Is this a tow bar?
A towbar is a towing device used to attach a trailer to a vehicle. With its help, uniform distribution of the load is achieved, and the safety of the transported cargo is ensured.
The device is divided into two types: American version and European. In the Russian Federation, the second type is most common. The towbar has a simple design consisting of a hook and a crossbar.
The cross member is fixed to the frame or body using a fastener. The hook, in turn, is attached to the beam. A correctly installed towbar will not spoil the appearance of the vehicle.
What is a towbar
A towbar is a special towing device (TCU) that is used for coupling and towing trailers.
Towbar on a car
TSUs are usually divided into two categories:
- American type;
- European type.
The last option is the most common among us. By its design, the European towbar consists of two main elements: a cross member and a ball assembly (hook). The cross member is mounted to the body or frame through a special mount. The ball joint is attached or fixed to the beam.
Functions
Many drivers claim that the towbar has only a protective function. They think that in the event of an accident, the device will take the entire impact from behind. From a logical point of view, this is a correct statement. However, worldwide it is illegal to travel with a towbar without a trailer. Why?
The fact is that if an accident occurs, the car will be damaged even more if the impact falls not on the bumper, but on the trailer hitch. Experts advise removing the tow bar to further protect your vehicle.
What functions does the tow bar perform? We found out that it is necessary for transporting goods. In addition, the device will definitely be needed by people who travel long distances by car. Additionally, the device is needed to tow another vehicle (cars, boats or snowmobiles). The main thing is that all of them do not exceed 3 tons.
Is it necessary?
As a rule, installing a towbar is relevant for those people who lead an active lifestyle. Thanks to this device, you can hitch up a “home on wheels” and go on a trip. But that is not all. Also, installing a towbar is relevant for summer residents who do not want to ruin their cars by carrying seedlings in the cabin or trunk. Those who are building a house also have to travel with a trailer. After all, it won’t be profitable to constantly hire a car, and you won’t always have the required amount of cargo. And the trailer allows you to transport exactly as much as you need.
Some car owners install a towbar as a protective function. In their opinion, in an accident the car will be damaged less than without a coupling device. However, it is not. The impact will not go to the bumper, but to the side members and other power elements of the body. Changing a bumper is much cheaper than removing the body geometry on a slipway. But crooked spars can cause many troubles. So, there will be severe wear of the rubber on one side. The car will constantly “look for the road” and “wiggle backwards”, which will have a detrimental effect on traffic safety. Therefore, connecting a tow bar for the purpose of a protective function is a very erroneous opinion.
Kinds
Having figured out what a tow bar is in a car, the driver needs to study its types and classification. Towing mechanisms are divided into 3 types:
Fixed - a welded device that is part of the bumper. This is an outdated version of the tow bar that does not require dismantling. The hook in this case is welded to the beam. This is a reliable device, but at the same time inconvenient. Most often they are installed on vehicles that do not require the use of trailer hitches.
Removable - a device that has a removable design. Such devices are most common today. For example, pickup trucks and SUVs are equipped with them from the factory. Such a towbar will be needed by drivers who are not always comfortable using a removable trailer.
Flange is a conditionally removable tow bar. It differs from the previous type in the type of hook attachment. Fastening is carried out using bolted connections, allowing them to withstand heavy loads. They are suitable for drivers who transport large items.
The most reliable tow bar of all the listed types is the last type. However, when choosing an attachment, you need to consider the trailer hitch points. They differ significantly on different machines.
Types of towbars
There are a very large number of drivers who naively believe that a towbar can protect the car from serious damage in a rear impact. In fact, this judgment is quite erroneous, because it is not for nothing that driving with a hitch without a trailer is prohibited in many countries. And everything is very simple, the tow bar is attached to fairly strong parts of the body, which creates all the conditions for causing more damage to the car. Therefore, all coupling devices are divided into the following types:
- End
- Welded
- Conditionally removable (meaning those that are installed with bolts)
- Removable (secured with a special lock)
The third option is the most common, so it is worth considering separately and in as much detail as possible . Almost any car from the factory has special mounts for installing such a towbar in the rear of the body. This type of coupling device is one of the most reliable and provides a completely permanent connection between the trailer and the vehicle.
But, despite all its advantages, it is still recommended to use it on machines in which the frame is the load-bearing part.
