[Danbo]

Does a tow bar have to be wired to the rear lights even if I'm never going to tow a trailer? I'm only going to use it as a recovery point and won't ever have a tow ball attached.

[J--A--C--K]

Tow bars arnt ever wired to the car, there is however a plug next to them usually, that is wired to the car.
I would think even if it were illegal to have one without the other, you would never ever be pulled up for it, unless you were towing.
You could just bolt on a recovery point though, probably lighter.

[Danbo]

Thanks, how heavy would the towbar be? 15kg?

[J--A--C--K]

No idea to be honest I don't have one,
It's not going to be a great deal, just seemed if the only reason you wanted one then a recovery point could be easyer.
I say "could" because then you get in to a mine field of trying to get one that is designed well ect.
There has been lots of discussion on hear about recovery points. And no definitive answer on what's best.

[Danbo]

Yeah, that's why I'm looking at a towbar, they seem the least criticised

[Angus Martin]

Just run the towbar, wire it up if you want but if you never tow anything it's a bit of a waste of time.
Angus

[Jezza86]

i would suggest getting a towbar with a loom. it will be a similar price if buying new and even if you don't install the loom it will be better for resale value.

[Gwagensteve]

Oh well, it's down to me to bring the hate then

Two things to consider with a tow bar primarily as a recovery point.

(prefaced by saying yes, 100%, it's the safest of the easy options)

The Hayman Reece towbar puts the 40X40mm receiver under the car in a place it's forever getting hung up on stuff. It's a shame to have a car with probably the best departure angle of any 4WD on sale and then wreck it with a towbar.

The 40X40 receiver is too small to easily thread a strap into. Adding a recovery adapter+shackle worsens the departure angle problem, adds heaps of weight, and does nothing to improve safety.

Just providing some other feedback.

Steve.

[Jezza86]

steve just told you to get a rear bar made with a 50x50 hitch receiver. lol

[Danbo]

Thanks Gwagensteve, the hate is the best bit! I'm getting a second hand towbar so resale isn't important. As for the departure angle, it's an alright compromise IMO coz if I get stuck, I can get unstuck. I was recovered twice off the front tow point (not rate recovery point or tie down) and it doesn't feel safe. And the rear bar would be great but I'm a cashless uni student at the moment so I can't buy good things hahaha

[Gwagensteve]

all cool, but needing to get recovered using the dicey front recovery point because your'e stuck on the rear recovery point seems a bit counterproductive.

I don't have an answer -I don't own a jimny and would custom build whatever I needed in any case - but it's just something to bear in mind. For a temporary/cheap solution it's perfectly acceptable, it's just less than ideal.

Steve.

[Danbo]

I used the front hook to get pulled up a rut that I kept bottoming out in