Fixed tow bar and parking sensors

[dubber36]

@t0mb0 I have similar and went for a £5 black plate that bolts on to rear behind towball which I spied when I was in the towbar place. Guessed it would provide some protection to bumper as caravan has habit of moving forward when unhooking.

Unless you are on a slope and haven't put the caravan brake on properly, that's user error. Reversing the caravan compresses the Alko hitch, so when you unhook, the hitch will creep back out and crash into the rear bumper. Next time you reverse park, go back 6" further than you need, then pull forwards a touch to pull the hitch back out.

 

[ChrisBell]

Unless you are on a slope and haven't put the caravan brake on properly, that's user error. Reversing the caravan compresses the Alko hitch, so when you unhook, the hitch will creep back out and crash into the rear bumper. Next time you reverse park, go back 6" further than you need, then pull forwards a touch to pull the hitch back out.

Brilliant thank you... I knew there was a way to overcome it but never knew as clear as that! It used to be embarrassing shouting at the wife to pull forward while I tried to hold caravan back! Update on the fixed plate.... Its messing with my rear sensors! May have to go!

 

[dubber36]

You shouldn't really need the fixed plate. Originally they were fitted to aid hooking up. Basically, you reversed until you hit the trailer hitch and the shape of the guard would nudge the hitch pretty close to the tow ball. Caravanists seem to be a bit more careful than that.

 

[t6blo]

Not much help, as this was on the van already so no idea if genuine one or aftermarket, but I’ve not seen it set off any of the reversing sensors yet (and I’ve fitted a cap)

 

[Salty Spuds]

Factory fit fixed towbar - no false signals whatsoever.

Likewise

 

[t0mb0]

As an update, we’ve just had the towsure fixed towball fitted and it looks great. Early days but no issues with parking sensors yet so looking promising. What’s really nice, and I hadn’t known in advance, is that the towbar itself is clearly visible on the reversing camera which is a great help to lining a trailer up.

 

[Walshie]

I had a fixed fitted to my Skoda superb (saloon) and the garage that fitted it (towbar specialist) used some form of computer/tablet to code it so the rear sensors knew there was a towbar fitted - never once had a false activation. I've now bought a T6 which has a removable swan neck fitted which sends the parking sensors crazy when i reverse. Im guessing some form of dedicated wiring harness or software coding is needed to sort the issue.