Custom Towbars in Australia: When You Need One vs Vehicle-Specific Tow Bars

Custom Towbars vs Vehicle-Specific Tow Bars

A towbar needs to match the vehicle, the intended trailer load and the manufacturer's towing limits. In many cases, the best solution is not a one-off custom fabrication but a vehicle-specific tow bar engineered for known chassis mounting points and published load ratings.

UniUte's current online range focuses on vehicle-specific tow bars and tow bar accessories. If your vehicle is not listed, confirm availability and fitment before assuming a custom towbar is required.

When Is a Custom Towbar Actually Needed?

A custom towbar may be considered when a vehicle has unusual chassis dimensions, a body conversion, an aftermarket tray, a motorhome body or another configuration that prevents a standard vehicle-specific bar from fitting correctly. Any custom solution should be engineered and rated for the exact vehicle and intended load, with local compliance requirements checked before use.

For a standard-production ute, 4WD, SUV or van, a properly engineered vehicle-specific tow bar is usually the simpler option because its mounting points, rated capacity and installation requirements are already defined.

Check the Vehicle Limit First

A tow bar rating never increases the towing capacity of the vehicle. The usable limit is governed by the lowest applicable rating across the vehicle, tow bar, towball download, trailer and other towing components. Always check the vehicle handbook and the tow bar specification before towing.

Current UniUte Tow Bar Options

UniUte currently lists selected vehicle-specific tow bars rather than a universal towbar for every vehicle:

• Toyota Hilux 2012–2014 Tow Bar — 2,700 kg tested tow rating and 250 kg maximum towball download.
• Mitsubishi Delica D5 2006–2019 Tow Bar — 1,200 kg tow rating and 120 kg maximum towball download.

Both are vehicle-specific steel tow bars supplied with fitting hardware. Wiring harness requirements are listed separately on the relevant product page.

Tow Bar Accessories

If your vehicle already has a compatible tow bar, a rear hitch step can provide easier access to the tub, canopy or roof area. UniUte's hitch step is rated to 120 kg, but the towbar's own towball download limit must not be exceeded if it is lower.

What to Check Before Ordering

• Vehicle year and variant: chassis and mounting points can change between generations.
• Tow rating: compare the tow bar rating with the vehicle manufacturer's maximum towing capacity.
• Towball download: stay within both the tow bar and vehicle limits.
• Wiring: confirm whether a compatible trailer wiring harness is required separately.
• Trailer requirements: trailer brakes, coupling type and other equipment may be required depending on the trailer and load.

Choosing the Right Towbar

If a vehicle-specific tow bar exists for your exact model, that is normally the first option to consider. If the vehicle has a modified chassis, tray, motorhome body or another unusual configuration, obtain specialist advice before commissioning a custom solution.

Browse UniUte's current tow bar and tow bar accessory range and check the individual product page for exact fitment and ratings.