Anyone installed Toyota Factory Towbar

[sassenach.girl Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sassenach.girl]

Re: Anyone installed Toyota Factory Towbar

Hi guys,

Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for posting details about Wynnum Towbars, including all the photos posted. We picked up our new silver GXL on Thursday, whipped it straight over to Wynnum Towbars and they fitted the towbar and brake controller in 3 hours. VERY happy with the result and no bumper cut out!

Again, much thanks.

Sass.

[waz2011 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close waz2011]

Re: Anyone installed Toyota Factory Towbar

The factory towbar has four plastic caps in four 1.5cm holes ( 2 top 2 under ) behind the tow ball on the bar . Mine had the top two missing , the chanel filled with water , rusty stains all over the back bumper , now have surface rust inside the bar . These should been left in top and bottom , dealer at South Side Toyota says seen this a few times before , great . :x

Hi
Just had a Factory towbar fitted 14th April to my 150, and when I was looking over vehicle today, found the top 2 plugs missing. Have emailled the dealer, and cc'd Toyota Australia to give my 2 bob's worth, as I feel this has serious Safety ramifications down the track. I don't expect my vehicle will see saltwater, but my mind "Boggles" at the potential Safety Hazard should a Towbar fill with water and rust out from the inside out, you wouldn't know about it until it is too late. Seems very poor manufacturing standards here, as these holes should have tubes welded into them so no water can get into the inside of the bar, but still allow access for the bolts/socket to fit up there, and maintain the main structure as a sealed unit. Can't ever recall over the years of ever seeing a Towbar where the inside of the main member has been compromised by having open holes in it like this Factory Towbar. The main Pipe or RHS has always been a "sealed" section.

Waz

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Anyone installed Toyota Factory Towbar

If Toyota are manufacturing towbars with holes in the tube, then they should at least zinc plate or galvanised the bar before painting.

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Anyone installed Toyota Factory Towbar

Toyota supply the towbar with rubber plugs which are used to cover the holes once the installation is complete. By the sounds of things it seems you have had a dodgy installation so don't blame Toyota's design when it's not their fault ...

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Anyone installed Toyota Factory Towbar

I'm not familiar with these rubber plugs mentioned but it sounds like there are holes in the hollow section of the towbar. Whether or not the rubber plug is there, as long as there is a hole, moisture is going to get in somehow or rather. So the inside of the tube needs to have corrosion protection. Otherwise, the rubber plug needs to be air/watertight.

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Anyone installed Toyota Factory Towbar

The plugs go into the hollow section of the towbar - on second thought, I'm pretty sure they were plastic (not rubber). The plugs fit in very snug, it took a lot of effort to get them fitted in. As for air/water tight - I can't say.

[Si & Rae Member Find all posts View Profile Close Si & Rae]

What prices are WA PPs being quoted for a Toyota bar supply only and also installed?
I seem to be getting quotes around the $1200 (fitted) mark from dealers so far.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

What prices are WA PPs being quoted for a Toyota bar supply only and also installed?
I seem to be getting quotes around the $1200 (fitted) mark from dealers so far.

Yep that's their price. That's what I was quoted came down to about 1100 in the end. It's definitely the best tow bar though

Edit: looked at invoice today was quoted $1100 and paid $1003

[casiochris Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close casiochris]

Had one fitted 3 weeks ago. Quoted $1040 but on pick up only charged $930 - didnt take as long as they thought!!! They did an excellent job as well.

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

Which is why I stayed away from the dealers, I paid $675 for a HR type towbar by BTA , the fitting included all wiring with a hot wire for the van, one tip though, just check your rear sensors before you drive away to make sure thier ALL worrking, I did and 3 of them didn't but they fixed it on the spot, so far all good, WHY cant Toyota at least match these prices ? the business they lose must be huge and its nothing to do with quality ALL bars must meet Australian standards and rarely do you get one stuff up, so thier having a laugh at us methinks just MHO,
cheers,
Davo

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Which is why I stayed away from the dealers, I paid $675 for a HR type towbar by BTA , the fitting included all wiring with a hot wire for the van, one tip though, just check your rear sensors before you drive away to make sure thier ALL worrking, I did and 3 of them didn't but they fixed it on the spot, so far all good, WHY cant Toyota at least match these prices ? the business they lose must be huge and its nothing to do with quality ALL bars must meet Australian standards and rarely do you get one stuff up, so thier having a laugh at us methinks just MHO,

cheers,
Davo

They may meet Australian standards but I still believe (from an engineering and aesthetics perspective) that the Toyota bar is far superior.

[Brains Find all posts View Profile Close Brains]

Wooley,

Have you seen the Wynnum Towbars one in person yet? I believe the Toyota bar looks like and is sent to Australia as a flat pack then bolted!!! together. I'll stick with the welded steel bar from the boys at Wynnum. We all remember what happened to the 120 towbars after a bit of use! If not check out the Gall Boys 'Makin the most of the Fraser Coast' DVD. Sometimes factory is not the best accessory otherwise we would all have that alloy bullbar that looks like a set of braces!

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Having seen the Toyota bar and Wynnum bar side-by-side at the GTG2011, the Wynnum bar is by far the less obtrusive. Unlike Toyota, the Wynnum bar takes very little (if anything) away from the departure angle. It's a seriously well-engineered piece of kit and unless I decide to buy a Kaymar bar (cough cough) then I will be going with the Wynnum bar.

LFaR.

[pjtaylor3 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pjtaylor3]

I am lookoing to get a towbar on my 150. Just rang 2 Toyota dealers to get some quotes. One was $1040 and the other $860. Should I trust the cheaper price.
The cheaper dealer said the Toyota bars are made by Hayman Reece. Is this true?

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

My dealer charged $899 in the purchase price.

He told me that HR supplied the bars. I just had a look at it and there is no mention of HR anywhere. There are a couple of Toyota dog-tag ID plates welded on though. (it's a very tidy set-up)

HTH's