Tow bar installation

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Tow bar installation

MileHighKiwi

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#237494 5-Jun-2018 11:35

I'm thinking about getting a tow bar installed on our car and am wondering if any Geekzoners have done this?

I'm in Wellington. Our car is a Mazda Atenza.

Seems to be quite a few businesses that offer this, any recommendations would be great!

Cheers

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#2029740 5-Jun-2018 11:52

I asked the same question here three years ago, and found many recommended East Coast Towbars in Lower Hutt. It was cheaper to come down from PN to get them to fit it on a Saturday than getting it done locally, and would certainly recommend them.

See https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=162&topicid=181401&singlepage=yes

Edit: my car is a Mazda6, so directly relevant to your situation as well...

scuwp

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#2029775 5-Jun-2018 12:48

Aftermarket is way cheaper.

Unless you have more money than you know what to do with and love giving it away, or have a special need such as some cars that must have engineered frames to match the safety system, I would stay away from dealer provided/fitted bars.

The link to an existing thread has already been provided

If you use your car as a passenger service vehicle (e.g. Uber) any towbar must have a manufacturers plate on it showing the max load, tongue weight etc.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

davidcole

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#2029795 5-Jun-2018 13:19

I went towbar express, but that's cos i wanted an removable for an Audi. East Coast bars couldn't do it. Towbar express (wakefield st) were about $200 dearer - but I think their fix bar was bout the same price..... But they're on the voucher sites sometimes.

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SheriffNZ

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#2029801 5-Jun-2018 13:26

Does anyone have any recommendations in the Christchurch area? Thanks

MileHighKiwi

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#2029809 5-Jun-2018 13:35

Some good comments here and on the old thread. I spoke with East Coast and they quoted $430 inc GST. Seems reasonable, I expected it to be closer to $700 for some reason. Thanks.

scuwp

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#2029828 5-Jun-2018 13:47

MileHighKiwi:

Some good comments here and on the old thread. I spoke with East Coast and they quoted $430 inc GST. Seems reasonable, I expected it to be closer to $700 for some reason. Thanks.

Did that include wiring?

That's is a pretty good price for a standard fixed tow bar, damn cheap if it includes wiring. Click on a shin-guard and a chrome tow ball cover and she will be sweet-as.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

davidcole

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#2029845 5-Jun-2018 14:44

scuwp:

MileHighKiwi:

Some good comments here and on the old thread. I spoke with East Coast and they quoted $430 inc GST. Seems reasonable, I expected it to be closer to $700 for some reason. Thanks.

Did that include wiring?

That's is a pretty good price for a standard fixed tow bar, damn cheap if it includes wiring. Click on a shin-guard and a chrome tow ball cover and she will be sweet-as.

For $340 from East Coast bars (when I did my wifes car many years ago) it did.

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nickb800

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#2029863 5-Jun-2018 15:06

SheriffNZ: Does anyone have any recommendations in the Christchurch area? Thanks

Funnily enough, there is a company called East Coast Engineering in Chch (off Moorhouse Ave) that is excellent. They do towbars through the brand Towright. Was pretty well priced and the towbar is still going well several years on.

SheriffNZ

671 posts

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#2029884 5-Jun-2018 15:56

nickb800:

SheriffNZ: Does anyone have any recommendations in the Christchurch area? Thanks

Funnily enough, there is a company called East Coast Engineering in Chch (off Moorhouse Ave) that is excellent. They do towbars through the brand Towright. Was pretty well priced and the towbar is still going well several years on.

Just rang them up to get a quote, was very well priced. Much cheaper to get a tow bar installed to use my existing bike rack than to buy some bike racks to go on my existing roof rack.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Cody64

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#2029945 5-Jun-2018 18:04

I've used towbar express in Gasson St for 2 Mazda 6 towbars. Good service and quite often have deals on Treatme.

Dratsab

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#2029948 5-Jun-2018 18:12

I have a 2 litre Ford Focus I'd like to get a towbar fitted to at some point so thanks for putting this thread up @MileHighKiwi - I'd be interested to know how you get on.

@jonathan18 and @davidcole - do you have any particular comments on the quality of the wiring/connections from East Coast Towbars?

jonathan18

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#2029960 5-Jun-2018 18:34

scuwp:
MileHighKiwi:

Some good comments here and on the old thread. I spoke with East Coast and they quoted $430 inc GST. Seems reasonable, I expected it to be closer to $700 for some reason. Thanks.

Did that include wiring?

That's is a pretty good price for a standard fixed tow bar, damn cheap if it includes wiring. Click on a shin-guard and a chrome tow ball cover and she will be sweet-as.

This is about what I paid from them, also for a Mazda 6, and that price included wiring. Was a few hundred cheaper from them than to get it done in PN.

I recall one of the reasons for the high local prices was they didn't have an auto electrician on staff so subcontracted the wiring!

jonathan18

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#2029967 5-Jun-2018 18:39

Dratsab:
I have a 2 litre Ford Focus I'd like to get a towbar fitted to at some point so thanks for putting this thread up @MileHighKiwi - I'd be interested to know how you get on.

@jonathan18 and @davidcole - do you have any particular comments on the quality of the wiring/connections from East Coast Towbars?

Other than it was all neatly done, and the connection was nicely placed (easily accessible but not sticking right out), and that is all still working perfectly three years later, not sure if I can add anything.

Oh, check the thread I linked to in my first post, final two posts - I asked about the ticking sound, and was told it was a sign of them having done the install correctly with a relay etc.

davidcole

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#2030024 5-Jun-2018 19:13

Wiring seemed fine. Wasn’t loose or hanging, but affixed below the bumper.

floydbloke

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#2030450 6-Jun-2018 07:31

davidcole:

I went towbar express, ... Towbar express (wakefield st) ...

I've used these guys as well. Friendly service, they did it when they said they would. Somewhat negotiable on price and gave good advice on using the towbar for a bikerack and associated weightlimits, and to use a top-tether.

Seems that newer cars (with LED lights) need some fandangle electrical interface box thingy and that adds about $100 to the price.

Note they are now in Victoria St (south-end, opposite the motel), not in Wakefield St any longer.

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