Tow bar or tow points?

I had the OEM towbar fitted when buying my Gen4, as a 'just in case' item, rather than something I actually need. I've now bought the Jimnybits rear recovery points and at first glance, they seem to use the same install points as the towbar kit, so I need to decide which to have installed.

The main advantage of the towbar is that it gives me the option of borrowing a trailer, should I need one. However I've never towed a trailer in 30 years of driving, so unlikely to be used. Downsides are that it's quite low slung and does hamper departure angles when offroad (which again, is a rare event)!

I realise that you should never use the towball itself for any kind of recovery, as it can shear off, but can the bar fitting itself be used (with a strap looped around it or similar), or should recovery work only be done using proper towpoints?

I currently have a trailer on right now so a tow bar is vital for me as a farmer. Mine has suitable holes that allow for a shackle so it can be used for reverse recovery and as you say it occupies the same mounting position as the recovery points so is no worse than a fixed bridle. If I didn't have to tow then it would be recovery points all the way as the tow bar is a plough.

I would go recovery points if you don't need the tow bar like you mentioned

It sounds like both items are not needed for daily use, so I would just fit what looks the best to you and enjoy.
If you want a practical answer you can use a tow bar to attach a recovery rope, but you can't tow a trailer with a recovery point. So the "just in case" fit that covers both worlds would be towbar.
But it's up to you, no wrong answers.

Scimike wrote: you can use a tow bar to attach a recovery rope.

Thanks all, that was the bit of info I was after. I think I'll swap to the tow points as a) I've just paid the money and b) they're new and shiny, but good to know that if I swap back to the towbar I can still loop a recovery rope around it.

Gadget wrote:

Scimike wrote: you can use a tow bar to attach a recovery rope.

Thanks all, that was the bit of info I was after. I think I'll swap to the tow points as a) I've just paid the money and b) they're new and shiny, but good to know that if I swap back to the towbar I can still loop a recovery rope around it.

I'd use a shackle on a hitch.




crash486