Which Towbar is best for GXL 150?

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

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?

G'day Andy,

I recently got a HR towbar on my GXL. Definitely no bumper cut! Part number is T02910RW. After trawling this thread, that is the latest, heavy duty towbar. I got it installed by a shop here in Melbourne.

Also FWIW, I purchased a loom through Toyota, it DOESN'T have the ability to communicate with the rear parking sensors to tell them a trailer is connected and to deactivate. You still have to manually turn them off.

Cheers, Will.

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

Thanks guys, guess i won't be going through my ARB store for my towbar. Will source it elsewhere and do it myself.

[lfozza Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close lfozza]

Thanks guys! very informative!

Any recommendations of installers in Sydney?

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

Well I ended up getting HR towbar and ECU from these guys
http://bestpriceauto.com.au/
Must admit price was damn good $604.25 delivered
Just hope i get it before chrissy....

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

Okay Towbar fitted, after alot of trial and error, looks good.
Will finish the wiring tomorrow all going well, but must ask what is up with where the plug (trailer) connector base is welded on the towbar. Is there some trick to fitting it there, am I missing something?

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

With my current 150 I had the choice of genuine Toyota or Hayman and went with the Hayman because the bumper bar didn't need to be cut and the finished result looks a lot tidier.
I did the install myself
I had a genuine bar on my last 150 and there was nothing wrong with it beside the aesthetics

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

Okay Towbar fitted, after alot of trial and error, looks good.
Will finish the wiring tomorrow all going well, but must ask what is up with where the plug (trailer) connector base is welded on the towbar. Is there some trick to fitting it there, am I missing something?

Did you figure it out mate? I can take a photo of mine if you like.

Let me know,

Will.

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

The Hayman bracket for the tow plug does not really work for flat plugs.
You need to make a bracket out of a piece of flat bar and that goes to either or both sides where there is a room for the plug to sit between the towbar and the bumper bar re-enforcement.
On my own car I made one that goes each side with one side for the tow plug and an Anderson plug on the other.
I mentioned this issue to Hayman customer service and they didn't seem interested
If only they spent a little effort moving the bracket to make mounting the plug easier.

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

Thats what I was after Jamies, no idea why they mounted the bracket there, it just doesn't fit.
Thanks for the idea, will get to work on it.

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

Here is a pic of what the bracket will probably look like
For my own car I cut the back edge in a slight boomerang shape so the plugs follow the curve in the bumper bar.

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

Here is how the installers did mine.



Yes the plug is upside-down, but this meant there is no way it will get hooked up on anything. Judging by the look of the ones that you have posted, mine I the same except bent down.

Cheers, Will

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

Thats a good idea just bending it like that.

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

Bending didn't work for me as the harness was jammed hard between the bumper support and the towbar.
I am amazed that a company the size of Hayman can't fix the issue given they are aware of it.