Tow Bars Explained
The blog this week is about tow bars and what you should consider before purchasing one and having it fitted to your Volvo or Toyota. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:
With so many of us considering staycations, owning a caravan or driving through Europe camping etc you may be considering towing something as your car is not big enough for everything you need. You may be fortunate enough to have a tow bar fitted to your car already, however there are some considerations you must go through if you are thinking of getting one fitted to your Volvo or Toyota.
- What is the tow bars intended use? Is it for towing a trailer or perhaps a caravan? Is that tow bar sufficient for pulling the final fully loaded weight you intend to pull? Car body work can be ripped apart if the weight being pulled is not at the right ratio to the tow bar that is fitted. If in any doubt, please consult your local independent garage for further clarification. You should also ensure that the tow bar that is fitted to the car complies with all applicable regulations.
- Are you fully aware of the legal requirements relating to towing. Some of these considerations include having a visible number plate on whatever is being towed. You should also ensure that the electrics have been hooked up correctly – these include brake lights, reversing lights, rear lights and indicators so that whoever is behind you can see if you brake or when you intend to move lane or turn into a road etc. There are major health and safety implications for other road users if this is not done correctly.
- Can you see around whatever it is that you are towing – you may need to fit what is called towing mirrors to your existing mirrors – this is a relatively simple thing to do but often overlooked. If you are towing a caravan your rear-view mirror is rendered useless so to have your wing mirrors severely compromised also is just downright dangerous.
- Are you legally allowed to tow on the driving licence that you currently hold. If in any doubt, please contact the DVLA for clarification.
When it comes to fitting a tow bar to your Volvo or Toyota you can do this yourself, however it may be prudent to pay a professional and get your local independent garage to fit it on your behalf. It normally takes between an hour to two hours to fit a tow bar so that will give you an indication as to how much you are likely to be charged if you know the hourly rate of your local garage. That way you know it has been fitted correctly by a professional which will give you peace of mind. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!
Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire
