Towbar For Is200

kevwatkins · October 30, 2013

I'm after a tow bar for the IS200 to pull a small caravan (I've posted in the wanted section so please get in touch if you have one that you no longer use) and I was wondering if anyone has fitted one before? If so, does anyone have any tips or advice about fitting one?

Thanks!

sjrainsford · November 1, 2013

I fitted one nearly 12 months ago. I bought this one from PF Jones.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Witter-Towbar-for-Lexus-IS200-Saloon-1999-2005-Flange-Tow-Bar-/271100180808?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item3f1ed47948

Good service, and not too difficult to fit if doing it yourself. It needs two mixed size holes drilling (which is a little tricky). The rest just uses existing fixings.

I didn't bother with caravan electrics even though I tow a caravan. Just use the standard lighting electrics. That side is also easy enough to fit too as you don't need a bypass relay.

What weight caravan will you be towing? The IS200 can do upto 1200kg if I remember correctly. It tows our 4 birth one that weighs about 1100kg fully loaded really well.

kevwatkins · November 1, 2013

That's great to hear, thanks. The weight of ours is the same, 1100kg fully laden, but we take minimal stuff and pack lightly so it should be fine. I'm going to set aside next weekend for fitting so fingers crossed no rain!

sjrainsford · November 5, 2013

Yes it's not too bad. Any other questions let me know. All of the wires are on the left hand side of the boot. You'll need to take off the wheel arch area covering. Then the vast majority of lighting wires are right below the left hand tail light. The fog light feed is further back in the loom going to the boot lid. Also whilst you're there, the bulb failure detection box is hidden above the wheel arch. It pays to disable this whilst you're at it, as the extra electrics mix it up.

I'm at work at the moment so can't remember which one, but you'll need to cut a cable or two going to it. You can't just unplug it.

The tow bar itself is just a number of bolts. You'll need to remove the exhaust back box for access too. In the boot itself there's some box section rails, these are drilled through then a larger hole drilled in the top bit only so a sleeve can be fitted through. The instructions are pretty good. If you were closer you could have popped over and had a nose at mine to see what you're up against.

kevwatkins · November 8, 2013

Brilliant, thanks for the advice. I'm going to give it a whirl tomorrow.

How can I find out which wires are required to be cut for the bulb failure warning light? I'm a little worried about this!

whiteman · November 10, 2013

I may have a detachable towbar up for sale soon as the car is going, let me know if your still after one

kevwatkins · November 10, 2013

Thanks Whiteman but I have already bought one and fitted it this weekend as I need it to tow the van this coming week.

@ sjrainsford - I didn't bother cutting the bulb failure lamp warning after and all is fine - I connected the caravan up to the electrics and there were no warning lights on the dash so I will leave as is.

To anyone else thinking of towing with the IS200, it pulls our caravan easily and with hardly any effort. The tow bar is relatively easy to fit too.

sjrainsford · November 12, 2013

Yes, they don't tow too bad at all really. Mine will sit at 60mph all day long with our 4 berth on the back.

The bulb failure may not cause you a problem. It starts to be a problem when you get bulbs go, for some reason after a replacement bulb is fitted it doesn't want to reset. Mine may have just failed.