Tow bar - but which tow bar? (EU spec)

Dent · Mar 26, 2023

The EU configurators (eg Austrian) give two tow bar options (UK has only one):

1. "Fixed" tow bar (ETC)
"FESTE „ANHÄNGERKUPPLUNG UND ELEKTRIK“ Feste Anhängerkupplung mit Elektrosatz. Die feste Anhängerkupplung lässt sich über drei verschiedene Montagepositionen der vertikalen Zugvorrichtung in der Höhe verstellen.
Translation: "FIXED "TRAILER HITCH AND ELECTRICAL" Fixed trailer hitch with wiring kit. The height of the fixed trailer hitch can be adjusted via three different mounting positions of the vertical hitch.

2. "Claw" tow bar (ETI)
ANHÄNGERKUPPLUNG – 50-MM-KUGELKOPF UND KLAUE MIT ELEKTRIK. Die 50-mm-Anhängerkupplung samt Klaue eignet sich ideal für gewerbliche Anwendungen. Zum Lieferumfang gehören ein Elektrosatz, eine 50-mm-Kupplungskugel und ein Kupplungsstift mit einem Durchmesser von 25 mm.
Translation: "TRAILER HITCH - 50MM BALL AND CLAW WITH ELECTRICS" The 50mm hitch and claw is ideal for commercial applications. The scope of delivery includes an electrical kit, a 50 mm hitch ball and a 25 mm diameter hitch pin.

My question is, what are the actual differences between them? The ETI looks like the ball is more distantly located from the vehicle body, so the extra space would probably allow easier fitting of eg bike racks etc to the tow ball. However I am not sure about this and also what would be the other differences, advantages and limitations of each of the two? Also which one would be easier to remove when not needed?

Pipm4000 · Mar 26, 2023

Think they’re available on the UK commercial version. Depends what you’re towing but I only ever need the ball type.

Pipm4000 · Mar 26, 2023

Also would like a blanking plate or bung for the square hitch receiver.

DaveB · Mar 26, 2023

Australian version has over 100 options already existing in the market

Eric · Mar 26, 2023

Pipm4000 said:
Also would like a blanking plate or bung for the square hitch receiver.

Funny that's what I have been Googleing a plasitc blanking cap for the hitch receiver. There are plenty to choose from.

DCPU · Mar 26, 2023

Pipm4000 said:
Think they’re available on the UK commercial version. Depends what you’re towing but I only ever need the ball type.

At one point, we had the choice of 3 in the UK directly from Ineos.

Dent · Mar 26, 2023

I appreciate all the comments made so far, but my question was not about the types of tow bars offered in the UK or Australia, or about blanking plates etc, but about the differences between the two specific EU options listed above. So I would welcome any relevant replies.

Logsplitter · Mar 26, 2023

Dent said:
The EU configurators (eg Austrian) give two tow bar options (UK has only one):

1. "Fixed" tow bar (ETC)
"FESTE „ANHÄNGERKUPPLUNG UND ELEKTRIK“ Feste Anhängerkupplung mit Elektrosatz. Die feste Anhängerkupplung lässt sich über drei verschiedene Montagepositionen der vertikalen Zugvorrichtung in der Höhe verstellen.
Translation: "FIXED "TRAILER HITCH AND ELECTRICAL" Fixed trailer hitch with wiring kit. The height of the fixed trailer hitch can be adjusted via three different mounting positions of the vertical hitch.

2. "Claw" tow bar (ETI)
ANHÄNGERKUPPLUNG – 50-MM-KUGELKOPF UND KLAUE MIT ELEKTRIK. Die 50-mm-Anhängerkupplung samt Klaue eignet sich ideal für gewerbliche Anwendungen. Zum Lieferumfang gehören ein Elektrosatz, eine 50-mm-Kupplungskugel und ein Kupplungsstift mit einem Durchmesser von 25 mm.
Translation: "TRAILER HITCH - 50MM BALL AND CLAW WITH ELECTRICS" The 50mm hitch and claw is ideal for commercial applications. The scope of delivery includes an electrical kit, a 50 mm hitch ball and a 25 mm diameter hitch pin.

My question is, what are the actual differences between them? The ETI looks like the ball is more distantly located from the vehicle body, so the extra space would probably allow easier fitting of eg bike racks etc to the tow ball. However I am not sure about this and also what would be the other differences, advantages and limitations of each of the two? Also which one would be easier to remove when not needed?

