Frequently Asked Questions

Have your vehicle registration ready, or the make, model and year. It also helps to know:

• whether the vehicle is 2WD or 4WD
• whether it is a Japanese import
• what you plan to tow
• whether a bullbar or nudge bar is fitted.

This helps us match the correct towbar to your vehicle the first time.

Enter your registration or vehicle details in Find My Towbar and we'll match you with the towbars made for your vehicle.

Model year alone is not always enough. Some vehicles change part-way through a year, and body type, drivetrain and other specifications can affect fitment. If nothing is shown for your vehicle, call us on 0800 698 227.

Often, yes. However, an imported vehicle is not always identical to the NZ-new model with the same name, so mounting points and other vehicle details can differ.

Use your registration when searching so we can match the exact vehicle, and let us know that it is an import if you call.

We manufacture a wide range of vehicle-specific towbars, but not every product is held in stock and not every vehicle will appear in the online selector.

If you can't find your vehicle, call us on 0800 698 227 and we'll check the available options.

No. Your vehicle manufacturer sets the vehicle's towing limit, and fitting a higher-rated towbar does not increase it.

For example, a towbar rated to 3,500 kg fitted to a vehicle with a 2,000 kg towing limit does not turn the vehicle into a 3,500 kg towing vehicle. Stay within the lowest relevant rating across the vehicle, towbar, coupling and towing setup.

See our Towing a Trailer in NZ guide for more on towing capacity and trailer weights.

A removable or detachable towbar uses a tongue and towball that can be removed from the receiver when you're not towing. A fixed-tongue towbar leaves the tongue and towball attached to the vehicle.

The design and rating depend on the towbar made for your vehicle, so check the individual product listing when comparing options.

Front-mounted towing equipment is generally not suitable for most modern vehicles because of their structure and safety systems. If you have a specific requirement, contact us and we'll check what is possible for your vehicle.

Some vehicles require a bumper cut or trim so the towbar can be fitted correctly while maintaining suitable clearance.

The requirement depends on the vehicle and towbar design. If you want to know before ordering, call us on 0800 698 227.

The towball must match the coupling fitted to your trailer. Hayman Reese NZ offers 50 mm and 1 7/8 inch towball options.

Check the size marked on your trailer coupling before towing. A 50 mm towball and a 1 7/8 inch towball are different sizes and are not interchangeable.

Enter your registration or vehicle details on our website and we'll show the Hayman Reese towbar options for your vehicle.

Choose your towbar, buy it online, select an approved installer and book a fitting time. Then simply take your vehicle to the installer at the booked time and they will handle the installation.

If you'd rather talk through the options first, call 0800 698 227.

The price depends on the vehicle and the towbar available for it. Once you select your vehicle, the website shows the current fitted price for each suitable towbar.

Prices shown are fitted prices including GST, so professional installation is already included.

The displayed fitted price includes the Hayman Reese towbar, professional installation by the selected installer and GST.

Towball options, wiring, SmartClick, SmartPin and other components depend on the specific towbar and vehicle. Check the individual product listing to see exactly what is supplied with the option you're buying.

No. Installation is part of the fitted towbar price shown on our website. There is no separate standard fitting charge added after you buy the towbar.

Choose your towbar, select an approved installer and fitting time during the ordering process, then take your vehicle in for the installation.

Hayman Reese NZ towbars are sold as fitted products rather than DIY towbar kits. Professional installation by an approved installer is already included in the fitted price.

That means you don't need to organise the towbar and installation separately. Buy the correct towbar through our website, book your installer and take the vehicle in at the arranged time.

Allow around 3 to 4 hours for most installations, although the exact time depends on the vehicle, towbar and any vehicle-specific work required.

Your installer can confirm the expected time when the booking is arranged.

After choosing your towbar, you select an approved installer and fitting time as part of the buying process.

If your preferred installer cannot fit you at the time you want, choose another available time or select a different approved installer.

Orders can be cancelled subject to our current terms and conditions. Contact the Hayman Reese sales team as soon as possible if you need to make a change or cancel an order.

Our returns policy depends on the product and circumstances. Some goods may be one-off, special-order or non-returnable, so check the relevant product information and our current terms and conditions before ordering.

