Towbar Advice

[Timbob1989]

With my wife selling our current Towcar, I want to fit a hitch to my 2019 ST.
Not sure whether a ‘normal’ (fixed flange) or fixed swan neck will set the parking sensors off. Any advice?

I’ve never had a removable one before. Are they any good? Worth the extra cost? It’s only for light towing - a small dinghy - and would quite like to get a bike rack that fits into it. Any thoughts or advice on cost? Thanks.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

If you're fitting a genuine towbar then the rear sensors are disabled whenever you're towing. The fixed towbar is designed not to interfere with the rear sensors when you're not towing. The removable towbars are fine aslong as you clean/grease them regularly, if you don't then they can become difficult to use due to built up dirt/rust

Aftermarket options may differ..

 

[Mr Pig]

I don't know if it's easy to retrofit a towbar to the ST. My wife's car came with a removable towbar and I remember talking to someone about it. They said that the crash-bar behind the bumper was different on cars with towbars and if you wanted to fit one you'd have to change that.

I forget the car has the towbar option. We've never used it. The car was a demonstrator originally and had the towbar to show people. When we got the car the electric socket was still visible when the towbar was removed but I had it adapted so that it swivels up into the bumper. Now there is nothing visible and I forget it has the towbar. I anticipate having to mail the towbar to the person who buys my wife's car as it's been in the shed since we bought it!

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

The towbar is the crash bar

It completely replaces it

 

[cairus]

I retrofitted the tow bar on my ST facelift. For people with experience, it's a 2-hour job, but without any preparation for the tow bar.

 

[BillyCool]

I had a removable towbar fitted to my 2014 ST for using a bike carrier. I use it about 8 times a year and never had an issue.

If you get it done properly, you get dedicated electronics actually plugged into the car and not spliced. When the trailer electrics are plugged in the car knows and turns off the rear sensors. If I leave just the towbar on it will not trigger the sensors either. You also get a secondary indicator light on the dash to show the trailer indicators are working.

They did have to replace the rear cross member/crumple zone. The bumper comes off and they basically fit a section of box steel (or similar). This can then take the 100kg nose weight rating of the tow bar. Apparently, if you get rear ended with one of those on the car, whatever hits you will get a shock.

I have a Witter detcheable swan neck like this:

They did have to cut out a section of the bumper and that is visible but it doesn't bother me.

Total cost was about £550.

I have used a MTB carrier with 2 bikes and also towed an army style trailer with a 500kg hay bale and never had an issue. They do recommend that you remove a detacheable when not in use as they can seize up if left on semi-permanently. Mine only gets put on for use and then removed straight after. I would absolutely recommend spending the money on a proper fitted one and not spliced or other cheaper option. I also had to declare it on my car insurance!