READY FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE

Towbars

South Devon Towbars at Motorquip

Detachable towbar fitted to a Range Rover

Fixed or detachable. The right electrics. A complete fitting service for your caravan, trailer or bike rack.

Get a quote

SUPPLIED & FITTED IN NEWTON ABBOT

Ready for what you tow.

More than 15 years of towbar fitting, with 50 years of combined motor-trade experience.

South Devon Towbars is the specialist towbar-fitting service at Motorquip. We match the towbar, socket and wiring to your vehicle and what you plan to tow or carry. All installation takes place in our dedicated Newton Abbot workshop, with the tools and protection the job requires.

We serve Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton, Torquay, Paignton, Chudleigh, Bovey Tracey, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh and Totnes, as well as the wider Torbay, Teignbridge and Devon area.

Tell us your registration, whether you prefer fixed or detachable, and whether you use a caravan, trailer or bike rack. We’ll check the available options and confirm a complete supply-and-fitting quote.

01 / THE TOWBAR

Fixed or detachable?

Choose how you want to use it. We’ll select the suitable design for your vehicle.

ALWAYS READY

Fixed towbar

The towball stays in place. A practical option for regular towing, usually at a lower cost than a detachable system.

The bar remains visible and takes up space behind the bumper. We check parking sensors and any required bumper cut when specifying the installation.

Ready whenever you need it
No removable neck to store
Usually the more economical choice

REMOVE BETWEEN USES

Detachable towbar

The towball neck can be removed when you are not towing, giving a cleaner finish and easier access around the boot. Removing it also removes the towball from the parking sensors’ view.

The final appearance depends on the vehicle: a socket, bracket or bumper cut may still be visible. Keep the removable neck and its keys safely; replacements can be costly.

Removable, locking towball neck
Clearer space behind the vehicle when removed
Vehicle-specific availability, capacity and finish

Leave swan neck or flange to us.

You do not need to choose between these shapes. Most cars we fit use a swan neck; many vans use a flange design. We select the correct vehicle-specific bar for the intended use.

More about towbar shapes and accessories

Swan neck

The towball and neck form one piece, giving a slim appearance. Fixed and detachable versions are available for suitable vehicles. They can support compatible towball-mounted cycle carriers and stabiliser couplings, subject to the equipment’s specifications.

A swan neck does not offer the same range of bolt-on couplings, steps or height adjustments as some flange systems. Parking-sensor clearance is checked rather than assumed.

Flange

A separate towball bolts to the towbar. Where approved for the bar and vehicle, this can allow particular accessory plates, steps, alternative couplings or height arrangements — useful for some commercial applications.

Accessories, cycle carriers, stabilisers and any simultaneous towing arrangement must be compatible with the complete setup. We check the permitted equipment, clearances and loads before recommending a configuration.

The towbar does not increase the vehicle’s permitted towing or nose-weight limits. We check the vehicle, bar and intended equipment together; fixed versus detachable alone does not determine capacity.

02 / THE SOCKET

7-pin or 13-pin?

The socket supplies the trailer or carrier. The wiring kit connects that socket to your vehicle.

7PIN

The standard road lights.

Also called 12N, a 7-pin socket provides indicators, brake lights, tail and number-plate lights, and rear fog lights.

It does not provide reversing lights, caravan-fridge power or leisure-battery charging. It may suit a trailer or cycle carrier with a compatible lighting board.

13PIN

Lighting, with more possibilities.

A 13-pin socket combines road lighting, including reversing lights, with provision for supplementary power in one connection. It is common on newer caravans, trailers and some newer bike racks.

Caravan-fridge power and battery charging require the appropriate additional circuits. A 13-pin socket alone does not guarantee these functions: tell us what you need so your quote includes the right wiring.

Some detachable installations have a folding socket plate that can tuck behind the bumper.

Caravans

Newer caravans commonly use 13-pin. Older caravans may have two 7-pin plugs: a 12N plug for road lights and a 12S plug for supplementary functions.

We no longer fit new twin-socket setups. For an older caravan with two plugs, we use a suitable 13-pin-to-twin-7-pin splitter and check the caravan’s age, wiring and required power supplies.

Bike racks

Older racks often use 7-pin; some newer racks use 13-pin. We match the socket or adapter to the rack’s plug and fitted lights.

An adapter may be suitable, but a rack needing reversing lights cannot gain that circuit from a vehicle wired only for 7-pin.

Trailers

Trailers can have either 7-pin or 13-pin connections. The correct choice depends on their lighting and any other electrical requirements.

A suitable adapter can join different plug types where the required circuits are already available.

An adapter changes the connector; it cannot add missing reversing-light, power or battery-charging circuits.

03 / THE WIRING KIT

Dedicated or universal?

We check the right kit for your vehicle before fitting. This is separate from choosing 7-pin or 13-pin.

