Which Towbar is best for GXL 150?

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

When negotiating the purchase of the new car, I slipped in the sentence right at the end "with a tow bar" and got genuine fitted for free. Sometimes it's worth asking.

I get it. But if I can shave off $950 from my quote and get it installed for $600 from well known and recommended wynnum tow bars - without a bumper cut... i think it will make more sense!

[150gxl Member Find all posts View Profile Close 150gxl]

I made the mistake of having the Toyota bar included in the deal - ploughing up the embankment outside Jinjelic pub confirmed the error soon after delivery.

I'd be going for Wynnum tow bar if I had my time again - didn't find out about them til afterwards.
They fitted our dual battery system and fitted heavy wiring to rear compartment of car - beefed up the camper van wiring to suit. They are genuine blokes who know what they are doing.

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

Toyota bar is off the the quote. Have had a chat with Leo from Wynnum. Lovely fella.

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

Got tow bar fitted today. Leo and Sons. Great people. Explained everything they are doing, why they are doing it, what other tow bar installers do and why leo and sons wont do why others do. Excellent service. Will go back to them to get electronic brakes installed.

[geege Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close geege]

I got the Wynnum towbar - very happy with it.
No cutout required and tucked away nicely.
Also much cheaper than factory.

[roadblock Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close roadblock]

I have the Hayman-Reese fitted. I had one from new which was the type that bolts to the rear cross-member only. Never had any problems with it but it seemed a bit less robust than the OEM design. After an altercation between the bullbar of a Hino and the rear end of the Prado, I ended up with the a new HR towbar which is now the same design as the OEM bar which has a full-width, chassis rail mounted structure. They also great height wise. My first bar, whilst not a bumper cut like the OEM version, sat about 5mm too high with the standard tongue which meant not being able to open the rear door when towing the caravan. With the new version, they must have lowered it by about 6mm because I can now open the rear door! Recommend HR. Bought mine from TJM. Couldn't be happier.

Cheers,
Roadblock

[puck Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close puck]

I also have the Wynnum, great guys, very helpful and excellent service. I will be going back with my next car.

[Mild7 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mild7]

Can anyone tell me which brand/model towbar is most hidden and least affects clearance? HR, BTA, are there any other brands?

I live in Melbourne, so Wynnum unfortunately is not an option, which is what I really wanted.

I've searched like crazy, but cant find a definitive answer or an image. All I know is that the genuine item is too low and far too ugly for my liking. Almost as bad as some utes.

[Usernamewill Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Usernamewill]

I'm in Melbourne as well, and I'm hoping to join the prado owner club I'm the near future! From what I've read it looks like the HR is the best of the rest mate. Just make sure you get the most up to date design (the part number has been quoted a couple of times in the last ~5 pages). Wynnum would be ideal as you say, but we don't have that luxury.

Everyone else;

As well as bumping up mild7s question, I am looking for some concrete info on another matter.

If I go down the HR route with a Toyota loom, will all the electrics be as they should? Late last year I was on board a friends dual cab ranger and we had a boat hooked up. We were driving down an unfamiliar dirt road and he didn't see the spillway sign, and by the time the guy up front told him it was too late. Long story short we were riding the ABS and ESC and the car and trailer stayed straight as an arrow. Very lucky.

My question, will any electronic/automatic driving assists be lost when installing anything other than a Toyota genuine bar? Also, I know it's a matter of pressing a button, but if the reverse parking sensors switch off automatically that is ideal!

Sorry for the novel, thought I'd make the most of my first post!

Glad to have found such a good forum, already learnt a truck load and I've only been here a week!

Will.

[Mild7 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mild7]

Hi Will,

I have had to use a bit of my own initiative here and settled on Toyota loom at $136 from my local dealer (cheaper than most after market I came across) and a Milford bar #690150.

Note Milford make two bars for the 150, the 690150 and the 690425. (The 690150 actually suits both 120 and 150) They are both class 4 HD units with 50mm x 50mm receivers but the 690150 is rated at 2200kg whereas the 690425 is rated at 2500kg. Slightly different ball weights also. 2200kg is enough for my needs and is completely hidden, no cross bar. A small bumper cut is required for the receiver.

The 690150 is styled like the Toyota genuine unit for the 120 and the 690425 is more conventional like the HR or Toyota units for the 150.

Hope that helps.

[Usernamewill Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Usernamewill]

Thanks Mild7!

Did you have to order in and buy the loom or did whoever organised the tow bar get it for you?

And did you get it fitted (the loom) or installed it yourself?

Cheers, Will

[Mild7 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mild7]

Will,

I purchased the loom from the spares desk at my local toyota dealership.

I ordered the towbat from my local Milford dealer.

I installed all myself. Very easy job. Maybe 3 hours all up. Took the bumper off twice to make sure the cut was right. Could do it quicker next time.

[LittleAndy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LittleAndy]

Done abit of research and would like to get HR towbar (would prefer Wynnum but almost 7hrs away) as i was lead to believe i didn't need to cut the back bumper.
Went to our local ARB store today looking at getting towbar (HR) and they were quite sure that i would have to cut the back bar.
Is this correct?

[nanbar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nanbar]

Done abit of research and would like to get HR towbar (would prefer Wynnum but almost 7hrs away) as i was lead to believe i didn't need to cut the back bumper.
Went to our local ARB store today looking at getting towbar (HR) and they were quite sure that i would have to cut the back bar.
Is this correct?

Ive got a Hayman Reese tow bar and my rear bar wasnt cut.

[skips80 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close skips80]

Ive also just put a Milford bar on the back of my 150 GX. Its a nice bit of kit, no bumper cut and good clearance. I got the dealer to fit it so I think it was about 700 crackers all up.