However, if we turn to safety precautions, the tow bar should be removable. Since it is quite difficult to dismantle and install a conditionally removable one. In addition, it is necessary to take into account that cars of different brands have completely different attachment points for coupling devices, which means they must be selected individually.
Any hitch must have a special socket, which is designed to connect the dimensions of the trailer, its turn signals and brake lights. Without these lights, operating the trailer is prohibited.
Classification
Towbars are divided not only into types, but also classified according to the type of ball. There are the following categories of trailer hitch:
"A" is a common type, the main feature of which is a removable ball.
“B” is a horizontal connection design. It is fixed with a central nut.
“C” is a structure that is mounted both horizontally and vertically.
"E" is an American variety with a removable ball.
"F" - intended for SUVs. The balls are attached in two different positions relative to the base.
“G” is a conditionally removable structure with a forged ball. Adjustment is possible if there are 6 bolts in the mounting structure.
“N” is a budget option of a non-removable type. Used on Russian-made cars.
“V” is a removable design that is not height adjustable. With the help of such a tow bar you can transport loads up to 2.5 tons.
“N” is a universal connection that has several modifications.
Each of the listed varieties has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some types of devices cannot be hidden because they are not removable. Others cannot be adjusted in height. Still others have a high cost. For example, on some domestic cars, in order to attach a trailer, you will have to install a welding device. In this case, the rear bumper may be damaged.
By construction method
Towbars are also distinguished according to this characteristic. Most often you can find elements with an “A” ball. The advantage is quick dismantling of the structure. You can remove the ball in a couple of minutes by unscrewing a few bolts and nuts. The mechanism is simple in design and reliable, but has certain limitations. The maximum load placed on it should not exceed 150 kilograms. Thus, the total weight of the trailer with cargo should be no more than one and a half tons.
The next type of design is the H-shaped towbar. What kind of mechanism is this? Externally, this towing device looks as shown in the picture above. This tow bar has no structural differences from the previous type. However, the mechanism is less reliable. Withstands the same loads - up to 150 kilograms.
There are also other types of towbars: F and G. Both types are very similar in both price and design. However, the first type has 2 positions relative to the base. This makes it possible to adjust the height of the structure’s fastening level.
The G towbar does not have this function. The exception is mechanisms that use 6 bolts for fastening. Where can you find such towbars? They are installed on large SUVs and light trucks, as they can withstand trailer loads of up to 3.5 tons. Less common is the V-type ball. It is cheaper than the two previous options, but is designed for a load of no more than 2.5 tons. There is also no possibility of adjusting the height of the position.
Towbar socket - what is it?
Trailers for passenger cars, as a rule, are equipped with different “lights” (turn signals, clearance lights, brake lights). To connect the trailer to the electrical network, you will need special sockets. Power passes through them to the side lights.
There are 7-pin and 13-pin sockets. The former are used to connect light trailers, and the latter are used to connect motorhomes. There are two ways to connect sockets to the on-board network: standard and universal.
The standard method involves the use of standard chains. The universal method involves working with the on-board electrical network. However, this method does not work in all machines. Sometimes the car’s electronics begin to act up, giving information about network overload. To correct the error, you will need a coordination block.
Any connection method does not imply anything complicated. The driver can perform all these actions independently.
Weight distribution features
When using a trailer, it is important not only to monitor the condition of the towbar, but also to be able to correctly distribute the load. The load at the front of the trailer should always be greater than at the rear. What is it for?
The fact is that if the weight distribution is incorrect, the center of gravity is lost. As a result, the car becomes uncontrollable when cornering. The contact patch of the rear tires is almost zero. Therefore, always load the front of the trailer more than the rear.
Production
Towbars are produced on the basis of three-dimensional models. Serial production begins only after testing the devices. In the process of creating the TSU, laser machines and shot blasting processing systems are used.
The highest quality and most reliable products are created in the following countries: Holland, Germany, USA and Poland. The quality of products is controlled at each production stage. As for Russian companies, in our country towbars are produced by DZK and Leader Plus.
The most expensive products are trailer hitches that can “hide” under the bumper. Unfortunately, they are installed only on American cars. The design of the bumpers makes it possible to “remove” the towbar, thanks to the presence of special fasteners.
