Motorhome owners have a wide range of options when it comes to upgrading their vehicles with accessories, such as: Bike Carriers, Levelling Systems, Solar panels and, of course, Towbars. Due to the differences between a car and a motorhome, there can be further obstacles when having a motorhome towbar fitted. Therefore, it is crucial that you get one fitted by an expert in the field.
The Benefits of Motorhome Towbars
There are many uses for a Motorhome towbar that allow users to enjoy their travels in different ways. A towbar allows you to: Tow a small vehicle with an A-Frame, bring a vehicle on a trailer, carry bikes on the rear of the motorhome or even take a motorcycle on your travels.
When staying in rural areas, travelling through lanes in a large vehicle can be difficult, so taking a smaller and more accessible form of transport gives that extra freedom to explore their surrounding areas, without the worry of transporting your motorhome.
Considering A Motorhome Towbar?
If you are considering having a towbar fitted to your motorhome, there are several things to think about:
Towing capacity:
Before having a towbar fitted, it is a good idea to know what your vehicle is capable of towing. Different vehicle engines with different transmissions are suited to tow different weights. For example, a new Ford engine with automatic transmission will generally have a towing capacity of 750kg. This figure can be found by contacting the manufacturer or checking the vehicle chassis plate.
The towbar itself also has a limit to what it can tow. There will be a figure for the nose weight that the towbar can withstand and the total weight it can pull.
Therefore, it is important to check if your vehicle and the suitable towbar are capable of towing what you intend before financially investing.
Age of your vehicle:
Motorhomes registered from April 2012 onwards must only be fitted with a European Type Approved towbar. This means that the towbar has gone through rigorous test procedures in manufacturing to ensure it is fit and safe for the job.
Towbars that have gone through the type approval process will be issued with a type approval number and a type approval label that must be positioned on the towbar.
Having a non-type approved towbar on a 2012 or newer vehicle could leave you open to prosecution under the Road Traffic Act and invalidate your insurance.
Due to these regulations, it is essential to contact a motorhome towbar specialist to do the job.
Who is fitting your towbar?
There are many differences when comparing motorhomes. This can be where a water tank is placed, the vehicle chassis, size etc. Therefore, motorhome towbars and the accessories needed to fit them correctly can be vehicle specific.
Due to these complications, to ensure that the correct towbar is fitted properly to your vehicle, whilst following EU Towing Regulations, you will need to contact a Motorhome Towbar specialist.
There are a handful of specialists in the UK, one being LNB Towbars and Vehicle Extras Ltd for example.
Buying a Motorhome with a Towbar fitted
If you decide to purchase a motorhome with a towbar already fitted, you must be careful. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure their vehicle is legal and complies with the Road Traffic Act and all current legislation. This is difficult as not everyone will know these laws, so here is a tip: check the towbar for a European Type Approval sticker and where possible use a reputable motorhome dealer where possible.
Having a towbar fitted before purchase can save you a fair amount of money, however, please make sure it follows all current regulations.
If you are unsure, head to your nearest motorhome towbar specialist to look and advise accordingly.
Final Words
There are many considerations involved when enquiring about motorhome towbars, but so long as the work is carried out by professionals who understand the product and your needs, a towbar is a fantastic product that can open a range of doors when it comes to travelling in your motorhome.