VEHICLE-SPECIFIC INTEGRATION

Dedicated wiring

A dedicated kit is designed for a particular make and model, with vehicle-specific connections. Where supported, it communicates with the vehicle’s electrical and towing systems.

Some vehicles require coding after installation. Kit price, cable routing and fitting time vary by model; we check these before confirming the quote. Dedicated kits usually cost more than universal kits.

WHERE SUITABLE

Universal wiring

A universal kit connects towbar electrics to the vehicle’s electrical system where this approach is compatible. A bypass relay may be needed.

It may not activate towing-related functions such as trailer stability control or automatic parking-aid adjustments. We only recommend universal wiring after checking the vehicle and the functions it needs.

Our dedicated-electrics policy

We require dedicated electrics for vehicles five years old or newer, and for any vehicle still covered by its manufacturer’s warranty.

Which vehicle functions can a dedicated kit support?

Depending on the vehicle, kit and coding, towing mode can involve brake and engine electronics, cruise control or adaptive cruise control, parking aids, reversing cameras, lane-change assistance, suspension, engine cooling and stability control.

These are possible integrations, not a promise that every function is available on every vehicle. We confirm the supported functions and coding requirements for your installation.

FITTED BY SOUTH DEVON TOWBARS

A closer look at our work.

Real installations, from small hatchbacks and family cars to vans, SUVs and pickups.

Orange Vauxhall Mokka outside the workshop

Rear of an orange Vauxhall Mokka showing its fitted towbar

Peugeot 3008 parked outside the Motorquip workshop

Rear of a Peugeot 3008 showing its fitted towbar

Audi A4 and Skoda parked outside the Motorquip workshop

Rear view of a dark estate car with its fitted towbar in the workshop

Towbar and electrical socket fitted beneath a blue vehicle’s rear bumper

White Ford Transit van parked outside the Motorquip workshop

Towbar and electrical socket fitted beneath the rear step of a Ford Transit van

Front view of a dark Volvo parked outside the workshop

Towbar fitted beneath the rear bumper of a dark Volvo

Ford Focus parked outside the Motorquip workshop

Rear of a Ford Focus showing its fitted towbar

BMW and Ford parked outside the Motorquip workshop

Rear views of a BMW and Ford showing their fitted towbars

Towbar fitted beneath the rear bumper of a white Ford

Fiat 500 and Fiat Panda at the Motorquip workshop

Rear of a pale green Fiat 500 showing its fitted towbar

Rear of a white Fiat Panda showing its fitted towbar and electrical socket

Ford Ranger pickup parked outside the Motorquip workshop

Range Rover Sport and Mercedes GLS at the Motorquip workshop for towbar fitting

Range Rover Sport with a detachable towbar and 13-pin dedicated electrics fitted by South Devon Towbars

Mercedes GLS with a detachable towbar and 13-pin dedicated electrics fitted by South Devon Towbars

Fiat Panda and Fiat 500 at the Motorquip workshop in Newton Abbot for towbar fitting

Rear view of a Fiat 500 with a towbar fitted at Motorquip in Newton Abbot

Rear view of a Fiat Panda with a towbar fitted at Motorquip in Newton Abbot

Photo 1 of 26

A FEW USEFUL ANSWERS

Good to know.

What information do you need for a quote?

Your vehicle registration, fixed or detachable preference, and what you will tow or carry. Include any caravan fridge or charging requirements. We’ll check compatibility and confirm the full fitting price.

Do I have to choose swan neck or flange?

No. Your main choice is fixed or detachable. We select the appropriate shape, wiring and installation for your vehicle and equipment.

Will a detachable towbar be invisible when removed?

Not always. The towball neck is removable, but some brackets, socket plates or bumper cuts may remain visible. We’ll explain the expected finish for your vehicle.

Will my parking sensors work with a towbar?

We check the towbar position, sensor behaviour and wiring options. A fixed towball may be detected by some systems. A detachable neck can be removed between uses; supported towing-mode changes depend on the vehicle and wiring kit.

Do you fit twin sockets for older caravans?

We no longer install new twin-socket setups. An older caravan with two 7-pin plugs needs a suitable 13-pin-to-twin-7-pin splitter, with the vehicle wired for the caravan’s required functions.

Can I leave my vehicle the night before?

Yes, evening-before drop-off can be arranged. Please confirm the arrangements when booking. Towbar fitting takes place in our dedicated workshop.

What warranty is included?

Towbar installations include at least 12 months’ parts and labour warranty. Your quote will confirm the coverage for your installation.

Still unsure what you need?

Tell us your registration and whether you use a caravan, trailer or bike rack. We’ll explain the options and help you choose a suitable setup.

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR VEHICLE

Inspired by what you see?

Tell us what you drive and what you’d like to improve.

Plan your upgrade