Towbar suppliers in the UK?

[carvolution]

Hi All,

Does anyone know of anywhere in the UK that I can purchase either a Ecohitch or Stealthitch for a Model 3?

I can only seem to find results in the USA where they are made but none of them will ship to the UK.

I have found some similar over here but they are only rated to use with a cycle carrier and im looking to tow a small trailer for lugging around our camping equipment.

If I had known better I would of ordered one with the car, but at the time I did not know I would want to tow anything.

Cheers

 

[init6]

Read this thread.

Tow hitch availability?

Moderator comment - thread split from Can a tow bar be fitted after delivery? Has anyone got any updates on a tow bar on the M3? Im looking at ordering an M3 in the next few months and will as some-point want to use a bike carrier (probably a Thule) I'm sure there used to be an option to order...

teslamotorsclub.com

Especially the 3rd post.

 

[carvolution]

Thanks for the reply.
Already looked at that comment before.
Where does it state that the car is zero rated for towing?
Is this info the police have or something?

 

[Adopado]

Thanks for the reply.
Already looked at that comment before.
Where does it state that the car is zero rated for towing?
Is this info the police have or something?

It says on your car (lower B piller viewed from passenger side with the door open)... but only if you have the tow bar adapters fitted already at the factory. All of the new Model Ys have the required hardware that is suitable for a tow bar to be fitted .. but not the Model 3. Presumably in the USA they have different regulations and 3rd parties are allowed to adapt the car as necessary.

 

[carvolution]

@Adopado My sticker has the following:
2232kg
1 - 1110kg
2 - 1257kg

Would it be in any of those figures at all do you know?

 

[Adopado]

If I had known better I would of ordered one with the car, but at the time I did not know I would want to tow anything.

This is the issue unfortunately. You need the underlying hardware fitted at the factory. (Presumably a different strengthened rear beam with the socket for the removeable bar to fix to.) The car also has the electrical connections and the links to the car computer so it knows it's towing.

 

[Adopado]

@Adopado My sticker has the following:
2232kg
1 - 1110kg
2 - 1257kg

Would it be in any of those figures at all do you know?

I'll try to remember to take a photo tomorrow ...

 

[carvolution]

@Adopado
Is this the sticker you mean?

 

[Adopado]

@Adopado My sticker has the following:
2232kg
1 - 1110kg
2 - 1257kg

Would it be in any of those figures at all do you know?

Those numbers are the gross loaded vehicle weight and the max loading of each axle.

 

[init6]

It'll be on your V5

 

[carvolution]

Perfect, thanks for letting me know. I will check mine as soon as I can find it lol.

If its not on there, is it something that can be added by DVLA do you think?

 

[Adopado]

It'll be on your V5

Ah ha! And it's wrong ... unbraked is 750kg ... in fact that's the law anyway no matter what the vehicle can do.

 

[Adopado]

Perfect, thanks for letting me know. I will check mine as soon as I can find it lol.

If its not on there, is it something that can be added by DVLA do you think?

Nope.

 

[carvolution]

Crap! lol

 

[Neilman]

My late 2020 M3LR was ordered and supplied with a towhitch. For info V5 details are...
F1 max mass = 2305
G mass in service = 1931
O1 braked = 1000
O2 unbraked = 1000

 

[init6]

Ah ha! And it's wrong ... unbraked is 750kg ... in fact that's the law anyway no matter what the vehicle can do.

The law may change, the ability of the car won't

 

[carvolution]

So if my V5 is blank on the braked and unbraked sections, this means I can't tow.

Does anyone have access to this, ie police etc if im stopped? Can't see this coming up on ANPR details ?

 

[init6]

So if my V5 is blank on the braked and unbraked sections, this means I can't tow.

Does anyone have access to this, ie police etc if im stopped? Can't see this coming up on ANPR details ?

Not sure, but if you have an accident your insurance will be void.

 

[init6]

Just had a quick google and it seems police just check the plate that @Adopado mentioned. Since neither of us want to go out in the rain to check it today, we'll wait until tomorrow

 

[Rustybkts]

My M3 has the tow bar and the maximum towing weight is listed on the sticker but I can't remember the format.

What I don't understand is that if the model is homologated, why can't the tow hitch be installed later on a car that didn't have one from original order.
Virtually all ICE's are homologated to tow but are allowed to have tow bars fitted later.

Has the law changed on this?