Which Towbar is best for GXL 150?

[pjtaylor3]

I was told the HR towbar is rated for 3000kg where the toyota is only 2500kg. Do they use a different bar on the short wheel base Prado because I think they are allowed to tow 3000kg.

[casiochris]

Got it installed today, the dealership did a fantastic job. Everything back in the right places etc!!! Must admit I am impressed with the local dealer's service centre, neat as a pin, hard to know it's a mechanics workshop, not a thing out of place, even the floor is spotlessly cleaned. Bets thing, $100 cheaper than quoted because it didn't take as long as they thought.

[keencdk]

Only downer with genuine at delivery time is if your car is approaching or over luxury car tax threshold you will pay 30% luxury car tax on it. you could get the dealer to agree on a towbar plus install purchase as a seperate item to be installed at the 1000km service to save on this, but then you lose the advantage of it being part of your vehicle delivered warranty

[casiochris]

Thanks for the reply. Thought the toyota one seemed the toughest. I'll check the grommet when I get it back on Friday arvo. Next is the battery set-up, may even start that this week too!!!!!

[wooley]

Hi All, my VX goes in on Friday for the Toyota Towbar, anything I should do or particularly check on when I get it back? Bloody expensive thing but wanna take the van away and since I've had the car for 10 months thought it was about time. Thought about the HR but figured the toyota looked tougher!!! I'm not doing big offroad stuff so the clearance isn't a problem.

the Hayman Reese towbar is rubbish. I needed a towbar for one job so had to fit one, and ended up with the Toyota unit as it is a much better design.

The Hayman Reese towbar attaches only to the rear cross member, whereas the Toyota unit attaches to the rear cross member as well as both chassis rails.

The only thing I found annoying about the Toyota bar was that they explicitly told me, multiple times, that they would not have to cut the bumper... which was great because I wanted to remove it after that weekend and sell it.

But... They do cut the bumper. Which I suppose isn't a problem if you're going to keep it for the long haul. Just annoying that they don't know their own products I suppose.

The genuine Toyota bar is great though, should not really be anything to look out for, it's a pretty straight forward install and you'd assume they make sure the bolts are tight.

Perhaps just check the grommet where the harness pokes through the body if you plan on doing any water crossings.

[casiochris]

Hi All, my VX goes in on Friday for the Toyota Towbar, anything I should do or particularly check on when I get it back? Bloody expensive thing but wanna take the van away and since I've had the car for 10 months thought it was about time. Thought about the HR but figured the toyota looked tougher!!! I'm not doing big offroad stuff so the clearance isn't a problem.

[1stPrado-White150GXL]

As far as i am aware, the only difference in getting the $185 Toyota loom or using the normal supplied loom (Hayman Reese in my case) is the Toyota one detects a trailer has been fitted and turns off the reversing sensors

Hmm, not with my genuine equipment. I have to manually press the reverse parking sensor button for them to deactivate. Hardly a chore, but still...

[Brains]

Like a few members have said Wynnum Towbars offer a great product with good service and is tucked up out of the way, I was trying to find my post with photos but was unable to locate it. I'll look better tomorrow and post the link.

[disco]

Wynnum Towbars is the go great service great price and no cutting. Seems to be pretty common on a few 150's on PP.

[prohog]

HR all the way... The toyota option hangs way to low causing hookups and reducing departure angle... The brisbane dealer i picked my 150GXL up last week said 80% of all sold go with HR and toyota installed this for me pre delivery.

[150gxl]

Well, you may be correct. I may have made the incorrect assumption it was the lights he was talking about, when in fact, it could have been the sensors.

My humble apologies for misleading anybody with my attempt to explain the reason you may need Toyota loom.
I should really have just directed Wooley to the store for a concise explanation.

The important thing is that it was going to cost more, as originally stated.

So avj, just watch that the $795 for HR does include the correct wiring for the 150. My price was over $1k fitted. So I went genuine.
The Arana blokes have been around for quite a while. While I haven't used them personally, you'd expect them to be on top of their game.

Happy trails

[alternative]

We spoke to local TJM outlet and were told to be careful when using after market tow bars because they are not necessarily compatible with after market bullbars.

As far as i am aware, the only difference in getting the $185 Toyota loom or using the normal supplied loom (Hayman Reese in my case) is the Toyota one detects a trailer has been fitted and turns off the reversing sensors, luckily we have a button on the dash to do this manually. Unless your man is talking about the optional front sensors having to be turned off too ? Even without turning them off it only beeps at you when you are reversing with a trailer on. When you get delivery of your 150 you will find it does a lot of beeping for many reasons, so a few more when reversing with a camper on is basically unnoticable.
Ask him to explain exactly why they are not compatible rather than asking us to tell you he is lying.

[alternative]

The lights may be phisically different, but the wiring is exactly the same.

[avj]

Yeah I was trying to figure this out too.... different ends of the car >_<

Thank you everyone for your advice.... will do some more research

[150gxl]

Hehe...well one of us must be Wooley.