The summer holiday season is almost behind us. Many of us have spent some much needed time away in our caravans or camper trailers. Once you’re home, you’ve probably given your van a going over and packed it up dutifully so that it’s ready to go for your next trip. But have you given much thought to your towbar?
Towbars are easy to overlook when it comes to vehicle maintenance but they need to be monitored and maintained like other vital parts of your vehicle. Towing with a deteriorating towbar is not worth the safety risk – for you and your family as well as other road users.
Read on for some towbar maintenance tips.
What are the signs of a deteriorating towbar?
When you inspect your towbar, check the condition of nuts, bolts, pins, tow ball and base plate. Notice if the equipment shows any signs of wear or if there is excessive movement in the towbar.
Take a good look at the towbar for signs of damage, wear or corrosion. If your towbar is coated with a heavy layer of rust, or has signs of damage, it’s time for a replacement. Damaged towbars are a danger on the road and a contributing factor in many towing crashes.
Ensure your towbar is fit for purpose
You cannot use a standard towbar to tow heavy loads such as caravans, boats and horse floats. Ensure you know the weight capacity of your towbar and use it accordingly.
Towbar maintenance
Hall Towbars can assist you to maintain your towbar, including replacing pins and bolts and all other requirements. In the event your towbar is no longer fit for use, we can help you select a suitable replacement.
Contact Hall Towbars for advice
If you have any questions about the suitability of your towbar, please contact us. A chat with our team and an inspection of your vehicle will determine if your towbar requires some basic maintenance and repairs or if it needs to be replaced.
We have been in the business for more than 50 years and your safety is our priority.