Do-it-yourself tow bar: when you can’t do without it, how to make it yourself

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If you need to tow large cargo to its destination, it is wiser to use a trailer connected to the car through a tow bar. However, classic models of the domestic automobile industry - for example, the VAZ 2107 - were not equipped with such a unit. Instead, the developers have provided eyelets for the tow rope hook. Their location requires special skill from the driver when driving in such a coupling. Therefore, owners of such vehicles strive to create a towbar with their own hands.

How to make a towbar with your own hands

The trunk capacity of a car is limited and does not allow you to carry more than you can fit into the available volume. This problem usually comes into its own when you are going to go to the country, have a picnic or go fishing. The traditional solution to the problem is to attach a trailer that allows you to transport a sufficient amount of cargo. The catch is that most domestic passenger cars in the basic configuration are not equipped with tow bars - devices that allow you to attach them. The easiest way is to purchase and install such a device, but you can also make it yourself. Let's consider this option in more detail.

What else you need to know about TSU

When choosing a similar product, you need to take into account the country of manufacture of both the car and the towbar. The fact is that they are:

European (Euro tow bar):
American

One of the main differences between them is the size of the coupling ball. A Euro towbar has a coupling ball fifty millimeters in diameter, while American ones can be of three different sizes, and only one of them is close to European. In addition, the Euro tow bar has a number of other differences, such as fastening methods and the implementation of the product itself.

The trailer to be towed must be connected to the vehicle's electrical wiring. As a rule, if you do this yourself, a special kit equipped with a connecting connector is used for such purposes. It should be taken into account that such wiring can be designed for a seven or thirteen-pin connector (depending on the type of tow hitch). In order to be able to connect other products to a car with installed wiring, there are special towbar adapters that allow seven and thirteen pin connectors to be connected to each other.

However, sometimes such an adapter is not enough. The fact is that a number of cars have multiplex wiring. In this case, each terminal device is controlled by a controller built into it, which receives and processes signals received from the central processor via special communication lines. This control also applies to headlights, dimensions, turn signals, etc. In this case, the trailer electrical connection is made through a matching unit.

What is a tow bar?

As you can see, in cross-section the towbar is not as simple as it seems

A towbar, or towing device (TSU), is designed for towing trailers or trailers. Outwardly, it looks like a vertical hook or a piece of a thick rod with a spherical thickening at the free end. This is the visible part. In fact, its structure is somewhat more complicated. It is necessary to have a connecting structure that allows you to attach the trailer hitch to the frame or body of the car. In addition, you will need a contact socket that makes it possible to connect a light alarm.

Each car model has its own design features and body shape, which must be taken into account when making a towbar.

There are several types of towbars.

Types of towbars available for DIY manufacture

They differ in the shape of the coupling device and the size of the ball. There are:

By design, the following types of trailer hitch are distinguished:

Rich design variety of towbars

There is no fundamental difference in terms of design; all options are simply adapted to one or another type of case. The structure is always the same - a coupling ball is installed in the middle on the landing frame. The abundance of varieties of trailer hitch can cause some confusion, so we will consider the manufacture of a towbar for a VAZ 2110.

Towbar for VAZ 2107

A towbar is a functional element of a car designed for towing various types of trailers.
In addition, this element is some part of the improvement of the car, which allows it to transport 1.5 or even 2 times more than its own carrying capacity. For a VAZ 2107 car it is about 350 kg. Trailers can be from small 400 kg to large – 600 kg.

VAZ 2107

There are different towbar designs available for sale, but the geometry is the same for all. You can find devices with a towing element welded together with the main axis - a pipe. You can also find welded structures. The tow part (apple) is welded perpendicularly to the central bar, which has greater strength than the previous version.

Equipment
What do you need to remember?
Installation

Equipment

When purchasing an attribute, the kit includes:

the towbar itself;
installation instructions;
bolts for fastening;
wiring and socket for connecting trailer lights.

What do you need to remember?

Any towbar for VAZ cars, up to 2107, has the same structure and, therefore, is attached to the same number of bolts, of which there are 6 - 4 to the bottom and 2 to the bumper mounts. To install a tow bar on a domestic VAZ 2107 car, you do not need a lot of knowledge and skills.

Towbar for VAZ 2107

Here you just need to show some diligence and attentiveness.

Firstly, the bottom of the trunk needs to be strengthened, because when the trailer and the car itself are fully loaded, the pressure on the bottom will double, and the load will be concentrated in 4 points. This can bend the metal, so it is recommended to place wide plates under the bolts on the luggage compartment side.
Secondly, after drilling holes, it is necessary to treat these places with primer and mastic. This will preserve not only the reliability of the fastening, but also the car itself from winter salts and moisture.

