Towbars/Towballs

Hi Chaps,

I was just wondering/thinking (amounts to the same thing really), a lot of the Towbars for sale for the Jimny are the detachable type, and given the location of the registration, is this because a fixed one is an issue legally?

I'm going to fit a towbar to the Jimny when it arrives, and was just pondering over which to go for. I'll be towing trailers, and probably going to around 1000kgs, the trailers rated to 1300kgs, but I'm unlikely to go that high.

so really looking for advice as to what choice to make.

Fixed or detachable towball?

What Make?

and do the electrics require a bypass relay as some new cars seem to now?

cheers,
Paul.

If you fit a standard 50mm ball to the fixed hitch, it obscures the numberplate. You can move the numberplate, which is a faff, or fit a detachable ball.

Mine is a fixed type with a combi hitch, the ball & pin store in the back, and the remaining ring is ok.

However, these are stupidly expensive now, were reasonable when I bought mine donkeys ago.

The different makes are pretty much the same, they all have a plate giving capacity and are made to the same standard, (likely by someone with an arc welder and a chopsaw in a garden shed, I don't think the Chinese children make them yet :laugh: )

Don't be taken in by "Plastic coated" the plastic just drops off to revel rust and you have to get the hammerite out.

My 2001 didn't need any special electrics.

I prefer the fixed flange type as you can bolt other things to it unlike the detachable swan neck type.
If you search you can actually now get the flange type on a detachable fitting so that's the best of both worlds!!
The ball only just obscures the bottom half of the plate and is easily readable when moving around.
Technically it is illegal and I've never been stopped although my MOT tester is in the habit of removing it for the MOT so you could do that yourself once a year if he has a problem??
To install the wiring correctly you tap in to the main loom behind the n/s trim inside the car but as this is a major operation involving removing seats etc. you can just tap in to the various lights behind the bumper using extra wire to run across the vehicle? These wires can be cable tied to the towbar out of the way.
I pushed the towbar wiring through the rubber grommets at the back of the bumper and after removing the lights(2 screws in each) I tapped in to the lighting wires so the scotch clips are between the lights and bumper which helps protect them.
I think you have to fit an audible warning buzzer(relay) but it shouldn't affect the car as the Jimny is old design and you only need the black socket for a trailer.
There is no place on the Jimny loom to "plug in" your wiring so it's scotch clips or solder/heatshrink.
The towbar itself is easily attached as all the holes are there and some people prefer to remove the bumper although there is no need .
Heres a link

www.bigjimny.com/images/documents/jimny_towbar_install.pdf

Just to add the reason for detachable towballs is not for neatness or the number plate.
They are there because all newish cars have crumple zones so if not towing detachable balls should be removed on safety grounds.
just imagine how much of a "spear" that would make if a car hit your rear end??

I've got a towbar trust one off ebay. Never had a problem with MOT and just scotch lock the wiring behind the n/s loom. 2 hour job if your not competent.

food for thought ?









there's a flap under the rear left lights / bumper to gain access into rear left wing space for joining the wires