DIY Tow Bar Install

[bumblebee]

No need to cut any wires. You tap in to wires.
If your no expert with wiring then i suggest you purchase "positap" adaptors.
They are brilliant and quite inexpensive.
I get them from ebay from a lot in melbourne.
They are reuseable and dont damage wires like other products do.
They simply screw together

[Quismiff]

Some even come with the plug that goes straight into the loom, or if all else fails ask mitsi if they have any of said looms left, the plug would be the same right through the range even if the sub structure changed.


One of these plugs is the reverse or parking sensors, the other is the tow bar loom. Two wires because that is how CAN works.

[lancerdarryl]

^ That isn't a tow bar wiring loom plug.The OEM harness comes from inside the car on the left hand side.It is a complete unit with its own ECU.Like this one...

[Quismiff]

Well then I have no idea why that plug goes to my 7PIN trailer plug, i'll look for that look though Darryl, as now I am thoroughly confused...

[lancerdarryl]

That's a bit of an odd one.I have looked at that plug a couple of times trying to work out what it does.Maybe on your car the person who fitted the bar just spliced into it to make it a trailer connection?

[Mooman]

Not sure but is it F-16? If so it looks like it may be where an antenna for remote boot access plugs.

[Lancer1993]

I'll have to have a poke around under the rear... I do remember seeing a plug under there before but not sure if its the one I need or the parking sensors, which I don't have.

[kinesis]

If you've got the tools and the confidence, go for it. They'll be a little bit of work involved, and yes, cutting wires.

I looked at the same thing, then decided to get some quotes, best quote was $445 installed. Given it was $415 inc. freight to DIY, I wasn't going to complain about the extra $30. In the end, worked out better, because I have an aftermarket exhaust so needed to cut one of my existing support hangers to get the towbar to fit. A quick trip to the exhaust shop to fix that issue.

Judging by the photo of your exhaust, the exhaust support hanger at the rear may be an issue. If you're good with a welder and doing that kind of thing, then you can fix it up yourself.

[Lancer1993]

The hangers are stock for the 09' so nothing should change.

[bumblebee]

If you not going to solder the wires together after you cut them then dont bother to cut them in the first place. Use "positap" plugs instead.

[Quismiff]

That's a bit of an odd one.I have looked at that plug a couple of times trying to work out what it does.Maybe on your car the person who fitted the bar just spliced into it to make it a trailer connection?

I concede, you were correct, I gave my car a proper feel and the trailer loom runs across the cross member to the rear left of the car and disappears up into the darkness, that little one also follows the same path, but is completely seperate, and when unplugged the boot lid still pops, so it isn't the antenna.

[Lancer1993]

I do know a good electrician if needed to help with the wiring but I prefer the idea of just plugging it in.

[bumblebee]

Its really not that difficult to do.once you do it with positap and see how straight forward it is there will be no stopping you

[Lancer1993]

Here is the right side where the end of the exhaust is attached.

Which holes are used to bolt it on?

[toc]

Tow Bar for me was an after market... I didn't touch the bumper and just bolted it up - make sure you have the right grade of bolts..
It's very easy to bolt up.. Depending on style, you might need to cut the bumper (else it'll have the plastic bending from the tow bar).
Factory bolt holes are easy - very easy to get to..
Make sure they are torqued tight, and it's very easy. 6 bolts from memory.

Wiring the lights? I made myself a custom relay box and put the lights in circuit with the low current draw 12v relays.
The specialty boxes would be similar - I couldn't identify where the harness connector was - which is what the typical kit would connect to..