Hello, my name is Walter. Over the past few months, I have been working on my car. I never used to think much about my car. I would just jump into it and hit the road. Things were fine at first, but soon I realised that things were starting to go wrong. Strange white smoke started to appear from the exhaust. Sometimes when I changed gear, I could hear a strange noise. Foolishly, I ignored all of this until my car broke down. When I got to the auto repair shop the mechanic repaired my car and then gave it a full service. As he did so, I began my auto servicing education.
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You may have been planning next year's family holiday and have decided that you are going to forsake any all-inclusive resort hotel and do your own thing. You're going to buy a caravan and really explore some of the magnificent country that you live in. However, in addition to choosing the right caravan, you've got to make sure that your vehicle will be able to tow it. What do you need to think about here?
What's Involved
Assuming that you have a vehicle with enough power to pull a caravan in the first place, your initial task is to get a tow bar fitted. This is not just a means of physically pulling something behind the vehicle, but it also gives the chassis at the back of the car the support and strength to handle it all. In addition, the tow bar needs to carry the electrical components to ensure that everything is legal.
Can You Do This Yourself?
Do you have the amount of manual dexterity and mechanical skill to do this yourself? This is what's involved so that you can make that decision.
Disconnect the Power
Disconnect all of the electrical power to the back of the car and specifically the power that goes to the rear bumper. Remove the negative terminal on the battery and then unplug the cable that goes to the fog light attached to the bumper. Mark the wires carefully, so that you know where they reattach.
Remove the Bumper
Find the bolts that attach the rear bumper to the car and remove them carefully. You might also have to disconnect tiny clips that are situated along the bottom of the bumper, to keep it in place.
You should now be able to see two holes drilled into the chassis, which are intended to support a tow bar installation. If you don't see these holes, you might have to use the brackets supplied with the tow bar kit instead.
Attaching the Tow Bar
Assuming that these holes are present on the vehicle, separate the bracket set and bolts provided with the kit and offer it up to this location. You might have to remove some plastic edge protectors from around the holes to start with. Make sure that you carefully tighten the bolts and that the installation is at the right height and level.
Connecting the Wiring
One of the most complex tasks is next and last. You have to spline the wiring set along the existing cables that run back to the fog light. This may require you to match the colour coding, so that everything works correctly and you are fully road legal.
Checking Everything
If you are satisfied with your work, you will need to test everything out. Ensure that you do this in a safe and quiet location, where there is no other traffic present.
Can You Really Do This?
If you are unsure about any of this procedure, or maybe at all worried that you'll get it right, it's best to get in touch with a mechanic to help you.
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