Living in a country with vast terrain of sand and uneven terrain makes it hard not to get a bigger vehicle. The likes of Hilux and Triton fully satisfy the needs of an Outback traveller but one thing that you need to do when travelling into the wild is to ensure that you're safe. While there are many accessories that can help with that, tow bars are some of the most beneficial ones.
They don't only offer a hook to haul loads, but they also offer protection for the rear of your vehicle as well as access. Car tow bars also provide hi-lift jack points to make your recovery go easier. You can't go wrong with a tow bar but that is if you know who to get the right tow bars for your vehicle.
Types of Tow Bars
Rear Step
The ultimate 4WD tow bar is a rear step bar. This type of vehicle tow bar protrudes a bit from the rear of your vehicle since it comes with a rear step, hence the name. Rear step tow bars across Australia are being used for off-roading as they offer better ground clearance. But keep in mind they are heavy and only made for utes and pickup trucks.
Horizontal
A horizontal hitch tow bar is one that makes of a square tongue to connect to the hitch receiver. Horizontal hitch tow bars come in two sizes, 40 mm and 50 mm. The latter is used for heavy-duty hauling while the former is better for medium-sized loads.
Flat Tongue
If you want a tow bar of a lighter class then you should consider getting a flat tongue tow bar. This type of tow bar comes with a detachable tow ball that's able to fit into a horizontal space found on the tow bar itself. The tongue of this vehicle tow bar is secured in place by two large bolts that go through the top of the hitch.
Swan Neck
A swan neck tow bar is not as common in Australia as it is in Europe but it's quite a useful solution. These tow bars have either a rounded -L-shape or a U -shape which resembles the design of a swan's neck. This design tow bar makes the tow ball permanently attached to it.
Types of Electrics
Single
With single electrics, you get 7 pins that can only provide power to the lights in your caravan. While single electrics don't offer much more functionality than that, they are a great solution when you want to make use of bike carriers.
Twin
Using twin electrics you get two 7-pin sockets that can power your headlights, reverse lights and interior appliances and devices like a fridge or microwave.
Dedicated Harness
If you want the real deal, you should go for car tow bars with a dedicated harness. With this type of solution, you can have both a 7 and a 13-pin socket. These can be installed into your towing vehicle which makes for a more integrated and more capable solution. Therefore you can power anything you want to be powered as long as you have enough pins working for it.
Important Aspects of Tow Bars
Clearance
It's important that for the safety of the load you're hauling and yours too, you have enough horizontal clearance for the tow ball. Usually having at least 6.5 cm of space between the tow ball centre and the closes vertical part of your vehicle is a good idea. If you have an off-road vehicle this doesn't apply to you.
Towball Height
Talking about tow balls, their height needs to be at a certain number too. Remember this refers to a fully loaded vehicle. The tow ball, in this case, should be anywhere from 35 cm and 42 cm from the ground. When it comes to off-road tow bars make sure that the height of the bar is fixed or adjustable.
Cable Attachment Points
Additional safety precautions are needed with car tow bars regarding unlikely events which, in this case, is a sudden separation. Therefore you need to have your caravan fitted with a device that helps provide protection when this happens. This is why your tow bar needs to come with breakaway cable attachment points. These points should be found on the mainframe, not the neck.
Number Plate
Obscuring the rear number plate is a big no-no, therefore when using tow bars in Australia you need to ensure that you remove it once done. Unless you're towing you can't have the tow bar sitting, if it's a tow ball or any other part is obstructing the view of your number plate.
Coupling Device
The height of the coupling device or in this case your 4x4 or caravan needs to be either level or have its nose down slightly. This makes for a more stable ride and also a safer one. This refers to when the caravan is hitched and moving.
