Not necessarily! Many think that it is essential to have your towing equipment level to chassis and go great lengths to try to achieve this. There is a wide range for both the towball and towing couplings making this near on impossible to achieve. The specifications promote a tendency towards a slightly nose down of the trailer with the range of the trailer being up to 35mm higher than the range of the height of the towball. However your towing equipment should be somewhat level taking in to consideration the statement above to improve your driving stability, braking performance, ground clearance and to prevent any unwanted movement.

The EC directive states that this should be 385mm to 455mm with the trailer in the 'laden' condition. What does Laden mean? Laden condition is when the trailer is loaded to it maximum specified mass.

Southern Towbars offers a convenient mobile towbar fitting service that brings our technicians directly to your location. Here's how the process works: 1. **Schedule an Appointment:** Contact us to book a fitting appointment at a time and place that suits you. 2. **Provide a Safe Space:** Ensure there is a safe and accessible area for our technicians to work on your vehicle. 3. **Technician Arrival:** Our technician will arrive at your chosen address with all the necessary tools and equipment. 4. **Towbar Installation:** The technician will install the towbar on your vehicle, ensuring it meets all safety and legal requirements. 5. **Testing and Demonstration:** After installation, the technician will run tests to ensure everything is functioning correctly and will demonstrate how to use your new towbar. 6. **Enjoy Hassle-Free Towing:** Once the fitting is complete, you can enjoy the convenience and safety of your new towbar. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 01903 947771.

The cost of fitting a towbar can vary depending on several factors, including your vehicle's make, model, and age, the type of towbar, and your location. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect: 1. **Towbar Price:** The price of a towbar depends on your vehicle and the towbar manufacturer. Some towbars have a more sophisticated design or higher quality, which can affect the price. 2. **Electrical Kits:** An electrical kit is essential for synchronizing your car's electrics with your trailer, caravan, or bike rack. The cost of an electrical kit can vary based on the kit you choose and your vehicle's specifications. We recommend a vehicle-specific electrics kit for optimal performance. 3. **Fitting Price:** Professional fitting ensures safety and compliance with legal requirements. Southern Towbars offers an all-inclusive price for the towbar, fitting, vehicle electrics, and software upgrade. You can expect to pay anywhere from around £500 to £900, including VAT, for a professionally fitted towbar with electrics. For personalized advice, please call our sales team at 01903 947771.

We don't require much space just enough for the technician to be able to freely get in and out of your vehicle.

The time required to fit a towbar can vary depending on your vehicle's make and model. Generally, a towbar installation can take anywhere from one to four hours. Here are some factors that can affect the fitting time: 1. **Vehicle Make and Model:** Different vehicles have different requirements, which can impact the installation time. 2. **Complexity of Installation:** Some vehicles may have more complex installations, requiring additional time. 3. **Technician Experience:** Our experienced technicians aim to complete the installation efficiently while ensuring all safety and legal standards are met. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend planning not to use your vehicle for up to four hours during the installation process. For more specific information or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 01903 947771.

When deciding on which towbar to purchase for your vehicle there are a few things to consider. To ensure that your towing experience is not only simple and practical but ultimately safe. Use our towbar guide to help you identify which one to go for

All of our technicians will show you how to use your new towar and ensure that you feel confident in doing so before they leave.

Whilst this process will invalidate your existing warranty with Southern Towbars, re-fitment to your new vehicle is fine provided you are 100% happy with the condition the towbar is in and you are 100% aware of the towing history of the towbar. We do recommend that all fixings should be replaced with new ones to ensure safe practice.

We do not recommend the re-fitment of second hand towbars for the simple reason that you do not know the history of the towbar you are purchasing. It may seem a cheap means of acquiring a towbar but we cannot stress the importance of such a safety critical item. It is not always possible to remove all of the components. Towbars frequently require additional parts inserted into the vehicle which subsequently cannot be removed. These components then become detached when the towbar is removed. A huge number of parts make up a towbar from bolts to washers, each and every part is just as important as the next. These MUST be retained if some of these crucial parts are missing it can be deemed unsafe and your vehicles towing ability can be significantly compromised. It isn't worth saving a few pounds for your safety.