They are both fixed into place with the same two nuts and bolts so removing either wouldn’t be any harder than the other. The top four holes on the towing interface are a smaller size suitable for NATO hitch I think so not suitable for adjusting the height of the 50mm standard tow hitch. look up the Tow hitch thread for way more information on this subject

Eric · Mar 26, 2023

Dent said:
The EU configurators (eg Austrian) give two tow bar options (UK has only one):

1. "Fixed" tow bar (ETC)
"FESTE „ANHÄNGERKUPPLUNG UND ELEKTRIK“ Feste Anhängerkupplung mit Elektrosatz. Die feste Anhängerkupplung lässt sich über drei verschiedene Montagepositionen der vertikalen Zugvorrichtung in der Höhe verstellen.
Translation: "FIXED "TRAILER HITCH AND ELECTRICAL" Fixed trailer hitch with wiring kit. The height of the fixed trailer hitch can be adjusted via three different mounting positions of the vertical hitch. That contradicts what I have read. The 2 lower bolt holes are standard tow ball M16 fixing. The upper 4 are closer spaced for M12 Nato style tow mounts. If that is correct then the ball can't mounted in 3 positions. In view of your statement I don't know which is correct.

2. "Claw" tow bar (ETI)
ANHÄNGERKUPPLUNG – 50-MM-KUGELKOPF UND KLAUE MIT ELEKTRIK. Die 50-mm-Anhängerkupplung samt Klaue eignet sich ideal für gewerbliche Anwendungen. Zum Lieferumfang gehören ein Elektrosatz, eine 50-mm-Kupplungskugel und ein Kupplungsstift mit einem Durchmesser von 25 mm.
Translation: "TRAILER HITCH - 50MM BALL AND CLAW WITH ELECTRICS" The 50mm hitch and claw is ideal for commercial applications. The scope of delivery includes an electrical kit, a 50 mm hitch ball and a 25 mm diameter hitch pin.

My question is, what are the actual differences between them? The ETI looks like the ball is more distantly located from the vehicle body, so the extra space would probably allow easier fitting of eg bike racks etc to the tow ball. However I am not sure about this and also what would be the other differences, advantages and limitations of each of the two? Also which one would be easier to remove when not needed? Tow balls are not an item that are meant to be removed on and off regularly, since it is good practise to replace the nuts each time and torque to appropriate setting - grade dependant.

@Dent the only comments I would make are in blue above, since I'm in the UK the decision is made for me!

CountyV8 · Mar 26, 2023

INFO: the tow ball is made by BRINK check them out you can get a common market spec lower 2" ball with 4 holes to fit the NATO mount why they just didn't go with the 2" receiver I don't know.

Logsplitter · Mar 26, 2023

CountyV8 said:
INFO: the tow ball is made by BRINK check them out you can get a common market spec lower 2" ball with 4 holes to fit the NATO mount why they just didn't go with the 2" receiver I don't know.

My Grenadier will be a commercial and I’m going to use the 2” receiver hitch for mounting a tow hitch and recovery hitch

Eric · Mar 26, 2023

CountyV8 said:
INFO: the tow ball is made by BRINK check them out you can get a common market spec lower 2" ball with 4 holes to fit the NATO mount why they just didn't go with the 2" receiver I don't know.

Because a 2" receiver is not legal for M1 vehicles in the UK

CountyV8 · Mar 26, 2023

Eric said:
Because a 2" receiver is not legal for M1 vehicles in the UK

Like what's the difference they are the same vehicle N1 even pays more tax .

Eric · Mar 26, 2023

CountyV8 said:
Like what's the difference they are the same vehicle N1 even pays more tax .

I know, I gave up trying to find sense in UK laws along time ago. Mind you towing laws are still derived from EU Directives that revoked a lot of the Transport Construction and Use Regulations which had an element of logic.

CountyV8 · Mar 26, 2023

My dealer reckons people will just do their own thing.

DCPU · Mar 26, 2023

Logsplitter said:
My Grenadier will be a commercial and I’m going to use the 2” receiver hitch for mounting a tow hitch and recovery hitch

I think I saw some talk somewhere that the receiver had a tapered section and someone could not fully engage their standard square section hitch?

Eric · Mar 26, 2023

DCPU said:
I think I saw some talk somewhere that the receiver had a tapered section and someone could fully engage their standard square section hitch?

Don't know, it's one for @Jean Mercier, but the poor man now spends more time at the showroom than his home. He has probably already been invited to their staff shooting day, Christmas Dinner, not to mention their team briefings. Rumour has it he has been allocated his own car parking space.
So if I were you I wouldn't dare ask him.

Logsplitter · Mar 26, 2023

DCPU said:
I think I saw some talk somewhere that the receiver had a tapered section and someone could not fully engage their standard square section hitch?

Yes I saw that. It was one of the hitches with two location holes. They could only fix into first hole on hitch and couldn’t push it in farther to use second closer coupling hole. Easily sorted. Can’t remember where I saw it either

Jean Mercier · Mar 26, 2023

Eric said:
Don't know, it's one for @Jean Mercier, but the poor man now spends more time at the showroom than his home. He has probably already been invited to their staff shooting day, Christmas Dinner, not to mention their team briefings. Rumour has it he has been allocated his own car parking space.
So if I were you I wouldn't dare ask him.

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