Rav4 D4d 2003 5 Door Towbar Hieght With A Caravan

[80andybrown80]

This saga started last year when I bought the Rav for pulling a new caravan. The Rav had a Boson fixed ball hitch already fitted. Although a good tow bar also allowing the rear door to open whilst fitted the tow height is just to low. So low the jockey wheel ground out all the time and the whole setup just looked dangerous. The caravan also sat very nose nose down (nose weight was correct). This towbar or any bar that clears the rear door when fitted will not be suitable for a caravan. I searched many web forums and this is a common problem for these vehicles.

Several people pointed me towards a tow bar made by Brink . This is the same tow bar Toyota apparently fit here in the UK (just re badged). It has a detachable swan neck which when fitted does not allow the rear door to open - but - now sits at the optimum height for towing a caravan. Before I could barely open the rear door when the caravan was hitched so this does not bother me at all. Now the van sits perfectly. Less weight is also transferred forward as the ride height is now correct. Another bonus for having this detachable tow bar is I do not whack my shin on the dam ball when loading shopping etc into the boot. As you can imagine its dam sore !

It did take me a while to find the information and correct tow bar to be fitted so I thought I would share it for others in a similar situation.

PS A firm called N.I Towbars, Dundonald Belfast supplied and fitted this for me. I would recommend them highly if you live in N Ireland.

Regards

Andy

No more worries

[Hoovie]

FYI...

Brink do two styles of this detachable tow bar

1) version that DOES NOT clear the rear door when fitted - this is the one mentioned in the post above and the one the Toyota fit as the rebadged version (I think)

2) version that DOES clear the rear door (it is 20mm lower) and is the one that I have fitted, as it happens. This one is right on the borderline of towbar minumum height.

[bothwell_buyer]

Ah'll post up picturs of ma LR wi an infinitely adjustable height towbar. If the tow hook is too high, ye jist pit some mair air in the tyres!

[hexpert]

This saga started last year when I bought the Rav for pulling a new caravan. The Rav had a Boson fixed ball hitch already fitted. Although a good tow bar also allowing the rear door to open whilst fitted the tow height is just to low. So low the jockey wheel ground out all the time and the whole setup just looked dangerous. The caravan also sat very nose nose down (nose weight was correct). This towbar or any bar that clears the rear door when fitted will not be suitable for a caravan. I searched many web forums and this is a common problem for these vehicles.

Several people pointed me towards a tow bar made by Brink . This is the same tow bar Toyota apparently fit here in the UK (just re badged). It has a detachable swan neck which when fitted does not allow the rear door to open - but - now sits at the optimum height for towing a caravan. Before I could barely open the rear door when the caravan was hitched so this does not bother me at all. Now the van sits perfectly. Less weight is also transferred forward as the ride height is now correct. Another bonus for having this detachable tow bar is I do not whack my shin on the dam ball when loading shopping etc into the boot. As you can imagine its dam sore !

It did take me a while to find the information and correct tow bar to be fitted so I thought I would share it for others in a similar situation.

PS A firm called N.I Towbars, Dundonald Belfast supplied and fitted this for me. I would recommend them highly if you live in N Ireland.

Regards

Andy

No more worries

TowbarsNI fit the towbars for many dealers who then add their own markup, for doing b***** all.

Bought a trailer from them at the beginning of April, best thing I ever did. They really know their stuff, plus they're a family (local) firm. I've been recommending them ever since I first visited. In fact so helpful we only went to look at the trailers and bought it there and then.

BTW avoid Indespension in Mallusk, they're as helpful as sunscreen in a blizzard, AND far too expensive for their stuff.