Tow Bar
Towbar, hitch receiver, towing bracket, trailer hitch, swan neck, detachable towbar
A tow bar is a metal bar and coupling mechanism fitted to the rear of a towing vehicle to attach a trailer, caravan, or cycle carrier via a 50 mm ball or other coupling type.
Tow bars must be type-approved to EU Directive 94/20/EC. Types include fixed, detachable (removable neck), and swan-neck. The tow ball must be 50 mm diameter to accept EU standard couplings.
FAQ
Does a towbar need to be registered on the vehicle documents?
In most EU countries yes — the towbar installation and vehicle towing approval (D-value / maximum trailer weight) should match the vehicle type-approval and appear in the registration document. In practice, for light unbraked trailers up to 750 kg this is rarely checked, but for heavier caravans and trailers correct approval is legally required.
What electrics does a towbar need for a caravan?
At minimum a 7-pin 12N socket (basic lights). For caravans with battery charging, fridge and rear fog lamp: a 7-pin 12S socket or a 13-pin socket (standard on most modern European caravans). Modern towbars on CAN-bus vehicles need a dedicated bypass relay or towbar-specific wiring kit to avoid ECU errors.