Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Tow Bar Supplier
14 May 2025 by joeadm
The selection of your vehicle’s tow bar demands more than size compatibility since it should primarily guarantee safety protocols, along with official requirements and convenient towing operations. The selection of your tow bar from suppliers depends heavily on your response to basic questions that determine safety requirements.
This text examines the mandatory inquiries that motorists need to address when acquiring tow bar suppliers, followed by an examination of service quality elements and how A&S Towbars fulfils all requirements.
Why Choosing the Right Tow Bar Supplier Matters
A tow bar is a long-term investment that impacts both your vehicle’s performance and your driving safety. Multiple elements determine your choice between vehicles and loads you intend to pull. Every vehicle supplier does not deliver equivalent expert service levels or care quality to the same extent.
Selecting an unsuitable supplier leads to compatibility problems, together with faulty installation, and potentially becomes a legal inconvenience. By asking the right questions upfront, you protect your time, money, and safety.
What Type of Tow Bar Do I Need?
There are several types of tow bars available on the market, including:
- Fixed flange tow bars โ Suitable for frequent towing. These are strong but permanently visible.
- Swan neck tow bars โ More streamlined in design and usually suitable for rear parking sensors.
- Detachable tow bars โ Can be taken off when not needed, perfect for occasional towing or style preference.
- Retractable tow bars โ Premium options that fold away neatly when not in use.
Each has its pros and cons depending on your usage, vehicle type, and aesthetic preference.
Is Your Vehicle Towing-Approved?
Not every vehicle is approved for towing. Always consult your car manual or have your tow bar retailer verify that your car has adequate towing capacity. A&S Towbars can advise on this from your particular model.
What Questions Should I Ask My Tow Bar Supplier?
Are You a Type-Approved Tow Bar Supplier?
In the UK, type approval is compulsory for cars registered from August 1998. This involves the tow bar being tested and approved for your exact vehicle make. Genuine tow bar suppliers only handle type-approved tow bars.ย
A&S Towbars offers the full range of type-approved types, guaranteeing that their equipment meets or exceeds all UK and European safety requirements.
Do You Offer Installation Services?
A poorly installed top-quality tow bar can still lead to problems. Make professional fitting one of your requirements when working with suppliers for your purchase. Improper tow bar installations can have destructive effects on vehicles and compromise road safety conditions.
People looking for โtowbar fitting near meโ can find both top-quality tow bars and expert installation services from trained specialists at the UK facilities of A&S Towbars.
Whatโs Included in the Price?
Pricing transparency is vital. Some suppliers offer a price just for the tow bar, while others include fitting, wiring kits, or additional services. Get a full breakdown before making a decision.
You should also ask whether the price includes a vehicle-specific wiring kit or bypass relay, which are essential for modern vehicles with complex electrical systems.
What About Electrical Wiring?
Wiring is often overlooked, but itโs one of the most important parts of tow bar installation. It allows your trailer or caravan lights to sync with your vehicleโs system.
Do They Use Dedicated Vehicle Wiring Kits?
Special wiring kits are safer and allow all your vehicle’s safety systems, like ABS, trailer stability, and parking sensors, to function appropriately. These are typically needed for newer vehicles in order to preserve warranty entitlement.
A&S Towbars also always advises and fits vehicle-specific kits unless stated otherwise.
What Aftercare and Support Is Provided?
Customer assistance should not come to an end after fitting a tow bar.
Do They Offer a Warranty?
Enquire regarding product and workmanship guarantees. A reputable provider such as A&S Towbars supports all installations and tow bars with guarantees to give reassurance for many years following purchase.
Is Help Available if Something Goes Wrong?
A&S Towbars has good support and is quick to assist with post-fit issues.ย
Are You Buying From a Trusted Name?
Never settle for reading reviews and then buying without further investigation. Reputable tow bar suppliers will have abundant satisfied customers as well as qualifications from the relevant industry bodies. Make sure it is a named brand and, therefore, quality assured by a reputable dealer.
A&S Towbars has established a reputable reputation across the UK for its professionalism, excellent products, and personalised service. Its website also has informative guides and tips that cater to various types of vehicles.
Legal and Insurance Considerations
Will a Tow Bar Affect My Insurance?
Fitting a tow bar is considered a modification. That is, you have to tell your insurer, even if you don’t intend to tow immediately. Not doing so could invalidate your policy.
Is the Fitting Road Legal?
Employing a non-type-approved tow bar or avoiding principal systems can lead to a vehicle that doesn’t pass its MOT or earns penalties.
If you’ve ever typed towbar fitting near me into Google and spotted a bargain that looks too good to be true, beware. Cheap, unapproved items could end up costing you much more in the long term.
Why Choose A&S Towbars?
A&S Towbars is a trusted UK tow bar supplier and fitting company with a long history of success. Here’s why they’re the perfect choice:
- Comprehensive Selection: They provide a complete selection of tow bars, including fixed flange and retractable.
- Expert Fitting: Their skilled team offers safe installation services, guaranteeing everything functions as it should.
- Transparent Pricing: All prices are presented upfrontโno surprises.
- Local Service: UK-based, A&S is the choice if you’re looking for a towbar fitting with expert-level service.
- Warranty & Support: Everything is backed by good warranties and good customer support.
Conclusion
When you install a tow bar on your vehicle, you achieve a substantial system enhancement; however, you need to select the right supplier and create a proper plan. Your enquiries about product details help ensure you receive safe equipment that meets both regulatory requirements and specific specifications.
Whether you’re towing for work, holidays, or hobbies, trust tow bar suppliers like A&S Towbars who understand every aspect of the jobโfrom choosing the right model to professional installation and aftercare. It’s about much more than just a piece of metalโitโs your driving safety on the line.