Fitting A Tow Bar-Can Someone Help Pls

[leksa250]

hi guys!

I am going to fit tow bar I just don't know which one make and model is the best.Can someone help please and advice?

thanks in advance

[Duncan Roberts]

There has been the odd thread on this but suggest you would be better visiting a tow bar specialist or a Lexus dealer for advice.

[steve2006]

I'll offer the same advice as above, gone are the days where a Black and Decker and a few basic tools were all you needed to fit a towbar yourself.It's now a bumper off job and possibly exhausts and other things to fit one and then the electrical wiring is not simply a matter of some Scotchlocks into the existing loom it needs an interface plus towbars are now part of the MOT.

Only advice I will offer is go for a detachable one, they look so much better when not being used.

All major towbar manufacturers like Witter offer a fitting service.

[CHUNKY CHIP]

witter we fitted for many years and the really thing toyota wise.....

Also with the right supplier and the product it will fit.,....

i have seen in the past bars from some suppliers that have been made but not to spec holes not quite in line etc etc this just adds hours of fitting and frustration to the job.

Bumpers most come off and many need to be cut to fit over the bar or some part of it,.,,

I would get the pros to fit it (unless you really want to fit it)and all is guranteed then when you tow should anything become a problem...

PS make sure you get the bar retorqued after the first run of towing (not many people know or get this done) yes they do come loose after time also

Also make sure the tow ball is suitable and of correct size for what you are towing....ball and pin or std ball just make sure the ball size is the same as your trailer or caravan etc ,.....

May appear expensive to have a dealer or specialist company do it eg witter dealer or lexus but in the long term for piece of mind and quality of products have it done this way better than an issue while towing.

[mcleish]

Google Towbarman, they should cover your area. They fitted a single flange Witter for £350, add about another £100 for a detachable towbar, bumper needs to be cut and also has to come off, these guys do nothing but towbars and do it in about 90 mins. Very good job and they come to you.

[leksa250]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280747186156?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

This is sort of tow bar I am after..perhaps bumper doesn't need to be cut as you can see from pics...What's up with this 7 pin or 13 pin socket?Which one do I need?Which one is most popular and if I fit 7 pin socket is it easy to convert it later on ?cheers

[EMDG]

From your question about sockets you obviously are not up to doing the job yourself as connecting the towbar wiring to the wrong car wiring could blow circuits within the cars electronics. If you're only ever going to tow a simple trailer or horse box a 7 pin black coloured socket is sufficient for supplying the tail and brake lights. If a caravan is being towed you need the additional white socket to suply the caravan fridge/battery while towing, this wiring has relays fitted within the car to prevent reverse current being drawn from the caravan Battery to the car Battery. The 13 pin socket is a new (German) idea which amalgamates all the connections into one socket. All caravans since about 2010 will have them, older ones wont. Fitting a towbar needs to be done by a qualified fitter nowadays, its not the mechanical side of the job, its the electronics. At least, if a fitter gets it wrong, his firm has to fix it at their cost

[Brian D]

Hi, I had a towbar fitted when I got my RX400h about 2 years ago. The local auto electrician fitted me a Westfalia detatchable with a thirteen pin plug and all necessary relays etc. Although the website said that the bumper had to be cut he managed it fine without any cuts at all. The socket just swings sideways and sits completly behind the bumper when not in use. Local Lexus dealed wanted £1000+ for the job the eletrician did it all for £650 well pleased. By the way the car tows like a dream. Bri

[steve2006]

Also bear in mind all towbars must be type approved and the electrics are now subject to MOT testing on the new 13 pin sockets or visual on the older type.

[andy_]

Did mine for about 250, googled rx300 towbar. Came with everything needed to do the job. I did need to cut about a 1" square piece from the bottom of the bumper.( came with template) Plus remove the polystyrene inner bumper piece. I was worried about that initially, but decided if someone rear ends me, the towbar will protect me more than polystyrene. It all bolted on using existing holes.

[leksa250]

Hi guys!

Just a quick update regarding my towbar...Got in touch with a company called PF Jones and they fitted me a towar for around 380 pounds-Witter detachable!That was the cheapest quote I got!Engineer came to my address ,he did a great job ,all was done in about 2 hours ,the bumper needed to be cut slightly,but they always cut to the size of a towbar ,I am very pleased Any questions do not hesitate to contact me!