The height of towbar is predetermined from the E.C. directive 94/20 which states that the towball has to finish between the heights of 350mm and 420mm when the vehicle is laden, unless the vehicle manufacturer states otherwise. How to measure towball height? The towball height is measured from the distance between the ground and the centre of the towball.

No! To do this will significantly increase the leverage on the vehicle/towbar interface. This will result in damage or failure of the vehicle frame and toeing system components. It would almost certainly invalidate the EC approval and quite possibly invalidate your vehicles insurance. Therefore it should be considered that any liabilities found as a result of an unauthorised modification of the towing system would rest with the installer and/or user.

If you are planning on getting a towbar to your vehicle you need to inform your insurance company to avoid your insurance invalidated. If you make any modifications to your vehicle you insurance company will need to now as it can affect your policy. It is unlikely to change your pricing plan but some companies may decide to raise your policy premium as a result of you having a towbar installed.

It is often the case that one customer's height requirement is different to another depending on what make of trailer or caravan is being towed. In many instances once a customer doesn't achieve the height they require, it is immediately assumed that it is the towbar that is the problem. It is possible however that there are reasons for a low towing height that are not a towbar related issue. Possible reasons include worn suspension that has lowered with time and modified sports suspension that sits lower than standard. Tyre pressure can play a big part. You can check your towbar height via loading your vehicle to its laden position, however if you are still unsure please give us a call.

Yes, you can fit a towbar to many electric vehicles, but there are some important considerations: 1. **Towing Capacity:** Electric vehicles (EVs) often have different towing capacities compared to traditional vehicles. Some EVs are designed with towing in mind, while others may have limited or no towing capacity. 2. **Manufacturer Guidelines:** Always check the manufacturer's guidelines for your specific EV model to ensure it is approved for towing and to understand any limitations. 3. **Professional Advice:** Before purchasing a towbar, call our sales team at 01903 947771. We can provide expert advice on the best options for your electric vehicle and ensure you choose a towbar that meets all safety and legal requirements. 4. **Installation:** Ensure the towbar is professionally fitted to avoid any potential issues with your EV's performance and warranty. For more information or to discuss your specific needs, please contact us.

To determine if your car is suitable for towing, follow these steps: 1. **Check the VIN Plate:** Locate your vehicle's VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) plate, usually found in the door frames or under the bonnet. This plate displays several weight figures. 2. **Understand the Weights:** The VIN plate will show the following weights: - **Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW):** The maximum allowable mass of the vehicle, including occupants, fuel, and payload. - **Gross Train Weight (GTW):** The combined maximum allowable mass of the vehicle and trailer. - **Axle Loads:** Maximum allowable loads for the front and rear axles. 3. **Calculate Towing Capacity:** Subtract the GVW from the GTW to find the manufacturer's maximum towing capacity. For example, if the GVW is 1960kg and the GTW is 3360kg, the towing capacity is 1400kg. 4. **Check Vehicle Approval:** Not all vehicles are designed for towing. Some performance cars, hybrids, sports cars, and city cars may not be suitable. If your vehicle isn't approved for towing, the GTW line on the VIN plate will be zero or removed. For personalized advice, please call our sales team at 01903 947771.

With a lot of new cars being now fitted with parking sensors as standard. There is a good chance that the towball can activate the parking sensors. in some vehicles, the vehicle is able to automatically deactivate the sensors when a trailer is attached to the vehicle. In some vehicle you have to option to turn these off altogether. A detachable towbar is the most popular solution to using a towbar on a vehicle that has rear parking sensors because you are able to remove the neck whilst you are not towing. Vehicle specific wiring can too overcome this problem on some vehicles by deactivating the the sensors whilst the towing equipment is attached.