If you’re considering towing a folding camper caravan or trailer tent or other trailer, it is important to be aware of towbars and the electrics that go with them. To make it easier, the word “caravan” is used in all instances but it applies to all trailers unless stated otherwise.
Before 1998, there were no rules regarding the safety of design and installation of towbars. Anyone could make some angles of iron to making towbars. On the 1st of August 1998 (20 April 1999 in Northern Ireland) safety regulations were introduced that stated that all new vehicles registered after onwards must be fitted with type-approved towbars manufactured in accordance to European directive EC 94/20.
The law requires a sample of every type of towbar undergo an examination that involves a two million cycle test of fatigue which usually lasts 60 hours. The towbar is then examined by the agency that certifies vehicles in the country in which it is manufactured. After a successful inspection, the towbar will be issued with an unique type approval number . It can be offered for sale as an approved product.
On October 29, 2012, on the 29th of October 2012, the Directive expanded to cover light commercial cars that do not exceed 3500kg in Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) as well as all motorhomes that are based upon commercial vehicle chassis cabs regardless their GVW. The Directive 94/20 Directive also stipulates that the trailer towbar has to be connected to the vehicle by using designated mounting points supplied from the manufacture. Another condition is that towball be placed in a specific location relative to the mounting points, not at the height of the ground. It is the responsibility of the maker of the vehicle to ensure that the towball’s position is in line with regulations. The regulations state that towball and hitch heights for a fully loaded vehicle (GVW) and these are included by the Data Sheets glossary.
The 94/20 Directive was changed in the form of ECE (United United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Regulation 55. It meets all the requirements of EC94/20 but adds additional conditions which include testing the second coupling. This is the point of attachment for the breakaway cable that is used on trailers that are braked. Towbars that comply with the EC 94/20 standard are still approved and can be sold for fitting, use and sale.
EC Approval does not just only apply to towbars, but is also applicable to electrics used for towing. They must be in conformity with EC Directive 2009/19 (electromagnetic compatibility). Note that this refers to interference caused by radios and not the compatibility of the operation with a particular caravan.
Identifying the capacity of the towing
Modern vehicles are equipped with the vehicle Identification Number (VIN) also known as the chassis plate. This can be found under the bonnet , or lower down on the door pillar. The figure on the top is what is known as the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) for the car, or in that sense, the weight it is legally able to can be loaded with. This figure can be called gross vehicle weight (GVW).
The following number will be the Gross Train weight (GTW). This is the maximum permissible weight that can be accumulated by the loaded trailer and the vehicle. Another way to think about it is that it is the total of the real axle load for each axle. They must not exceed them. The figures below are the maximum allowed loads of the rear and front axles.
The difference between GTW as well as MAM is the difference between GTW and MAM is the towing capacity of the vehicle’s Gross vehicle mass. In this case, that we have, the capacity to tow of the Subaru is 3,754kg + 1,945kg . This is 1,800 kg.
In accordance with European rules, a vehicle’s towing limit is defined as the maximum weight allowed by the following:
“The motor vehicle towing the trailer should be able to begin the vehicle combination loaded to its maximum mass five times on an uphill slope of at least 12 percent within five minutes.”
So, since certain A-class roads in the UK as well as many other roads throughout mainland Europe have slopes that are higher than 12 percent (approximately 1/8) it is recommended not to tow more than the manufacturer’s limit for towing.
If you are considering whether or not you will be able of towing, Club be sure to ensure you adhere to the 85 percent recommended that maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM) that the trailer shouldn’t exceed 85 percent of the weight of the kerb of the towing vehicle. The figure could be increased to 100 percent percentage for those who have experience the towing process, but shouldn’t exceed this amount. The figure for kerbweight does not appear on the VIN plate, but should be listed in the manual of the car. It could be identical to the ‘Mass in Service figure that is now displayed in the DVLA Formula V5. It is dependent upon whether or not the total weight (75kg) is included. See the glossary.
Legally the MAM of your car, together with the MTPLM of your caravan must not exceed the GTW of the car.
Does the vehicle have the ability to tow?
