Prado towbars - what's the difference?

[Chicken Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Chicken]

Hi all,

I'm a new Pradopoint member so please forgive me if the question I am asking here is already on an old thread that I cannot find.
My question is: When I search on-line for Prado 120 series towbars, I get two versions of towbars to choose from.
1. The normal full steel bar with chassis rail mounting brackets, and
2. What appears to be a tow bar receiver unit that bolts directly onto the rear cross-member of the vehicle.
What is the better option to go with?
Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Go with the full width Hayman Reece style. Cheaper from an after market supplier too, including harness.

[Bassett Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bassett]

Get the full width Hayman Reece. I had the other one on my SX and the two bolts going up from underneath sheared off. I was told it could be fixed but it would probably happen again. Not what you want to hear when you tow a 2.5 ton caravan. So I got it replaced with the full width Hayman Reece.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I have the HR tow hitch that mounts to the chassis as well as the cross member. There's a few versions out there, mine doesn't need a bar cut-out like some of them. I would absolutely go with the chassis and cross member version rather than just the cross member.

[Whitey1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey1]

I've had my small cross member tow bar since new, never had a problem with it. Although the camper I've been towing all over the country only weighs about 1.4 t so may have been a different story if I was towing a big van.
I like the way it sits right up out of the way unlike the after market ones that sit lower(not sure if this really is an issue though).

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

I had the small HR bar and switched to the one that attaches to the chassis rails when it was damaged in an accident

Both are fine although I prefer the bigger one for piece of mind and neither stands out as much as the Toyota one.

The 200 Series towbar is basically the rear cross member and is rated at 3.5t so obviously no problem with the design

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

I have the small Toyota one, no problems with it towing my Vista over dunes etc