How to choose a hitch by car brand
Content
Interestingly, some towbars from one car fit another. For example, a knot with a removable ball from Kalina can be installed on the Grant and Datsun On-Do.
A towbar is a part necessary for connecting a trailer and transporting heavy loads by car. Consider what towbars are and how to choose a towbar by car brand.
Selection of towbar by car brand
Towbar, or towing device (TSU) - a device for coupling a car and a trailer. In sight is usually the outer part in the form of a ball on a hook: it protrudes beyond the rear bumper. But there is also an internal one, installed under the body and fixing the structure.
The main task of the towbar is to connect the car with the trailer. Also, the device distributes the loads created by the mass and inertia of the trailer equipment on the power parts of the body.
There is a widespread belief that the TSU additionally protects the car from a rear impact. This is not true, moreover, even a slight blow to the towbar can lead to serious damage to the cars of the participants in the accident. Therefore, in European countries, driving with a towing vehicle without a trailer is prohibited.
Selection of towbar by car brand
Towbars are:
- removable design;
- fixed;
- flanged.
Removable towbars for cars
It is recommended to choose or install removable options in order to dismantle the towbar when not needed and not expose the machine to unnecessary danger. Flange devices - a type of removable, these tow bars are bolted to special areas at the rear of the car and can be removed if necessary.
Towbars for foreign cars
Many models of modern foreign cars are equipped with a towbar by default - usually removable in accordance with international standards. But if you need to replace or pick up a new one, you should focus on the model, make and year of manufacture of the car, since there are different modifications within the same series, and the towbar from the pre-styling version, for example, may not be suitable for restyling, but from Renault Logan - to Ford Focus, Skoda Rapid or Chevrolet Lacetti.
Farkop Tugmaster (Suntrex)
The best hitch for a foreign car is the original one, if provided by the design. But the cost of spare parts can be high. To save money, you can choose a tow bar for a car from alternative manufacturers:
- Avtos has been making car accessories since 1991. On the production lines, the production of towbars for various machines has been established, while the products are notable for their low price and availability.
- "Trailer". Trailer towbars are also produced in Russia and belong to the lower and middle price range. In terms of reliability and durability, they are comparable to AVTOS.
- Dutch company with production facilities in many countries, including Russia. A considerable part of car owners consider BOSAL towbars to be the standard of price-quality ratio. Models are available for both "our brands" and for imported cars. In the company's catalog you can find a towbar by car brand.
- A subsidiary brand of the mentioned BOSAL with a factory in the Russian Federation, specializing in the production of towbars for foreign cars and the domestic auto industry. Devices under the VFM brand are assembled on modern equipment and from high-quality alloys, but the absence of customs and other costs associated with importation from abroad allows the company to maintain a low price for finished products.
- Thule is a well-known Swedish manufacturer of car accessories, including towbars. Most models are made in the form factor of a rigid mount, but there are also quick-release ones. Thule towbars are more expensive than their counterparts, but they are of excellent quality, which is why European car factories buy them for assembly lines. Thule towbars for American cars are popular.
- Westfalia from Germany is the “trendsetter” of towbars. She brought detachable tow hitches to the mass market and to this day holds the lead. Westfalia factories produce TSU for all foreign cars. The high cost is balanced by the build quality and materials used. Choosing a towbar for a car from Westfalia is an opportunity to get a hitch for the entire life of the car.
- A new brand of car accessories manufactured in Russia. Bizon products have earned a good reputation among the owners of foreign cars, in particular, Bizon towbars for Toyota Prius-20 are in demand.
- Tugmaster (Suntrex). Towbars of the middle and high price segment come from Japan, produced for the entire range of Japanese cars.
Models for domestic cars
For domestic cars, there are also options for selecting towbars:
- "Polygon auto". The Ukrainian company produces inexpensive coupling devices of its own production for Russian cars and foreign cars. The range of "Polygon Auto" includes towbars with a fixed and removable hook, with a removable coupling ball and a towing hitch for the "American standard", which is a square with a removable insert.
- Leader Plus. Towbars Leader Plus have been produced in Russia since 1997. Users speak positively about the performance characteristics of these TSUs, and the company emphasizes the distinctive features of its products: a full cycle in one production (from the “blank” to the finished product), quality control of materials and the technical process, patented anticorrosive and powder coating technology.
Towbars Leader Plus
Are there universal towbars for cars
Many are interested in how to choose a towbar for a car brand, is it possible to buy a suitable one “for everyone” and not look for options. The towbar is a model part, that is, it is developed for a specific brand and model of a passenger car, therefore there are no towbars suitable for absolutely all cars. But situations are possible when the standard device does not suit the owner or the vehicle does not initially provide fasteners for the hitch. Then you can purchase a universal TSU.
Note that universality does not mean a single fastener design: the design features of the fastening system for different types of conditionally called "universal" devices have their own. But the design of the coupling unit itself (ball, square) implies standard dimensions, and with such a hitch, different trailers can be connected to the machine.
Universal hitch kit
Universal tow hitch includes:
- actual coupling unit;
- fasteners;
- wiring;
- electronic matching unit;
- necessary contacts.
How to find out from which car the towbar is suitable for the desired model
There is a difference in designs both between brands and between models of the same manufacturer: towbars for American cars will not fit Japanese ones, a Duster part will not fit Lanos, and so on. Therefore, you should choose the spare part carefully so as not to buy the wrong one.
You can check compatibility using the manufacturer's guide: for example, in the Bosal towbar catalog by car brand, you can find out the possibility of installation on a specific machine. Another way to choose a towbar by car brand is to select by VIN number: by entering the code in a special spare parts search engine, the user will receive a list of parts suitable for his car, including the towbar. In this way, both original and compatible TSUs are searched.
Interestingly, some towbars from one car fit another. For example, a knot with a removable ball from Kalina can be installed on the Grant and Datsun On-Do.