It is crucial to understand that certain vehicles aren’t intended for towing, and towing them is illegal. The Club’s experience has shown that this includes sports models that are lowered or sport body kits, eco models, and recently, electric and hybrid vehicles. Certain models require the towbar installed, and the Club is not convinced that this can be done following the departure of the factory for new stock vehicles or pre-owned, therefore these vehicles will not be legally able to tow. A vehicle with no towing limit could appear identical to a model that is with the capability of towing just one difference that it is marked by the plate on which it is registered.
Some examples of these vehicles are those of Ford Ka, Jaguar F type, a few Audi TT, Audi S3 and a few Skoda. For these types of vehicles, The Maximum Train Weight will be either zeros or dashes. Therefore, before purchasing, look over for the VIN plates of the vehicle you plan to purchase to determine its towing capacity and other tests the Club recommends for safe and reliable towing, as described in our Matching Car or caravan’s Data Sheet. This may involve calling the head office of the firm to confirm.
Certain vehicles could have the same figure of GTW and MAM. In this instance, when the load of the vehicle is limited to less than the maximum allowed figure (MAM) it might be possible to tow the difference in weight between the actual and MAM/GTW. In the majority of cases, this only allows towing the heaviest trailers. To be able to do this, the driver must be aware of what their trailer and vehicle weighs. It is possible to do this by going to an open weighbridge.
Another important aspect to keep in mind is the limit of the noseweight of the vehicle towing. This is the highest static down force that could apply to the towball any towbar that is fitted.
The noseweight is crucial for stable towing . The most commonly accepted number is that the nominal noseweight of the trailer (or caravan) should be between 5 to 7 percent of the MTPLM. For a caravan that has an MTPLM of 1,500kg, this amounts to 75-105kg.
The towbar specialist is a dealer, not a fit.
It is perfectly feasible and legal to put in the towbar yourself however, it’s not something that should be done at a leisurely pace. Other than ensuring that the proper bolts are placed in the correct holes and at the proper torque, there’s the entire issue of electrical towbars to take into consideration and also the need to take off your rear bumper the crash beam the boot floor, rear lights, etc.
In these circumstances, we’d advise that the job be done professionally. If your car is brand new it might be beneficial to get the factory-fitted device installed, or ask the dealer who supplied you with the towbar on your behalf. This way, there is less likely to have any warranty issues should the towbar malfunctions later. Another thing to keep in mind is that certain cars may require some factory preparation, and could require cooling equipment in addition in the event that they are employed for towing. A dealer with a main dealership is the most knowledgeable about the details.
In addition to the above, there are a number of excellent towbar fitting businesses Some of them will even come to your location to complete the task. The main dealers can assign towbar fitting to these companies. To assist you in choosing one, that is reputable, the National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA) maintains an inventory of QSA Accredited (QSA) towbar fitting firms.
Different types of towbars
Towbars are available in two major kinds – ones with a fixed-towball, and ones with a detachable version. They can be equipped with either flange or swan neck towballs. If you’re worried about the appearance of the rear end of your car , then you should think about a towbar with an attachable towball. It might be possible to select the towball can be removed from sight when it is not when not in use.
Fixed towballs are bolted onto the towbar. The UK the most well-known is the flange style that mounts with two (or often up to four) bolts. They are useful in the event that you’re looking to install accessories like bike racks bumper shield, a Blade stabiliser bracket.
Detachable towballs most often have a swan neck type but you can find mount flanges with detachable mounting that are suitable for towballs that have flanges. Towballs that detach have locks that can be released quickly which allows the towball be detached and attached without tools. The mount is usually vertical, meaning that you push it up to lock. However when space is not available the horizontal option could be employed. Vertical locking systems leave nothing visible after the towball is removed.
Retractable towbars are a popular choice for factory fitting, they permit the towball for it to be concealed when not in use , much like detachable, but have the benefit of being permanently in the vehicle.
These are towbars with a permanent fitting systems that are able to be extended and retracted behind the bumper on the rear. They can be locked manually and unlocked, electrically activated or a combination of both and are currently available from aftermarket companies like Witter. It is also typical for retractables to include a re-usable electrical plug 13 pin as illustrated below.
The disadvantages are more costly and complex compared to the conventional options, but should you be searching for a straightforward towbar that does not harm the lines of your car when is not being used, the retractable could be the right choice for you.
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