When Should I Replace My Towbar?

Towbars suffer from a lot of wear and tear with frequent use. In some cases they don’t last you a lifetime, you will have to replace them sooner or later. Take a look at our guidelines to know when it’s time for you and your towbar to part ways.

When Should You Replace Your Towbar

Worn Out Pins

Worn out towbars are responsible for many road accidents. To protect your life and the lives of others on the road, replace your towbar if it has endured a lot of wear and tear. Examine the pins for damage. You may be able to use replacement pins to extend the life of your towbar. If the towbar is rusting or cracking, ditch the old towbar and buy a new one instead.

Tow Bar Bolts

Take a good look at the tow bar bolts to look for signs of damage. Towbars come with high tensile nuts and bolts. You will have to examine them for tightness every 800kms. Make sure the bolts are carefully screwed into the right spots. This way the towbar is flexible enough to handle the turns and bumps on the road. If the bolts are preventing the tow bar from functioning properly, you will have to change them or replace the tow bar itself.

Consider How Often You Use Your Towbar

If you use your towbar frequently, you will have to service it often & replace it once it has visible signs of stress cracks or pitting. So if you like hitching your caravan to your towbar every week, you might have to replace the towbar sooner. If you use it just once or twice a year to carry small loads, it should last the lifetime of the vehicle. Attach your trailer to the towbar and test the lights, brakes and electrical components. If the towbar seems unfit for use, don’t head out on your trip until you install a new one.

Using the Right Towbar

You will have to replace your old lightweight towbar with a new one if you decide to tow heavier loads like boats, caravans or horse floats. Flange towbars, swan neck towbars and detachable towbars are some of the most common types available. Always refer to the manufacturer’s towing specifications when you’re looking for a new towbar. To prevent swaying on the road, it’s a good idea to install a weight-distribution hitch. Lastly, if you have a range of trailers with varying coupling sizes, buy an interchangeable tow ball system.

Towbar Installation in Melbourne

If you’ve purchased a used vehicle and need a new towbar, get in touch with the experts at Advanced Towbars. We have a wide range of towbars and towing accessories for sale. Whether you’re looking for electric brake controllers, sway control kits or truck towbars, we can help.

We have a team of professional tow bar installers who are ready to come to your home/office for the installation. We can fit your vehicle out with anything you need. If you want the latest reverse camera and sensors, roof racks or car tow bars, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We have more than 40 years of experience in the industry and we work with some of the best brands.

Call us on 1300 238 869 for all your towbar installation needs in Melbourne. Alternatively, visit us online to learn more about the products and services we offer.

Safe Towing While On The Roads This Summer

With summer just around the corner, the roads are going to get busier. Whether you’re planning a trip to a caravan park, a fishing spot or a festival, you will have to consider a few towing tips before hitting the road. You will have to also follow additional road rules to make sure you don’t run into issues as you journey along the highways.

Safety Towing Tips

Go over the Rules

Each state has its own set of towing safety rules listed on the official department of transportation website. It’s a good idea to check the rules for your state before towing a trailer or a caravan.

Check Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity

Every vehicle has certain towing limits made known by the manufacturer. Refer to the owner’s manual if you’re not sure what the towing limit for your particular vehicle is. To prevent accidents, make sure the vehicle has the capacity to manage the weight of the trailer. Trim levels of the same model may have different towing capacities. It differs based on the vehicle’s body style and drivetrain. You also have to calculate the gross combination weight of a fully loaded vehicle and trailer. Make sure the weight doesn’t exceed the manufacturer’s recommended weight limit.

Trailer Maintenance

The electrical components, brakes, bearings and couplers need routine maintenance. To see if the electrical components are in good working order, hook your trailer to your vehicle and turn on the lights. Test the running lights, brake lights and turn signal lights to make sure there isn’t a wiring problem. You will have to pull the drum brake assembly off to inspect the brakes and the wheel bearings. Look for signs of wear if you choose to repack the wheel bearings on your own. Lubricate the trailer hitch ball and coupler. This will prevent it from wearing out because of friction.

Towbar Safety

Towbars have to comply with certain weight ratings and design rules. As a general rule, use a towbar with a weight rating that exceeds the loaded weight of your trailer. If you feel the vehicle is sagging at the back, use a weight distributing hitch. It should give you good steering and braking control. If you’re using a tow bar with a removable lug, you will have to use safety chain connections. Always fit the safety chain on the non-removable part of the tow bar.

Lastly, if you’re towing a horse float, check the tyres, brakes and lights on the float. Also, inspect the suspension before heading out on a long journey. Suspensions have rollers that get worn out. Replace them if they look damaged or ask the professionals to service the float when required.

Custom Towbars in Melbourne

If you’re looking for professional towbar installation in Melbourne, get in touch with Advanced Towbars. We have been in business for more than 4 decades and we can handle all your installation and maintenance requests. If you’re having trouble finding the right truck tow bars or nudge bars in Melbourne, we can help.

Since we work with a diverse network of tow bar suppliers, we can help you find the right tow bar at a reasonable price.

Give us a call on 1300 238 869 for further enquiries or view our range of products online.