What Are The Different Types of Towbars for Your Vehicle

A tow bar is also known as a tow hitch. It is actually a gadget that attaches the back of your vehicle to another vehicle. A sphere or socket system is available which allows both vehicles to move together while maintaining a safe distance between them. Towbars come in very handy when you want to move a broken down vehicle or trailer to a new location. Towbars are usually fit in heavy vehicles which tow other vehicles. Usually, the weight which can be towed with a towbar is comparative to that of the automobile. It is important that you choose a towbar which is appropriate for the trailer or vehicle which is being towed. It is also important to consider different circumstances under which the towbar is being used.

In this article, we will tell you about some different types of towbars and how they come in handy under different circumstances.

Some Common Types of Towbars for your Vehicle

1) Rigid Towbar - This is the most basic type of towbar. It is very lightweight and inexpensive. The arms of this towbar are joined together in an A shape. Therefore, it is also known as A-frame towbar. However, it becomes slightly difficult to mount the bar alone. Rigid towbars usually need two people to align the towbar to another vehicle. This type of towbar should be used if you don't need to disconnect the towing connection.

2) Self Aligning Towbar - Self aligning towbars are also known as Collapsible towbars. This type of towbar can be easily mounted and adjusted. It is held together with pins. These pins can be easily removed which allows connections and disconnections. However, such towbars can be easily stolen if you do not have a locking system in place. When you connect another vehicle, the towbar pulls out and locks itself in the car which is being towed. Self aligning towbars come in two varieties: Motorhome mounted which are fixed on the tow car and Car mounted which are fixed on the car being towed.

• Motorhome Mounted - Such towbars have become very popular among users. This is because they include a swivel joint and a ball coupler. Moreover, such a towbar has no drop ball mount that scrapes the road while you move the tow car over bumps or holes. The bar can be easily fixed at the end of the tow car.
• Car Mounted - Car mounted towbars are speedy and simple. This is because they have a rapid release system which folds itself back to the tow car when the towbar is not in use. Car mounted tow bars fitted in a vehicle are usually used for towing trucks. The only problem is that Car mounted towbars affect the suspension of a car.

3) Flange Ball - Last but not the least, you may also use Flange ball towbars which use a ball system. The ball is mounted on the towbar and connected to the wiring car with nuts and bolts. Ford towbars, Mitsubishi towbars and others also work on the basis of this concept. However, you need to buy stabilizers with Flange ball towbars.

By Tina Antony

2012 SLP GMC Sierra 1500 4WD Crew Cab SLT

After four days in this truck I began to feel something of an appreciation for how Genghis Khan must have felt as he charged into unsuspecting villages.

The 450 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque were intoxicating in this pickup, and the whine of the supercharger was a quick way to bring a smile to my face.

While docile under normal driving conditions, when dipping into the WEP War Emergency Power of the supercharger, the truck became even more enjoyable.

While the truck is no slouch, given its weight, the additional height from the off-road suspension and its oversize wheels, it feels much faster than a normal Sierra, but not as insanely quick as one would hope with the additional power of forced induction.

The TVS 1900 supercharger kit for the 5.3-liter gives you instant power when you tromp on the loud pedal. And loud it is, because with the addition of SLP exhaust tips, the truck has a burble and growl that makes a great addition to something with a high ride height and badges that say "supercharged" on the door.

Looking under the hood you can tell that this is no stock truck, despite being able to order the kit and products from the dealer without impacting the warranty.

But, the underhood finish of the kit leaves something to be desired. It looks both at home and not quite right. The kit would look better with a little less chrome and more flat accents; the shiny SLP air tube under the hood looks out of place.

The interior was the biggest letdown. Much to my surprise, the Katzkin interior treatment not only mixed two colors you shouldn't mix black and brown but it made it appear that the truck had far more miles on it than it actually did.

Judging from the play in the fabric and finish, I would have thought 30,000 miles had been ridden in the seats. Much to my horror, there were just more than 500 miles on the odometer when I grabbed the keys. I would have preferred the money be kept under the hood and the interior upholstery left stock.

The crew cab provided ample interior space for both front and rear passengers and for hauling groceries.

As I was in the process of moving, I filled the bed with my large items and hauled them to my new place.

The added height from the off-road suspension option worked well for setting and picking items up when loading and unloading.

Overall the truck is a lot of fun and useful if big trucks with big power tickle your fancy. The biggest problem I had over my time with it was keeping my foot out of the accelerator. While I was no fan of the interior appointments, I'll overlook it for the sound of the supercharger and the juvenile smile I often had.

By: David Arnouts