Tow Bar Factory or Aftermarket

Submitted: Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 at 23:56

ThreadID: 62290 Views:19621 Replies:10 FollowUps:4

This Thread has been Archived

Tow Vehicle Setup

Everyone who intends to tow a caravan, or indeed any sort of trailer, needs to be aware that various tow vehicle and trailer combinations can behave in slightly different ways and certainly different

Shain

Hi All,
Thanks for taking the time out to read my post.
I am buying a new ML Triton GLXR and need to fit a tow bar, the dealer says that it could cause some problems with warranty if some thing breaks from towing using an aftermarket TB.
There is about 2-3 hundred $ difference in price which could mean some more accessories, does any one have any thoughts or experience about the 2 types of bars and or problems with using after market.

Cheers
Shain

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Flywest - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 00:01

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 00:01

Sometims it is better t0 stick with the well known brands like Hayman Reece because often - the cheaper ones will be designed different and later will interfere when you want to install say a rear long range tank or rear wheel carrier etc...

Usually the major brands seem to allow for the othe rmajor players in their design whereas the cheaper ones don't give a frig if their product design stuffs up other possible mods - as long as it is cheap and they undercut the competition.

Nothing more frustrating than spending say $1200 for a long ranger tanlk, try and save a few 4 by installing it yourself 0 then find the "cheap towbar gets in the way and you end up having to toss it and buy the dearer well designed tow bar ayway in order to be able to fit the long range tank (or rear wheel carrier etc).

Pays to stick with the Majpr brand names like ARB and Hayman Reece etc IMHO.

Thats just my take on it!

Cheers

AnswerID: 328469

Reply By: Member - Bucky (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 07:05

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 07:05

Shain

I could be wrong here but......!

One reason I try stick to the main brands, and not "El-cheapo" is the Insurance side of things. Nothing like finding out your insurance Co has dropped your claim, because you have some "non engineered", aftermarket gizmo, hooked up to your vehicle.

Not that I suspect an insurance company of trying to dodge a claim, that would be remiss if me ( like hell )

Cheers
Bucky

AnswerID: 328480

Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 08:01

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 08:01

Hi Shain

Get the Dealer to Supply & Fit the Tow Bar ect, make sure you get
a quote from a Hayman Reece supplier, then get a price of the dealer
and tell them to do it at Cost, or other wise you will take your business else where, they will soon make an effort to keep your
business.

Cheers
Daza

AnswerID: 328484

Reply By: Member - Daryl C (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 08:55

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 08:55

Hi Shain

I recently bought a new ML Triton GLX.
I bought it with a tow bar but I have recently replaced the supplied tow bar withe an ARB rear step/tow bar.
As far as I'm aware there is no problem with the ARB or TJM tow bars.
I am looking to get rid of the tow bar that was removed if you are interested, depending on where you are of course...I'd be happy with 1/2 cost of new. I'm unsure if it will fit a GLXR though.

You could try the forum on this site for more information.
www.newtriton.net

Cheers & good luck with the Triton ... Great choice

AnswerID: 328489

Follow Up By: Shain - Monday, Oct 06, 2008 at 00:52

Monday, Oct 06, 2008 at 00:52

Hi Darly,
You say that you got rid of your TBar and fitted ARB rear step TB. Did you change over for a perticular reason, was it not enough ground clearance or were you after more protection.
I was thinking along those line as well but when you add up all accessory prices I though a normal TB would OK.

Shain

FollowupID: 595866

Follow Up By: Member - Daryl C (VIC) - Monday, Oct 06, 2008 at 08:10

Monday, Oct 06, 2008 at 08:10

Hi Shain,

(You barely know me & you are calling me darly ... I'm assumimg this is a typo as there were no xxxxs with it LOL)

In answer to your question ..... I knew nothing about buying new dual cabs & assumed there would be some rear protection but the tow bar that came with the GLX is just that , just a tow bar, I wanted some rear protection - the ARB rear step/tow bar offered that. It also has the same towing capacity - 2,300kg

I went for the ARB because I liked the looks of it the most & the local Mitsubishi dealer didn't seem interested. When I asked about the rear bar he couldn't even show me a photo of what they looked like. The ARB rear step/tow bar cost me $1,340 fitted.

