Below we list the different types of towbars available in the UK today.

Flange Towbars

Flange towbars (normally two-bolt flange) are the standard type of towbar that has been available in the UK for many decades. Perhaps the best known make of flange towbars is Witter, the UK's largest towbar manufacturer.

With a flange towbar a separate towball is bolted onto the towbar via bolts on each side (normally one either side). This system allows different types of towball to be fitted. The most popular is the standard towball, however long reach towballs are now becoming popular for caravans with a integral stabiliser such as the AL-KO system. Also many commercial vehicles also fit a combination pin, ball and jaw to allow, for example the towing of site generators which have a towing ring rather than a convention hitch.

The flange system also allows for accessories to be fitted between the towbar and the towball, these include stabilisers (such as the Bulldog or Snakemaster), cycle carriers, tow steps or bumper protector plates.

Important Note - Towballs
When buying a two bolt flange towbar the towball is not normally included. This is because of the different variants of towballs (ball, pin and jaw or long reach towballs etc) available. It is for this reason that Witter, Tow-Trust, PCT etc do not supply a towball with the towbar.

Also many people choice to use a towball that they have taken from their old car. A standard towball is just £4.50.

There a number of different variants of towball/coupling available but for most people all that is required is the standard 50mm Towball. Please note that a EC Approved towball is needed for cars registered 'S' reg on (see questions and answers). Towbars that require a EC Approved towball are highlighted in blue on the price list.

Swanneck Towbars

When the European manufacturers such as Bosal and Brink began selling into Britain they introduced to the mass UK market swanneck towbars (either with a welded or bolt on neck).

These are still most commonly seen in continental European countries such as Germany, but are becoming more popular in the UK.

With a swanneck towbar instead of the neck of the towbar ending in a flange plate (to which a separate towball is bolted), the neck turns straight into the ball. Many people believe that they are more aesthetically pleasing than the more common flange type, as usually the electrics are located on the main towbar out of normal view.

However they do have disadvantages in that traditional blade type stabilisers (Bulldog, Snakemaster etc) often require an expensive and intrusive adapter. Also bumper protector plates, tow steps and pins and balls etc cannot be fitted.

Detachable Towbars

Detachable towbars are growing in popularity year after year. They offer the best of both worlds: a car with a towbar when towing and a car without when not!

Up until this year 99.9% of detachable towbars were swanneck towbars, however this year Tow-Trust has introduced its range of flange detachable towbars, providing the versatility of both the flange and detachable systems.

They are also useful for cars fitted with reversing sensors (also know as PDC or parking distance control). This is because often with a flange or swanneck fixed in position they would be picked up by the sensors when not towing.

The design of the detachable towbar will vary depending on the towbar manufacturers and the vehicle it is fitting to. Some detachable towbars will have a non-visible bumper cut with the electrics on a swivel plate, while others may just show the electrics or a discrete module just visible below your bumper (if you look hard enough). We will be able to give advice on the best detachable for your vehicle.

We are able to offer you different alternatives from Westfalia, Bosal, Brink, PCT, GDW, Witter and Tow-Trust.

All swanneck detachable (not flange detachable) towbars come with the towball as standard as the ball is part of the neck these are designed to the make and model of vehicle.

Above: Bosal horizontal detachable



Above: Tow-Trust flange detachable neck

Above: Westfalia vertical automatic detachable