FAQ

Below you can find the most frequent inquiries that are addressed to our customer service. Perhaps there is an answer to your questions.

 

 
  • What do you need to know before mounting the towbar?

    • Before mounting the towbar check the user manual and the registration book of the car in order to get to know whether the vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer.
    • The towbar can be used and operated in a car with proper technical conditions of the body elements. The towbar has to be installed and operated in the car according to these instructions.
    • A trailer hitch is a safety-critical part and may be fitted only by the qualified personnel. Any alteration or modification of the towing hitch is prohibited.
    • Remove the insulating compound and underbody coating - if there is any - from the area around the contact surface of the trailer hitch.
    • In the case of vehicles equipped with parking sensors, sensors may detect the ride with a mounted ball as an obstacle. In this case, adjust the sensing range or disable the acoustic parking System. If using trailer hitches with a removable ball, the acoustic parking system should function normally when the ball of the towbar is not in the operating position.
    • It is necessary to follow the vehicle’s manufacturer instructions considering the maximum load value (the maximum mass of the full trailer and the permissible vertical load of the tow ball). At the same time acceptable parameters of the towing hitch cannot be exceeded.
    • The trailer must be linked with an elastic joint with the proper durability (cord, chain).
    • Check the screw connections after driving approx. 1000 km and for loosening nuts, the bolts must be tightened. Always keep the tow ball clean and lubricated with grease. Use the tow ball shield. All mechanical damages of the towbar preclude its further exploitation. The damaged tow ball cannot be repaired. In case of breaking the rules of the montage or the improper usage manufacturer does not take the responsibility for possible damages.
    • Follow national guidelines for technical acceptance of the towbar.
  • What is the approval certificate and is it required for towbars?

    • Each towbar in order to be released for sale must pass a series of specialist tests including: tensile strength and vertical pressure tests as well as resistance to external factors test. All the towbars manufacturers in EU are obligated to perform the same tests, which after a successful completion result in the receipt of a certificate and admission to the sale throughout the EU.

      The appropriate approval mark is e or E, e – it is a certificate issued on the basis of the EU Directive, while E is a quality mark granted under the UNECE Regulations. Homologations e and E are equivalent but "security signs B" – they are no longer valid. The certificate designation consists of the letter "e" and the number indicating the country, in which the hook was manufactured and tested, e.g.:

      •e4 – Sweden
      •e13 – Germany
      •e 20 –Poland
      •e24 – France

  • Where can I find the installation manual for towbars?

    • Detailed instructions for installing the towbars in the printed version are always enclosed with every Steinhof towbar. Furthermore, the manual can be also downloaded directly from Steinhof’s website.
  • Is it possible to mount the towbar in car with a gas installation?

    • Each customer should pay special attention before purchasing the towbar for a vehicle with gas installation. In many cases the towbar installation in such vehicles will not be possible because of the elements of installation, which are often carried out close to the factory-prepared places to fit the towbar.
  • Is the towbar after car accident suitable for further use?

    • Car accident during the rear part of the vehicle which mounted towbar has been damaged poses a serious danger that the towbar has been also distorted by the resulting overload. The towbar disability can usually be recognized after permanent deformation. Other factors that may indicate damage include: damage of the anti-corrosion /painting surface, unnatural notches or displacements of the ball in relation to the center of the car, displacement in the tow ball mounting area , excessive looseness (in detachable hooks). The towbar with such damage cannot be used any more.
  • Can the secondhand towbars be re-mounted in the other vehicle?

    • Before reaching the market each towbar must successfully pass some special tests giving it and approval certificate. The towbar has an approval certificate and is a subject of the official registration after installing it in the car. Because of that after mounting the towbar becomes an integral part of the vehicle and it is forbidden to re-mount it in another car. The secondhand towbars come mainly from the dismantling of the accident or scrapped cars. Towbars from such sources can be seriously damaged, even when their appearance does not raise any objections. The most dangerous damages in used towbars are: the weakened tow ball as a result of a rear impact (the tow ball is not bent), deformation of the tow ball or rear beam after being hit in the back of the vehicle (not always noticeable), corrosion of welds and steel parts (often covered with a paint layer before sale), damage of the detachable system, lack of important structural components, no documentation and nameplate.
  • Can the secondhand towbars be re-mounted in the other vehicle?

    • Before reaching the market each towbar must successfully pass some special tests giving it and approval certificate. The towbar has an approval certificate and is a subject of the official registration after installing it in the car. Because of that after mounting the towbar becomes an integral part of the vehicle and it is forbidden to re-mount it in another car. The secondhand towbars come mainly from the dismantling of the accident or scrapped cars. Towbars from such sources can be seriously damaged, even when their appearance does not raise any objections. The most dangerous damages in used towbars are: the weakened tow ball as a result of a rear impact (the tow ball is not bent), deformation of the tow ball or rear beam after being hit in the back of the vehicle (not always noticeable), corrosion of welds and steel parts (often covered with a paint layer before sale), damage of the detachable system, lack of important structural components, no documentation and nameplate.
  • Does the wiring kit need to be attached to each towbar?

    • In order to tow the trailer safely in accordance with traffic regulations it must be provided with the adequate lighting. Because of that it is necessary to purchase an electric wiring kit for each towbar. In Steinhof range you can find: a universal wiring kit 7 PIN and 13 PIN, a universal wiring kit with module 7 PIN and 13 PIN and a dedicated wiring kit. Choosing the right wiring kit depends on what you tow or what kind of carrier you transport.
  • What is the difference between 7 and 13 pin wiring kit? Which one should I choose?

    • Choosing the appropriate wiring kit depends on what we would like to tow or which carrier we want to mount. The car’s towing options are wide. The towbar may be used for towing a small trailer (up to 750 kg) but also a camping. It may also be used for the bike carrier. The 7 pin wiring kit may be successfully used in trailers below 750 kg. This type of wiring kit carries only basic lights (turn-signals, running lights, brakes light, fog lights) therefore according to the EU regulations it can be used for trailers below 750 kg. Heavier trailers must have their own reversing light; this function can only be transmitted to the trailer by the 13-pin wiring kit. Additional features of 13 pin wiring kits are: the possibility of transferring a permanent power supply to the trailer, e.g. for devices in camping, charging cables, as well as reversing lights of the trailer.
  • Is a module necessary in the wiring kit?

    • Depending on the complexity of the vehicle’s electronic system our client may choose the electronic wiring kit with or without the module. The wiring kit with the module is necessary for cars with: CAN Bus control system, Check Control lighting control (computer informs the driver about burned bulbs); parking sensors (if we want to have a useful function of the automatic deactivation of parking sensors after connecting the trailer plug).
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