Pro Tips for Tow Bar Installation

If you plan to go camping sometime soon, then you might need to tow your caravan. One of the best and possibly the cheapest ways to do that is using a tow bar, which unlike flatbed dollies and trailers, allows you to tow the caravan on wheels. However, buying a tow bar and understanding its benefits and installation are two different things. If you do not install the tow bar correctly, then it is obvious you will not enjoy the benefits. This article highlights tips for installing a tow bar like a pro.

Understand Tow Car Transmission — The last thing any camping enthusiast wants is to buy and install a tow bar that they will not use. This is because tow bars can only be used on cars that can be towed on all four wheels. This mostly has to do with the caravan's transmission type. If your caravan is a 4WD vehicle, then towing it on all fours will cause significant damage to the transmission system. Consequently, it might lead to repair delays, thereby messing up your vacation plans. Ensure that you read the caravan's manual carefully to make sure it is towable using a tow bar.

Secure Bumper — Tow bars come in different designs, as do cars. While some tow bars don't require the removal of the car's bumper, others do. Therefore, if you have a vehicle that requires you to remove the bumper to install the tow bar, you don't have an option but to do so. However, you have to be careful in this first step because poor handling can damage the bumper. As such, ensure that you secure the bumper before you start loosening the bolts holding it in place. This is vital because if you do not do it, then the bumper will fall to the ground, leading to expensive damage. Ideally, you should use support to hold onto the bumper as you loosen the bolts and create space for the tow bar.

Treat Drilled Holes — Car manufacturers usually specify points on the car where tow bar bolts will go, and you must follow these instructions. However, depending on the type of tow bar you buy, you might be forced to drill extra holes on the crossbar. Once you do so, you should treat the drilled holes because if you don't, the tow bar and the inner parts of your vehicle will begin to corrode over time. Notably, vacuuming and cleaning iron filings from the holes and spraying an anti-corrosive solution into them can keep your tow bar as well as your car free of rust.