Design features of not every car contribute to the transportation of an impressive amount of cargo. You can solve the problem by installing a towing device. Among the people, such devices are often called towbars.
Assembly Features
A tow hitch for a car can be homemade or factory. Devices of the first type can be seen installed on older models of four-wheeled vehicles. Since earlier in the production of cars such a possibility was not provided, drivers had to make their own attachment points for connecting to trailers.
It is worth noting that a home-made towing device is far from always distinguished by reliable performance. Therefore, during its operation, there is a risk of detachment from the car body during movement.
In terms of factory designs, these traction systems have all the necessary elements for a quick self-installation on a car. They are made for specific brands of cars. Before going on sale, the factorythe tow hitch for the car undergoes a series of tests. For this reason, it is better to give preference to ready-made, tested towbars from leading manufacturers.
The nature of the bindings
Towbars can be connected to the car body with a weld or bolted fasteners. Let's look at the pros and cons of both connection options:
- Welded - is considered the most reliable. However, the metal is subject to aging, and the joints are depleted as a result of regular mechanical stress. Often there is a destruction of welds and the development of corrosion processes.
- Bolt. In the presence of such a connection, the towing device needs regular maintenance, control over the condition of the fasteners. However, a rusted or damaged bolt can be easily replaced while the tow bar is still in use.
Classification
In addition to the features of production and the method of connection with the vehicle body, the trailer device is classified according to the maximum weight for which it is designed. Towbars are produced with a focus on the class of the car and its weight. According to generally accepted safety requirements, the trailer should not be heavier than the vehicle that acts as its traction.
Currently, there are several classes of tow hitches:
- Small - designed to service trailers weighing up to 1.5 tons. Towbars of this category are suitable for installation on carsrather modest in size.
- Medium - used to secure trailers weighing about 2.5 tons. Installing this type of tow hitch makes sense for SUVs, station wagons, crossovers and minivans.
- Large - open up the possibility of transporting trailers weighing up to 3.5 tons. They are installed mainly on cargo minibuses and SUVs with a full-fledged, reinforced frame.
Types
According to the attachment of the trailer hook to the platform, the following types of structures are distinguished:
- Fixed - are monolithic connections. Highly reliable, but does not allow the pull hook to be detached.
- Conditionally removable - all connections are fixed with fasteners. If necessary, the towbar hook can be dismantled for transportation in the car trunk.
- Removable - the hook is connected to the trailer platform with a special locking device. Installation and dismantling of the system does not require special skills or tools. Everything is done as quickly and simply as possible.
Tow hitch price
How much can a tow hitch cost? The price of devices with a maximum load capacity of 1.5 tons, intended for installation on cars, averages from 3,000 to 6,000 rubles. The cost of high-strength solutions that can withstand a load of up to 2 tons starts from 15,000 rubles.
The price of removable and most functional towbars withthe ability to adjust the position of the hook in automatic mode reaches about 30,000 rubles or more.
Installation
How to install the hitch? It is quite easy to install the towing hitch. This requires only the presence of the towbar itself in a complete assembly and a set of keys.
If it is necessary to install a collapsible device, which is mounted on bolted connections, fixing on the platform occurs according to the manufacturer's instructions. In this case, it is important to pay attention to the reliability of fixing the fasteners.
Progress of work
The installation of the towing device is carried out in the following order:
- Before mounting the towbar, the platform must be cleaned of dirt. The plugs contained in the area of the mounting holes are being removed.
- The towbar platform is attached to the connection points. The main thing is that all the holes coincide with each other. Next, fasteners are inserted into the openings, after which they are firmly tightened.
- After the installation is completed, the electrical equipment of the towing device is connected to the vehicle's on-board system. Then the mounting hook is installed.
At the final stage of work, the reliability of the tightening of all bolts and fasteners is checked. For increased fixation of the towbar to the car body, additional nuts are installed on the bolts, which will further prevent the connection from loosening.
Hitch with their ownhands
Where to start if you have a desire to make a towing device with your own hands? First of all, you need to think about how rational such a decision is, how much effort, time, money and materials will have to be spent on the implementation of the plan. In some cases, it is much more profitable to install a factory assembly system.
The first thing you need to make a do-it-yourself tow hitch is choosing the right hook. Next, you can proceed to the preparation of the beam. The easiest way is to make a design that will connect to the car body from below. This option does not require the cost of creating a cutout in the bumper. If this is not possible, maybe you should abandon the manufacture of the towbar yourself?
The beam can be made to order. At present, the most numerous locksmith shops are capable of assembling a design for this purpose. However, if you have a welding machine and the appropriate skills, you can cope with the work on your own.
One of the most important components of a homemade towing device is fasteners. Often, manufacturers initially weld the bolts into the car body. In this case, it remains only to statically fix the beam and hook. If there is no standard fastener, you will have to purchase embedded bolts, flash the car frame and tighten them manually using a set of keys. Before fixing on the body, it is recommended to cover the beam with powder paint. This solution will avoid rusting of the metal and increasedesign service life.
At the end, as in the case of installing a factory hitch, the electrics are connected. Here you should focus on state standards. Next, a trailer is attached to the makeshift hitch and the brake lights are checked.
Before you start using a homemade towing device, it is important to check it in action. You can try out the design in a remote place, for example, in a garage cooperative. If the structural elements do not lend themselves to deformation during the movement of the car in various directions, you can start using the traction device.