Installation

To install a towbar on a 2107 you will need: a drill with a drill, a pair of keys and the help of a friend. After all, you can still mark the holes yourself, but attaching it with bolts will be problematic.

After all, the VAZ does not have studs for attaching this transport attribute.

So, having securely secured the towbar, you need to start wiring. After all, the trailer has the same signal lights as the car itself: stops, turns, dimensions, reverse. Its technical condition is subject to the same requirements as the machine itself. Therefore, you should be responsible when connecting headlights. To accomplish this, there are several socket options:

in a plastic case;
in metal.

Both options are equipped with protective covers that protect the contacts when the trailer is disconnected. A metal case is more reliable and durable, but such a connector will be much more expensive and is most often not included in the kit.

The tow bar on the 2107 is a great way to expand the functionality of your car. With its help, you can pull a friend’s car out of the mud, you can bring more harvest from the dacha or materials during construction.

How to connect a towbar

Installation of electronics - the final stage of towbar installation

To connect the towbar light signaling you will need a special connector. For domestic models, seven contacts will be required:

It must be taken into account that the on-board computer usually perceives the appearance of a new element in the system as outside interference and blocks it . In order to correctly connect the towbar, you will need a coordination unit. This device allows trailer lighting to operate without being switched off. The fact is that the additional energy consumption to power the turning lights, brake lights and other elements causes a slight voltage drop, which is perceived by the on-board computer as a malfunction. As a result, all additional devices are blocked. This block allows you to correctly install additional elements into the system, disabling the overload protection, and thereby ensures stable operation of the trailer alarm. In addition, the smart connect (another name for the device) switches the car's fog lights to the trailer and turns off the parking sensors.

Standard socket connection method

The trailer has a plug that has 7 or 13 pins.
It will not always be useful, so motorists use a universal method of connecting the towbar socket. On most domestic cars of the “classic” VAZ 2101-2107 family, the installation of coordination and control units is not provided. Therefore, the socket is installed for a specific trailer. To do this, you only need to know the pinout of the plug. The socket is connected by a wiring harness to the rear light of the car. Before connecting the towbar socket, carefully study the vehicle wiring. The best installation method is to connect the socket to the rear light using plugs. Enough for 7 plugs:

Weight (minus battery).
Left turn signal.
Right turn signal.
Stop signal.
Parking lights.

And a couple of spare ones wouldn't hurt. In the event of a breakdown, you can quickly transfer the wires from one contact to another. Carefully study the rear light diagram so as not to make mistakes during installation. And you will have to install other fuses. Standard ones installed on a car have a current reserve of about 25% - this is the normal value used in calculating electrical circuits.

As the load increases, the maximum permissible current becomes higher, so you need to replace several fuses, maintaining a margin of about 25%.

Features of operation and care

Before each departure, it is necessary to check the device for mechanical integrity and operability of electrical circuits . It is especially important to check the strength of the structure if the tow bar is homemade and the welding quality has not passed the factory test. You can tap the joints with a hammer and determine the quality of the connection by ear. The specifics of using the device should be taken into account. Changing loads constantly test the strength of the structure, so monitoring must be constant.

It is also necessary to keep in mind that for driving a car with a towbar without an attached trailer, you can receive a warning or a fine from the traffic police. Therefore, it is necessary to disconnect the trailer hitch in time if it is not intended to be used for its intended purpose.

Making a towbar is not particularly difficult, but having the skills and ability to handle a welding machine and plumbing tools is a must. If you have experience, the hitch can be manufactured in one day and is no less high-quality and functional than one purchased in a store. The main task of the master is to ensure an exact match of the connecting holes. The cost of making a homemade towbar is significantly less than purchasing a ready-made one, so for those who want to save money, this is the most suitable option.

Source

It is also important to know 5 nuances about connection:

Look at the picture of the towbar connector. Switching off will not be particularly difficult, especially if there is a universal component element, which is a towbar connector. It is very convenient to make the connection if the plug and socket match the connectors. Accordingly, a seven-pin socket must be connected to a seven-pin plug. In this option, you can make a normal connection, do not forget to combine the required sockets with the corresponding sockets.

How to make a towbar with your own hands

Many car owners, not wanting to overpay for cargo transportation services, decide to make a towbar with their own hands. It may be needed in many cases. In the modern world, living without a trailer and having a car is quite difficult. Everyone sooner or later makes repairs in their homes, and to transport building materials you have to overpay and order delivery. Those who own a country house or dacha, at the end of each season, rack their brains: how to transport the harvest to their city home. Residents living near the seas transport their boats to the water at the beginning of the season. In general, a towbar is an irreplaceable thing that should be on every car, unless in your garage, in addition to a passenger car, there is also a truck.

