would be willing to post it to the UK.