Expert Tow Bar Installation

The maximum tow rating can usually be found in your vehicle’s handbook. Tow bar compliance stickers which state maximum towing capacity and maximum ball weight capacity are also installed to the inside of the driver’s door and onto the towbar of every vehicle we install. Generally towbar manufacturers construct the towbar to the maximum capacities that are stated by the vehicle manufacturer, although in some cases “light duty” towbars that are under the vehicle towing capacities may also be available from some manufacturers.

Not all cars can accommodate a towbar. The ability to fit a towbar depends on the vehicle’s make, model, and design. Some vehicles may require modifications or specific types of towbars to ensure compatibility. It is essential to consult with a professional to assess your vehicle’s suitability for a towbar installation.

The towbar and attachments can be on the vehicle when not in use so long as the rear number plate is not obstructed from view.

If the part is not genuine but is interchangeable with the genuine part and is ADR Approved, it is deemed appropriate for the purpose and would therefore not void your manufacturer’s warranty. If your vehicle dealer tells you otherwise we suggest asking for it in writing. See link attached for details from AAAA (Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association).

Most towbar installations take 1–2 hours on-site. A standard towbar with wiring on a sedan or SUV is usually done inside 90 minutes.

Complex jobs run a bit longer — Euro hidden towbars (around 2 hours), EV installs requiring ECU coding (2–2.5 hours), and full caravan setups with brake controller, Anderson plug and 7-pin connector (2–3 hours). We give you a time window when we book and we turn up on time — that's something our customers regularly mention in our reviews.

Yes — we install towbars on every major EV sold in Australia, including Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, BYD Atto 3, BYD Sealion, Polestar 2, Volvo XC40 Recharge and most plug-in hybrids.

EV towbar installs need specific EV-rated harnesses, careful work around the high-voltage battery area, and (in some cases) software coding so the vehicle recognises the trailer load and adjusts regen braking. We use ADR-approved EV towbars and test the full lighting, charging and braking circuit before we leave the driveway.

Yes — we cover the entire Melbourne metropolitan area at no extra charge. That stretches from Frankston in the south to Sunbury in the north, Werribee and Point Cook in the west, and Berwick and Pakenham in the east.

We're regularly out across the inner suburbs (Richmond, Carlton, South Yarra, Brunswick), the Bayside corridor (Brighton, Sandringham, Mordialloc), the Eastern Suburbs (Box Hill, Ringwood, Glen Waverley), the Northern Suburbs (Preston, Reservoir, Epping), and the outer growth corridors (Tarneit, Mickleham, Cranbourne, Officer). If you're outside metro Melbourne, give us a call — we may still be able to help, or point you toward someone closer.

If you're towing a trailer over 750 kg loaded weight, yes — Australian law requires it. The trailer must have its own brakes, and your tow vehicle needs an electric brake controller to operate them. That rule covers most caravans, larger box trailers, horse floats and boat trailers.

We install Redarc Tow-Pro Elite, Tow-Pro Liberty and other leading brake controllers, wired cleanly into your vehicle's electronics with no exposed wiring on the dash. It can be fitted the same day as your towbar — see our electric brake controller installation page for details.

A Euro (or hidden) towbar uses a removable tongue that slides into a receiver tucked behind the rear bumper — when it's not in use, you can't see it. A standard towbar leaves a fixed tongue and tow ball visible at the back of the vehicle.

Euro towbars suit Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, VW Touareg and similar — anyone who wants the towing capability without changing the look of the car. Standard towbars are tougher for daily heavy use (work utes, 4WDs, frequent caravan towing) and usually cost less. When we quote your vehicle, we'll recommend the right type for how you actually tow.

Yes — that's our most popular package. We fit your towbar first, then mount and test your bike rack before we leave the driveway. The whole job usually takes 1.5–2 hours.

If you don't have a rack yet, we stock the Thule range — including the DoubleTrack Pro XT, T2 Pro XTR, Helium Platform XT and Camber. Tell us how many bikes you carry and how heavy they are (e-bikes need a higher-rated rack), and we'll match the right rack to your towbar's tongue weight.

Yes — every install is covered by both a manufacturer warranty and our workmanship guarantee. Hayman Reese and BTA towbars carry lifetime structural warranties from the manufacturer, and our workmanship is guaranteed for the life of the install. If something we fitted causes an issue, we come back and sort it.

Because we only fit ADR-approved parts, the install won't void your vehicle's manufacturer warranty either — that's backed by the AAAA (Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association) position on aftermarket parts.

Australian tow balls come in three common sizes: 1-7/8" (older trailers), 50mm (the standard for most Australian trailers and caravans), and 70mm (heavy-duty).

Most trailers, caravans, boat trailers and horse floats sold in Australia use a 50mm ball. Heavy commercial trailers, large vans and some livestock trailers use 70mm. Check the rating plate on your trailer coupling — it'll specify the ball size. If you're not sure, send us a photo of the coupling and we'll confirm before fitting.

Yes — re-wiring is one of our most common trailer jobs. If your towbar is structurally sound but the wiring harness is failing, the connector's corroded, or you're upgrading to a newer harness (with brake-controller compatibility, reverse-camera support, or a different plug type), we'll replace just the wiring without touching the towbar itself.

We rewire trailers, caravans, horse floats and box trailers — on-site or at our Eastern Suburbs workshop. Most rewires are completed in under 90 minutes. See trailer repairs and maintenance for the full list of trailer wiring services.