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Subject Topic: Advice on which towbar?
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PersonVeldom
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I've been doing some research on tow bar fitting costs for the meriva. And I didn't realise there was so much choice.

I don't really think I need a detachable one. However I don't know if I need a flange tow bar fitting or a swan kneck. And on one fitter I looked at they offered a standard tow ball or an ALKO tow ball on the flange tow bar option.

Is there a particular type that will universally work with any caravan I'll want to tow? I thought it'd just be this is a tow bar! How wrong I am.

As for electrics I'm pretty certain it's worth going 13pin and a kit specific for my car as opposed to universal option.


PersonRob and Tina
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If it was me I'd have a fixed swan neck towbar with 13 pin electrics and ask for all 13 pins to be connected.

Tina


PersonVeldom
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Quote: Originally posted by Rob and Tina on 27/8/2020
If it was me I'd have a fixed swan neck towbar with 13 pin electrics and ask for all 13 pins to be connected.

Tina

Is there any particular reason for a swan neck? They look a bit better visually than the flange types from what I've looked at. But I'm sure that can't be the only reason for the two types.


PersonFrancais
27/8/2020 at 6:41pm
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The Swan Neck type are more popular in Europe, partly due to the fact that a tow ball mounted bike rack fits without issue, a Flange type can obstruct a tow ball mounted bike rack in most cases.


PersonColin21
27/8/2020 at 8:09pm
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I've only ever had flange type towbars. Never had any kind of problem with them, and I've towed all sorts of things with several different vehicles. Only thing to remember really is that if what you are towing has an Alko stabiliser hitch, you need the appropriate tow-ball. You can tow trailers and caravans NOT fitted with Alko hitches with an Alko tow-ball, but not the other way round.



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PersonRob and Tina
via mobile 27/8/2020 at 8:10pm
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Sometimes the flange type can interfere with some reversing sensors and as you say the swan neck looks better.If you want to tow a caravan with a stabiliser hitch at some point you would need the Alko ball attached to the flange type which I think is about £25 extra, the swan neck does it all so no brainer in my mind, but any of them will do the job, the choice is yours.

Tina


PersonColin21
27/8/2020 at 8:36pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Rob and Tina on 27/8/2020
Sometimes the flange type can interfere with some reversing sensors and as you say the swan neck looks better.If you want to tow a caravan with a stabiliser hitch at some point you would need the Alko ball attached to the flange type which I think is about £25 extra, the swan neck does it all so no brainer in my mind, but any of them will do the job, the choice is yours.

Tina


I've heard that about interfering with parking sensors, but all I can say is that the one fitted to my Volvo V70 didn't interfere at all. I don't personally know of any of my caravanning friends that have had that problem either. However, if it is just a rumour as I suspect, it must have started somewhere.

Regarding electrics, if you want to be able to tow a variety of different trailers, including modern caravans, you need a 13 pin socket but make sure the fitter doesn't skimp on the wiring. I have heard about some places fitting a 13 pin socket but only wiring it for the road lights. Make sure you specify that you want the full wiring harness connecting all the pins properly. If all you need is road lights, you might as well have a 7 pin socket fitted. It will probably be much cheaper.



-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonPhishing
27/8/2020 at 8:53pm
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Swan neck if you are only going to tow caravan.
Flange type is fine but does not look as good on a car, OK on truck or big 4x4. Advantage is that you can change the ball if you wanted but unless you are towing plant or want to fit a flange type carrier then no real reason to have a flange type.

As said in other posts, make sure they put a 13 pin with all circuits wired. It is far easier to get 13 to 12n type connector if you had to and the 13pin is future proof.

I have used both and there is no real difference in performance although you have more options for connector mounting and breakaway fitment on the flange types, some of the swan neck fixings are a bit flimsy.


Post last edited on 27/08/2020 20:57:52


PersonVeldom
via mobile 27/8/2020 at 10:36pm
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Thanks all. Sounds like swan neck is the way to go. And as I thought 13pin but actually make sure they wire it up as such!



PersonColin21
27/8/2020 at 10:59pm
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With towbars it's really just a case of personal choice. With the flange type on modern vehicles most of the ironwork is hidden anyway. When I think back to my Mk2 Cortina I had as a tow-car years ago, that had a big, very visible chunk of angle-iron showing right across below the bumper, but on my X Trail I have today you can see little more than the tow-ball and a couple of bolts.


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Colin


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Persontango55
28/8/2020 at 1:07am
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Firstly, if you have reversing sensors on the towing vehicle and not sure if the towball will be detected or not, the simplest way to prove it is to stand a noseweight gauge behind the rear of the vehicle the same distance as a towball would be and put the vehicle into reverse gear. If there is no detection of the noseweight gauge by the sensors then it's evidence that you don't need a detachable towball. So then it's a matter of choice which towball to choose and my opinion is this. If you DON'T have a motor mover fitted then you need to reverse the towing vehicle to the caravan hitch so a minor collision could occur so to avoid that you could have a bumper plate fitted to a fixed flange towbar between the flange and the towball which will protect the rear of the vehicle. If you DO have a motor mover fitted you can hitch up independently without any assistance therefore a fixed swan neck towball will be satisfactory. So now it narrows down the choice of towball you choose but at least it's food for thought before making that final decision of which one to have fitted.


PersonColin21
28/8/2020 at 9:05am
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 28/8/2020
Firstly, if you have reversing sensors on the towing vehicle and not sure if the towball will be detected or not, the simplest way to prove it is to stand a noseweight gauge behind the rear of the vehicle the same distance as a towball would be and put the vehicle into reverse gear. If there is no detection of the noseweight gauge by the sensors then it's evidence that you don't need a detachable towball. So then it's a matter of choice which towball to choose and my opinion is this. If you DON'T have a motor mover fitted then you need to reverse the towing vehicle to the caravan hitch so a minor collision could occur so to avoid that you could have a bumper plate fitted to a fixed flange towbar between the flange and the towball which will protect the rear of the vehicle. If you DO have a motor mover fitted you can hitch up independently without any assistance therefore a fixed swan neck towball will be satisfactory. So now it narrows down the choice of towball you choose but at least it's food for thought before making that final decision of which one to have fitted.



Yes Tango , that's what makes me doubtful about the issue with reversing sensors. If they are going to detect anything it will be the tow-ball itself, not the brackets, and whatever type of bracket you have (swan-neck or flange) the tow-ball is going to be in roughly the same place relative to the sensors. If anything, the swan-neck tow-ball on many cars I have seen is further back from the bumper, making it more likely to be detected. That's a good idea using a nose-weight gauge.

I had completely forgotten about the bumper protection plate, even though I have one! You can't fit those on a swan-neck.



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Colin


PersonJCB180
via mobile 28/8/2020 at 10:31am
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I have a ford s-max and had a detachable swan neck towbar fitted. When the towbar is on my rear parking sensors pick it up which is why I had a detachable fitted.


PersonVeldom
via mobile 28/8/2020 at 10:48am
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Got no sensors on the Meriva so that's not going to be an issue.


Persontango55
29/8/2020 at 7:18pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Veldom on 28/8/2020
Got no sensors on the Meriva so that's not going to be an issue.



So which of the three types of towbars have you finally decided to opt for?


PersonVeldom
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 29/8/2020
Quote: Originally posted by Veldom on 28/8/2020
Got no sensors on the Meriva so that's not going to be an issue.



So which of the three types of towbars have you finally decided to opt for?



Fixed swan neck I think. Don't need it to be detachable and it'll work with ALKO hitches. Also 13 pin electric, manufacturers spec. I've been getting some quotes around the £600 mark so might leave it until early next year.



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