If your car does not have a towbar, you can buy it at the car market or make it yourself. It’s not difficult to make a tow hitch for a car with your own hands.

But the very first thing you need to know is that before you take up the materials, be sure to go and register with the traffic police, otherwise installing a tow bar will be illegal and you will have to pay a fine.

Tow hitch for car

Necessary materials

To make a part yourself, you will need the following tools and equipment:

The do-it-yourself towbar ball must be absolutely round and have a diameter of 50 mm. This is the standard diameter used for European and domestic cars. For American cars, the ball diameter ranges from 50.8 mm to 53.975 mm.

Materials required for work:

Semi-automatic welding

As you can see, you won’t need many consumables to make such a useful device for everyday use.

Preparatory work

In order to decide how to make a towbar with your own hands, you should understand what the maximum load the device will have and install the type of fastening that is suitable for a particular car.

The load cannot exceed the total weight of the machine. Don't miss this moment, it is very important.

Ideally, it is recommended to install towbars manufactured in a factory, but there is nothing wrong if you make it yourself. This is not difficult and it will serve you for as long as the factory one, if everything is done technically correctly and all the nuances are taken into account.

Most often, homemade towbars are installed on domestically produced vehicles. Do-it-yourself towbars on Oka come in different types: welded, flanged and collapsible. Installation is carried out using general rules.

To collect or not to collect?

I propose to start by defining the concept of a homemade tow hitch. This is a mount, similar to factory products, with which the machine is connected to the trailer. Everything is simple here.

As is the case with trailer hitches from manufacturers, homemade designs may have the following features:

standard tow ball;
American square option;
the maximum weight that the tow bar can pull;
ball shape;
methods of attaching to a car, etc.

If we talk about theory, then for almost any car you can assemble a homemade trailer hitch with your own hands:

for VAZ 2109;
to Niva 2121
on Camry;
Chevrolet Lanos;
Renault Logan;
Renault Duster;
Lada Granta;
Suzuki Grand Vitara;
Hover H3;
Discovery 2nd generation;
Kyron;
Subaru Forester;
Golf 2, etc.

Although practice shows that no one abuses homemade trailer hitches on expensive cars. Therefore, they can mainly be found on inexpensive domestic cars such as VAZ 2106, 2107, 2110, 2114, Soviet classics, Zaporozhets and Moskvich.

So why do they do everything themselves? It's simple. This is a matter of simple economy. After all, before it was possible, without any particular fears, to cobble together a trailer hitch from the first pieces of metal that came across and calmly carry a trailer behind you. Savings and nothing more.

But now the issue of vehicle registration is acute. In this material you will learn a lot of useful information on this matter. For example, about what to do if the installation of a towbar was not provided for from the factory and how to check this fact in general.

Nevertheless, the topic of how to make and install a trailer hitch with your own hands continues to be actively discussed; various photos, drawings, etc. are provided.

Remember one important thing. The savings on self-assembly are imaginary. It is worth making your own trailer hitch only in exceptional cases, when the range on the market is categorically not suitable for you for objective reasons.

How to make a towbar with your own hands

Removable tow bar - let's figure out what it's for

Trailed vehicles are widely used throughout the world. The difference in designs is amazing. But what to do if the owner has several trailers, or even road trains, and each of them requires the installation of a special coupling hook? – The solution to this issue is to purchase a universal design called a removable tow bar.

What is a towbar and what is it for?

A towbar is a towing device designed for towing trailers. If the car owner is not satisfied with the trunk volume provided by the manufacturer when the model was released, then installing such a device becomes a compromise option. It enjoys deserved popularity among owners of private households and fishing enthusiasts, since the presence of a trailer allows you to:

Towbars produced by giants of the automotive industry differ in design features, characteristics of the metal used (grade, strength, elasticity, corrosion resistance), forms of fasteners, presence of electrical wiring, resistance to jerks, etc. One of the most popular grounds for classification is the removability of the structure:

Stationary towbars are usually made conscientiously

Removable tow bar - a more mobile option

Based on the type of ball, the following types of trailers are distinguished:

Why is it better to buy a factory towbar than to make it yourself?

If you make a trailer yourself, which many people do, you may end up with the following unpleasant consequences:

There will be problems with passing technical inspection. But the problem is solved in the following way: during the technical inspection, the product must be removed.
A more significant problem is the possibility of beam breakage and body damage. This problem may occur:

if the product is manufactured incorrectly;
if the device is not secured correctly;
when the tow bar breaks.