ARB also supplied & fitted a smooth finish canopy & side steps & a brake control unit - just another lazy $5,400 (it never ends)

The GLXR is a more upmarket model than mine, it might come with the rear bar.

Cheers
- daryl

FollowupID: 595875

Reply By: Oldsquizzy (Kununurra) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 09:07

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 09:07

Have noticed lately Toyota genuine tow bars are coming out with two new plates on them, The one on the tow bar says only to be used for towing and to use only tongue with part number and the tongue has a plate with the part number on it.
That way if you use it to snatch with or use the tongue that takes a snatch strap, anything that happens including ripping it off the mounting points is not there problem.

AnswerID: 328492

Reply By: donk - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:16

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:16

The genuine tow bars come with a wiring harness & plug that has a ecu & relays as part of it that will cost you approx $300 to purchase separately where as the non genuine bars dont have this (the ones i have seen anyway)

If you dont use the special harness with ecu & relays & just join in to the original wiring harness (the way we used to do it) you may overload the vehicle electrical circuits & cause problems

The genuine is more expensive but you will be getting a lot more for your money

Regards Don

AnswerID: 328502

Follow Up By: donk - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:34

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 10:34

With buying a secondhand one be careful as you will probably only get the tow bar & not the wiring harness (the expensive part) if the original owner has replaced the bar with a step bar or similar

Also in late 1997 (from memory) the tow rating was upgraded on the Tritons & a early ML Triton bar (or a aftermarket bar) might be plated less than the actual towing capacity of your new ute

Regards Don

FollowupID: 595730

Follow Up By: Member - Daryl C (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 13:02

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 13:02

Good point Don,

Now that you mention it the original mitsibushil tow bar was with the wiring loom etc & when I had the ARB bar fitted they used the loom for that.

The tow bar just got much cheaper lol.

Make an offer I want it out of the shed. I'm sure the loom could be purchased seperately.

Cheers
- daryl

FollowupID: 595751

Reply By: Member - John D (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 11:39

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 11:39

Hi Shain,
Most dealers of all persuasions will tell you that by not buying their product you will potentially have warranty problems if something goes wrong!
The trouble with dealer/vehicle manufacturer built accessories is that they are usually very basic & designed only to do the job at hand and generally cost a pretty penny anyway.

These days, after market accessory manufacturers like ARB & TJM design & build their products with the vehicle manufacturers warranty in mind, eg. Bull bars that are designed to work in with the activation & deployment of the vehicles airbag system.
Also their design will allow for other accessories to fit around them such as a rear step towbar & long range fuel tank.

Products from manufacturers like ARB & TJM will usually cost a bit more but you will find they are far more practical & better built.

Regards,
John

AnswerID: 328517

Reply By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 11:40

Sunday, Oct 05, 2008 at 11:40

I tend to go along with the above comments - I'd be buying a reputable one like Hayman Reece, ARB etc.
Interesting that there was a posting here about a year ago about a Factory Nissan tow bar (Navara?) which was breaking off. I recall Nissan were doing some fancy dances trying to skirt around responsibility. So much for factory accessories.
A phone call to consumer affairs might give an insight to vehicle warranty following fitting aftermarket accessories.
Gerry

AnswerID: 328518

Reply By: Shain - Monday, Oct 06, 2008 at 00:45

Monday, Oct 06, 2008 at 00:45

Hi All,

Thanks for the information on my querie and replies to my post, it puts things in a different light. Abit more research to be done.

Cheers,

Shain

AnswerID: 328604

Reply By: coley - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008 at 22:58

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008 at 22:58

Hi Shain
Mate ! go the Hayman Reese , life time warranty,
A good H/R dealer will supply the latest loom , if needed .
most people don't know that Hayman Reese supply tow bars
to most of the car company's in Australia

Cheers
coley

AnswerID: 328854