Why Towbars Are One of The Most Underrated Additions to Your Vehicle
Although not especially expensive Towbars do represent an expense which for some people is enough to deter them from adding a towbar to their vehicle. The other concern some people express is that they do not feel they will get sufficient use from a towbar to justify the expense.
However, having fitted thousands of towbars over the years, the feedback from nearly all of our customers is that they couldn’t ever be without a towbar now they have experienced the plethora of benefits that it does deliver.
A Towbar Can Do Much More Than Tow A Trailer
One of the things that people don’t appreciate about having a towbar fitted is the versatility that it provides. As the demand for towbars has grown so have the number of available accessories. These include cycle carriers and Luggage boxes amongst other things.
Think of a Luggage box as a roof box the rear of the car without the hassle and effort of having to lift heavy items above your head when loading and unloading. This might sound relatively minor but is a huge often overlooked benefit.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Towbar
Once you have decided to invest in a towbar there are a few things you need to take into consideration. All of these things can be discussed with the friendly and knowledgeable team at Northwest Towbars.
Your Vehicle's Towing Capacity
The most important thing to consider when investing in a towbar is what you plan on towing, and as a consequence whether or not your current vehicle is up to the job. A 4 by 4 will have a much higher capacity to tow than a Fiat 500.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a mathematical genius to work out the towing capacity of your vehicle. This can be found quickly and easily in your vehicle's manual or use this link to calculate from the vin plate.
Although your car may not necessarily have a huge towing capacity, if you only plan on using it to carry your family's bicycles on a summer holiday then this need not necessarily be an issue. This is why you must think carefully about your requirements for a towbar.
Removable Versus Fixed
The only other decision you will need to make is whether you want a removable or a fixed towbar. As the name suggests a a fixed towbar is permanently attached to your vehicle, which has the benefit of versatility, wherever you go your towbar is with you so even if you were not expecting to need a towbar, you will have one with you, almost like when you carry a set of jump leads in your car. The negative of having a fixed towbar is that it may interfere with your vehicle's parking assist system, and it can also make your vehicle that little bit longer.
A removable towbar can be removed when not in use, or at least the visible aspect of the towbar can be removed. This prevents you from crunching your knees against the towbar when putting your shopping in the boot and helps you retain the nice aesthetics of your car. However, there is the risk that you will forget where you have stored the towbar, and of course, you lose the convenience of always having the towbar with you. The choice is very much a personal one, but one that needs to be considered before making your final purchasing decision.
Once you have a towbar fitted you will quickly become surprised at how beneficial it is, and the very fact that you are reading this blog indicates that you are already seriously contemplating investing in one.
For more information, and advice and to purchase your towbar contact your local experts Northwest Towbars today.