ANDREWS MOBILE TOWBARS
Kent's No. 1 for Towbar Supply and Fitting
If your question is not answered below, please call for advice or a FREE quote:
With many modern vehicles, a bumper cut is required to fit a towbar. In many cases this is on the underside of the bumper and cannot be seen from most angles.
We aim to make any bumper cuts as neat and small as possible, whilst retaining functionality.
A flanged towbar will probably interfere with reversing sensors. In most cases, we find that a swan neck towbar will not interfere with reversing sensors, but this cannot be guaranteed. If use of your parking sensors is very important to you, we advise fitting a detachable towbar where available.
Yes, you must have electrics fitted to a towbar. The electrics will be either 7-pin or 13-pin.
If you plan to provide power inside a caravan made after 2008, you will need 13-pin electrics.
This is the most common connector type currently in the UK. It can be used with lighting boards, cycle carriers, older caravans, trailers, etc. It powers the lights on a caravan, trailer or cycle carrier (indicator, fog lights, brake lights) but will NOT provide power to the inside of a caravan (e.g. for fridge, batteries, etc.) nor for reversing lights.
The 13-Pin is a modern socket type and powers the lights on a caravan, trailer or cycle carrier (indicator, fog lights, brake lights) as well providing power to the inside of your caravan (e.g. for fridge, batteries, etc.) and for reversing lights. UK caravans manufactured after 2008 have a 13-pin connector as standard.
No. By law you must not obscure your number plate, fog light or reflector. If a fixed-flange towbar will cover any of these, you'll need to have a detachable towbar fitted.
We fit towbars (made by TowTrust, Witter and Westfalia) which are typically guaranteed for the life of the vehicle. Our electrical fittings are guaranteed for one year.
We can fit in the street, at your premises or at ours.
The ALKO towball has an extended neck compared with a standard 50mm ball. This gives clearance for the stabiliser hitch which contains friction pads. If you are using an ALKO stabiliser you should remove paint from the ball section to assist grip. ALKO towballs should be kept clean of grease so as not to affect the stabiliser's friction pads.
That depends on what you are towing. If your towing hitch is an ALKO type, then you must use an ALKO compatible towball. Discuss with us if you are unsure.
Yes. The quote we give you will include fitting, towbar components and the electrics you've specified. After installation, we will test it before leaving.
We aim to fit a towbar within three hours. Sometimes it will take less. Rarely more.
It depend whether you are using a standard towball or an ALKO. You need to put grease on a standard towball when towing, otherwise the metal surfaces will wear. However, those towing a caravan with an ALKO hitch need to remove the grease because the hitch needs to grip the towball as part of the anti-snaking system.
You can get help and information from The National Trailer & Towing Association, the UK body representing the light towing industry. The NTTA promotes safe and legal towing, sets standards and provides members with training on safety, maintenance and technical issues. The above link has help with towing speeds, the right kinds of towing hitches, and lots more!