Detachable Towbars

The towbar for any occasion

The topic towbar is very complex and extensive.
In order to give you a few tips and tricks regarding towbars, we will introduce individual sections on this page.
From the care of the towbar to parking with a Trailer.

Tips for reversing with a trailer

Tip 1: 
If possible try to drive directly in front of the gap.
Please try to "navigate" with the exterior mirrors.
This works really well after a short time.

Tip 2:
Basically: The trailer always moves opposite to the steering wheel.
In the exterior mirrors, just look at the front corners of the trailer.
If the corner appears on the left, turn left, if the corner appears on the right, turn right. 
Have a look where the corner appears, you just have to point where you look.
Slowly steer with care.

Tip 3:
For tight spaces, it's best to stick to a boundary (for example another trailer) behind you.

Tip 4:
If you are travelling alone, it helps to mark the end of the gap.
Then you can drive with the rear wheel only to this mark and do not hit the wall or the fence.

Tip 5:
For practice purposes you should set up a test track in a safe place with traffic cones.
Ask an accomplished trailer driver for help. Otherwise it is simply practice.

When reversing with a trailer, always pay attention to the topic of safety. Drive carefully.

Maintenance of a towbar

Ideally, a towbar will last a lifetime. "Unfortunately, the reality is different because corrosion can cause problems" explains Rüdiger Niemann, Head of Customer Service at Westfalia-Automotive.

"Although a towbar is a sturdy piece of steel, you should not neglect regular inspection and maintenance." To keep your towbar in the best condition there are a few tips & tricks that you should keep in mind.

To ensure proper function, the tow bar of the detachable towbar and the intake pipe must be kept clean at all times. It is important to take care of the mechanics regularly. The lock should only be treated with graphite. It is also helpful to grease or lubricate bearings, sliding surfaces and balls regularly with resin-free grease or oil. Greasing and oiling also works as additional corrosion protection.

When cleaning the vehicle with a steam jet, the ball rod must be removed and the sealing plug inserted. To ensure that the plug sits properly and is not lost quickly, "you can grease the intake tube and then insert the stopper so that it sucks in properly," adds Niemann. "The ball bar should also never be steam-blasted."

Very important: The ball head should be greased before use with a trailer. If, however, a bicycle carrier is placed on the trailer hitch, the grease or oil must first be removed from the ball head! If the towbar is not used, please use a ball protection cap.

What to do, if you have lost the key of the hitch?

Please note the number of the key after the delivery of an automatically detachable tow bar in order to act quickly in case of loss or bending of the key.
Even if you have not done so, we have a solution for you.

If the trailer hitch was made after 2008, you will find a 5-digit code "33344" on the lock cylinder. On the key head inside a similar code "2W44" can be found.

The last two digits of the codes are the article number of the matching key. In this case, this would be "942 001 5132-44". The cost of a pair of spare keys is € 32.50.

Keys lost from the bike carrier?

The last two digits on the three locks of our bicycle carriers BC 60 and bikelander are numbered 001-020.

On the basis of the last two digits a pair of spare keys under 950 000 513 3XX can be ordered for € 32.50.