If you decide to make your own, you will do so at your own peril and risk. By purchasing certified models, you can ultimately gain complete confidence in the product and its safety. Now let's find out what is included in the package of the factory tow bar.

Factory tow bar kit

A factory tow bar does not mean that the product is manufactured at the Volzhsky plant. The production of such products is carried out by special private organizations, which initially obtain a license, and only then produce trailers for various vehicles. The advantage of this type of device is the fact that the towbars are tested, so they are safe compared to homemade options.

The certified device includes the following elements:

the product itself;
instructions for its installation, often presented in the form of a drawing;
bolts for fastening;
socket and cable for connecting it. Although on some versions the socket is sold separately.

To install a towbar on a VAZ 2107 with your own hands, you will first need to make sure that you have the necessary material:

drill with a set of drills;
set of wrenches;
pliers;
primer;
insulating tape;
anti-corrosion mastic.

Let’s find out in more detail what the installation of a towed trailer on a VAZ 2107 is.

Installation of a trailed

Let's start installing the towbar on the VAZ 2107, for which you will need to perform the following steps:

The carpet is removed from the luggage compartment.
Take the towbar and apply it to the bottom of the car. One person holds the product, and the second makes markings using chalk.
The marked holes should be drilled and then treated with a primer and anti-corrosion coating.
Now you can install the tow bar and screw it in using the supplied bolts and nuts. The bolts should be tightened in pairs until they stop. After installation, check whether the structure does not interfere with the functioning of the main components of the car: the brake system, etc.
Now you need to connect the towbar socket, which causes difficulties for most motorists.
The wiring should be packaged in heat shrink tubing.
Remove the trunk trim.
Insert the wiring harness into the hole at the bottom of the trunk through which the license plate light wire passes.
Connect the wires to the rear lights. If there are lugs, it is better to make a connection using them, which will allow you to quickly and easily dismantle the trailer if necessary.
The tourniquet is fixed with electrical tape.
The mounting points should be treated with mastic, which will protect the body from the negative effects of corrosion.

Finally, a diagram is made for connecting the wires to the rear light, based on which you will need to adjust the wires in the tow fork. Once the trailer is installed on your car, we recommend that you learn how to drive a trailer with this device. Remember that dual axle trailers require the appropriate category. But often two-axle trailers are used for more serious vehicles, for example, UAZ, but in any case, this point is important to take into account.

How to make a towbar with your own hands

The process of making a towbar yourself begins with determining the maximum possible transported weight, summed with the total weight of the empty trailer. The choice of the hitch hook of the correct shape depends on the obtained value and frequency of use:

Towbar assembly diagram

Having chosen the hook model, go directly to the tow bar manufacturing algorithm:

Towbar disassembled into its component parts

In certain cases, you may need to install an additional element - a matching unit for the towbar, which allows you to avoid changes in the load in the vehicle's electrical circuit.

You will need such a block if your car:

Is it necessary to register a towbar with the traffic police in 2021 for a passenger car?

Legal advice Get qualified help right now!

Our lawyers will advise you on any issues out of turn. Question Answer This is the exclusion of components and equipment not provided for by the design of the vehicle, carried out after the vehicle was produced and affecting road safety.

Yes, it is required if this device is not provided for in the technical documentation of the transport.

When installing components on a vehicle: - intended for this vehicle and having passed the conformity assessment as part of this vehicle, which is confirmed by the documentation of the component manufacturer; — provided by the vehicle manufacturer in the operational documentation. Look in the instruction manual.

Connecting the towbar

Connecting the towbar to the car electrics - the final stage

After installing the metal coupling structure, you should connect the towbar to the auto electrics. To do this, you must follow the following sequence of actions:

All that remains is to check the operation of the headlights and organize a test drive with an empty and full trailer away from busy roads, changing driving modes. During a test drive, pay attention to the degree of deformation of the beam, the quality of the threaded tightening, the resistance of the hook surface to abrasion, etc.

Required materials and tools

With a standard scheme for attaching a towbar to a car, you will need to prepare the following tools and materials:

welding machine;
drill and drill bits for it;
Bulgarian;
wrenches included in the set;
pliers;
soldering iron;
insulating tape;
meter rod made of iron;
half-meter corner beam;
brackets;
metal ring socket box;
hook or ball mechanism with built-in eyes;
mortgage;
bolts with nuts M12 and M16;
washers for 12 and 16;
self-tapping screws;
five-core cable.

Features of operation and care

Treating the attachment points of the towbar with the body with mastic reduces the likelihood of negative manifestations of corrosion. For the same purpose, anti-corrosion treatment of all metal elements is carried out before installation of the entire structure.