We accept Mastercard, Visa and American Express.

Hayman Reese towbar warranty coverage depends on the product. See our current warranty information for the warranty period, coverage and conditions that apply to your purchase.

Hayman Reese towbars are supplied with a protective black finish. The exact components and finish can vary by product, so check the towbar listing for the vehicle you're buying for.

Normal wear, stone chips and damage from use are different from a manufacturing fault. See the warranty terms for the coverage that applies.

Fitting an accessory does not automatically cancel a vehicle manufacturer's warranty, but warranty treatment can depend on the vehicle manufacturer's terms and the cause of a particular fault.

If your vehicle is new or under manufacturer warranty, check the manufacturer's or dealer's requirements if you have any concerns before fitting.

The towbar and towing connection can form part of the vehicle's roadworthiness inspection. Damage, corrosion, insecure mounting or problems with safety-chain attachment points can affect whether the towing setup is considered safe.

Check your policy or ask your insurer. Insurers differ in how accessories and modifications need to be disclosed and in what cover applies while towing.

Keep the towball and coupling maintained as recommended for the towing equipment you use. Regularly inspect the towbar, mounting points, tongue, hitch pin and other connection points for corrosion, cracking, movement or damage.

If you notice cracking, unusual movement or damage, stop towing and have the setup checked before using it again.

A weight distribution hitch may be worth considering where trailer ball weight causes the rear of the towing vehicle to sag, the front to feel light or the steering to feel less settled.

A weight distribution system helps redistribute load across the vehicle and trailer combination. It does not increase the towing capacity or other rated limits of the vehicle, towbar or trailer.

Strong winds, passing trucks and other conditions can contribute to trailer sway. A sway controller used with a suitable Hayman Reese weight distribution setup can help control unwanted movement.

It supports correct trailer loading and setup rather than replacing them. See our Towing a Trailer in NZ guide for more on loading and stability.

You need a brake controller where the trailer uses electric brakes that require driver-controlled input from the towing vehicle.

The controller and wiring need to suit the trailer braking system and vehicle. An approved installer can help confirm what is required for your setup.

Yes, provided the trailer and vehicle electrical connections are made compatible. Depending on the vehicle, towbar and trailer, an adaptor or different socket arrangement may be suitable.

Wiring and socket requirements vary by vehicle and product, so check the towbar listing or ask your installer what is needed for your setup.

Towing can increase the load and heat generated by a vehicle's transmission. Check the vehicle manufacturer's handbook or ask the vehicle manufacturer or dealer whether additional cooling is recommended for the load and towing conditions you expect.

Tongue weight is the downward load the trailer applies to the towball. It needs to stay within the limits set for the vehicle, towbar and trailer coupling.

See our Towing a Trailer in NZ guide for more detail on tongue weight, trailer loading and how to measure it.

Yes, with a bike carrier designed for the towbar or towball connection you're using.

Check carrier compatibility, the combined weight of the rack and bikes, your towbar's tongue-load rating and whether the rack obscures the vehicle's number plate or required lights.

See our Towbar Bike Racks guide.

Some clearance is required so a removable ball mount can slide into and out of the receiver. If the connection has become noticeably looser than it used to be, inspect the receiver, hitch pin and ball mount for wear or damage first.

Hayman Reese SmartPin is an anti-rattle hitch-pin system used with compatible Hayman Reese receivers to take up free play. See our SmartPin guide for more information.

A light vehicle towing a trailer can travel at up to 90 km/h on the open road, or slower where a lower posted speed limit or conditions require it. NZTA also recommends increasing your following distance when towing.

A light trailer used on the road generally needs to be licensed, often called rego, and have a current Warrant of Fitness. Requirements differ for some exempt vehicles and uses.

It depends on the trailer's laden weight. Service brakes are required once the laden trailer exceeds 2,000 kg, with additional braking and safety-connection requirements applying as weight increases.

Many cars and utes towing light trailers can be driven on a Class 1 licence, but limits apply to the combined weight of the towing vehicle, trailer and load. Learner and restricted Class 1 licences have different limits from a full Class 1 licence.