A Guide To Tow Bars: Does Your Car Need One?

Ever wished your car could carry a bit more? Getting a tow bar installed might have crossed your mind. These accessories allow you to haul all kinds of extra things that your trunk can’t handle. But do you really need one?

What can you haul with a tow bar?

Tow bars can be used to haul various different attachments. Some of the most popular examples include:

• Cycle carriers: If you’re a cyclist, towing a cycle carrier could provide a stable and secure way of transporting your bike without having to hoist it on your roof. 
• Travel trailers: Camping and road trip enthusiasts often install tow bars so that they can pull a travel trailer, providing a mobile vacation home to sleep in. 
• Utility trailers: A tow bar can also be used to pull a utility trailer, which can be used for all kinds of practical hauling tasks from picking up furniture to transporting garbage to the dump.

There are all kinds of other specialist trailers that you can haul when you have a tow bar from boat trailers to horse boxes. Think about your lifestyle and hobbies to help you determine whether a tow bar could come in use. Ultimately, you need to be sure that you’ll get good use out of it so it’s not a wasted purchase.

Things to consider before you install a tow bar

Before you rush out to install a tow bar, there are a few practical considerations you need to make. A few questions you should ask yourself include:

Is my vehicle suitable for towing things?

Tow bars are popular 4×4 accessories, however they can also be installed on other cars from hatchbacks to estates. You do however need to consider your vehicle’s maximum towing weight and whether it can handle the towing tasks you have in mind – smaller cars may not be able to pull much extra weight.

How will it affect handling and parking?

Towing things affects how you accelerate, brake and take corners. It’s often more challenging, because you need to constantly consider the direction and speed of your trailer. Parking can be particularly difficult for those that have never towed anything before and adding a tow bar may mess with parking sensors.

How much will it cost?

While installing a tow bar often isn’t too expensive, the added cost of buying trailers can make it a bigger financial commitment. Certain bulky trailers may also need to be electronically wired up with additional brake lights and turn signals installed. 

Choosing the right type of tow bar

If you do decide to install a tow bar, you also need to make sure you install the correct type of tow bar for your intended use. Flanged tow bars are the most versatile option but are very bulky and can obscure parking sensors. Swan neck tow bars are sleeker and often don’t interfere with a vehicle’s reversing sensors. It’s worth noting that you can install fixed or detachable tow bars (allowing you the option to remove them when not in use).