Homemade towbars are sources of additional danger while driving, so when registering them you will need to obtain a certificate and production approval from the traffic police . Otherwise, it will become impossible to undergo a scheduled technical inspection or drive such a modernized car abroad. Errors in manufacturing and subsequent installation can cause:

Installation work

So, when the trailer hitch has been purchased and the time for its installation has been selected, you can begin installation:

We place the car on the inspection hole;
Disconnect the battery;
We remove the rear bumper of the car along with the bumper power beam (pictured below under No. 2).

Now we have to determine the mounting location of the towbar on the bottom of the car.

We place the transverse beam of the trailer hitch between the bumper mounting brackets;
We press the side brackets of the trailer hitch to the bumper mounting brackets, resting them against the stiffener;
Mark the drilling points;
We press the longitudinal beam to the bottom of the car;
We mark the points for drilling technological holes.

Let's start fixing the power structure of the trailer hitch:

We fix the trailer hitch corner with two M10x25 bolts;
We install the bushings from the kit between the walls of the bumper mounting brackets.

Advice! Bushings allow you to avoid deformation while driving a car with a trailer. When tightening the bolts, observe the tightening torque, for which use a torque wrench. For M10 bolts it is 3.5 kg/cm, and for M12 – 5.0 kg/cm.

The only work remaining is to connect the plug socket to the standard electrical wiring of the VAZ.

Punch through the rubber plug in the trunk floor for wires with a diameter of 12 mm;
Connect the trailer hitch wires to the vehicle's electrical wiring. This is best done in the rear headlight wiring harness;
Follow the connection diagram (pictured below).

Advice! To protect your trailer lights, order headlight decals. This will protect the glass from flying stones and branches when driving off-road.

The towbar requires the correct attachment to perform its function properly. First of all, you need to secure the installation itself to the transport, and then connect the equipment according to the appropriate diagram. You may need a welding machine and many other tools. When working with the device yourself, you need to take into account that on some brands of cars it may be necessary to make additional holes in the bottom of the car and the side member (for example, Niva or VAZ 2107).

So how should the towing structure be connected correctly?

Basic procedure

First you need to remove the bumper. Mark the place where the towbar will be attached - the middle of the bumper. After this, holes are drilled on the bumper body, if they are not there. Most often this design is installed on a towing eye specifically designed for this purpose, or to the clutch hole. They can be closed with a plug, which you need to remove yourself or at a service station.

You can remove the bumper in almost any conditions if you have the tools. But connecting the towbar to the car’s power supply is carried out according to a certain scheme. To do this, it is advisable to drive the car onto an overpass or work in a garage where there is an inspection hole. It will be convenient to carry out other work here.

After removing the bumper, you need to turn off the power from the electrical network by disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery.

Then remove all things from the trunk and remove the upholstery. Markings are made at the place where the towbar is attached to the vehicle body, and then holes of the required diameter are drilled using a drill. It is advisable to treat drilling areas with anti-corrosion agents to extend service life.

You can attach the towbar to the body using bolts, nuts and washers. Now you need to remove the load from the car frame and provide a more reliable fastening. Make holes in the lower part of the side member and in the luggage compartment. All fastening elements must be tightly tightened with a wrench.

Using the connection diagram

Socket connection diagram

The next stage is connecting the wiring elements of the car with the trailer. A wiring diagram for the towbar socket is usually included with the purchase itself. The electrical equipment of the coupling device is a plug socket with wires.

The towbar socket is bolted to the bracket and then to the main wiring. The connection is made into a standard connector in accordance with the colors of the wires and the diagram. A 7-pin or 13-pin socket is used to connect to a standard connector. If the wiring of the towbar socket does not match the wiring installed on the trailer, then you need to use adapters.

Car installation

How to connect the towbar socket to the car wiring? To connect the socket to the rest of the system, you need to use a hole in the bottom of the trunk, which must be made in advance. After installing the towbar, you need to pull the necessary wires through the hole and then connect them to the appropriate connector. It is important to maintain the correct order of the wires. You can add extra protection to electrical cords by enclosing them in special tubes that do not conduct electricity. This way you can protect the wiring from short circuits.

When all work is completed, you can begin connecting the trailer and check the result. It is necessary that brake lights, turn signals and running lights are in working order.

If after connecting everything works properly, then you need to secure the wires to the body of the machine, and then return the upholstery to its proper place.

Electrical work

If it is necessary to remove electrical equipment from the vehicle, you will need to disconnect the corresponding elements from the wiring. If the car owner does not need a towing structure, then it should be removed in the reverse order.

But you can also entrust electrical work to an electrician at a service station.