Types of Tow Bars in Australia — Which One Do You Need?

Class 1: up to 750kg braked. Small cars, light trailers. Class 2: up to 1,200kg. Hatchbacks, small SUVs. Class 3: up to 2,000kg. Family SUVs, medium caravans. Class 4: up to 3,500kg. 4WDs, dual-cab utes, large caravans. Class 5: 4,500kg+ goosenecks for fifth-wheelers — uncommon in passenger vehicles.

Fixed towbars stay on the car. Detachable have a removable tongue — neater look when not towing, popular for European cars and city drivers. Swan neck is a fixed curved neck without a separate tongue — standard on most European cars.

Hidden towbars tuck the receiver behind the bumper for a cleaner look. Standard towbars protrude visibly. Hidden cost about $100–$200 more and look factory-fitted.

50mm is Australian standard. 40mm is European. Almost every caravan, boat trailer and bike carrier sold in Australia uses 50mm.

7-pin flat is the Australian standard — works with virtually every Australian trailer and caravan. 13-pin is European, and increasingly used on EVs because it carries more signals (including CANbus communication).

Caravans: Class 3 (under 2t) or Class 4 (over 2t), 7-pin wiring, brake controller. Boats: Class 3 typically. Trailers: Class 2 for box trailers, Class 3+ for tradies. Bike carriers: Class 2+ for 2 bikes; Class 3 for 4 bikes. Horse floats: Class 4 minimum.