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Can a tow bar be fitted after delivery?
- Thread starter Yev000
- Start date
Fellsteruk
Active Member
(assuming a 3)
It will depend on whether all the cars come with the VIN plate stamped for a towing weight, or just the ones with a bar fitted . 3rd party retro fit is already possible (stealth hitch etc in the US), but illegal here. That may not bother you (it wouldn't me), but it means uninsured, for you and what you are towing.
Any other manufacture if a tow package is available (and some times if it isn't) a retro fit option will be available eventually, some high power cars excluded. But this is Tesla so who knows
. Safest is order the pack, or wait to see what turns up in the UK when the first shipments arrive. In June. Maybe.
Avendit
It will depend on whether all the cars come with the VIN plate stamped for a towing weight, or just the ones with a bar fitted . 3rd party retro fit is already possible (stealth hitch etc in the US), but illegal here. That may not bother you (it wouldn't me), but it means uninsured, for you and what you are towing.
Any other manufacture if a tow package is available (and some times if it isn't) a retro fit option will be available eventually, some high power cars excluded. But this is Tesla so who knows
. Safest is order the pack, or wait to see what turns up in the UK when the first shipments arrive. In June. Maybe.Avendit
Hopefully the mounting points will be there, but you have to wonder given that it is not available from Tesla unless spec'd at point of order...
Last edited:
MrBadger
Badger out
I've not heard anything but if it helps, the tow hitch fitted to the Model 3 is a Vertically Detachable Towbars – Westfalia-Automotive (westfalia-automotive.com)
It's pretty simple in the UK. You can retrofit an approved towbar to any car that IS type approved for towing.]
you can see if your car is type approved by looking at the weight limits on your vin sticker. These show the towing weights if you car is type approved.
The problem is, that unless anything has changed recently, Tesla only type approved cars that had the tow package fitted at the factory. No idea why, but that's the case.
This means it is currently not legal in the UK to retrofit a towbar to a Model3.
If it was just for a bike rack, you can get some "tow bars" that have a spike on that are only designed to carry small loads. These get round the regulation as they are not, and can not, be used for towing due to the incompatible attachment.
you can see if your car is type approved by looking at the weight limits on your vin sticker. These show the towing weights if you car is type approved.
The problem is, that unless anything has changed recently, Tesla only type approved cars that had the tow package fitted at the factory. No idea why, but that's the case.
This means it is currently not legal in the UK to retrofit a towbar to a Model3.
If it was just for a bike rack, you can get some "tow bars" that have a spike on that are only designed to carry small loads. These get round the regulation as they are not, and can not, be used for towing due to the incompatible attachment.
Glan gluaisne
Active Member
It is possible to get retrospective Type Approval for fitting a tow hitch to cars that were not UK/EU approved for one. The Prius was never Type approved for one, but a German company and, IIRC, a Dutch company, managed to get a hitch TUV approved for the car. I fitted the Dutch version to two of mine, and had no problems at all, even after a (no fault) accident when I was rear-ended, writing the car off. The car was inspected by the police, as well as the insurance assessor, with the hitch still fitted, and the only check was that the hitch had a CE mark etc on its rating label. AFAIK, none of the US-made hitches are CE marked or approved for use here.
That's great info. I was after fitting a bike carrier rather than towing anything. I'd rather have it at the back rather than the roof as it's a better solution, both in terms of aerodynamics, ferry limitations and lifting the bike onto the carrier. Need to see what's available for the M3 in the UK, if I find anything, I'll pop it up here.
I think the companies you mention are talked about here Tesla Model S Towing The article is about MS but the companies and policies will be similar
To save clicking the links its Rameder for a bike rack type hook and misterdotcom for a TUV approved one
pdk42
Active Member
MrBadger
Badger out
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