Fitting a tow bar on a Model 3

[RemarkLima]

Hi all,

I've read about the fact you can fit an after market tow bar to a Model 3 however it's 0 weight rates so bike carriers only.

Is there anything else different from the factory installed tow bar? Does the electrics detect the trailer connected and disable the rear sensors?

Or is it worth holding out to find one with a factory tow bar? It's really just for bikes, but the possibility of being able to tow could handy...

Thanks!

[CharlieAlphaMike]

I'm not 100% sure but I think Tesla made a modification to the chassis which meant they couldn't guarantee the load-carrying capacity of towbars which is why they stopped offering them as an original fitment. I think that's why aftermarket towbars have a load-carrying limit. The latest Model 3's (I think from 2022 onwards - it was an option when I bought mine last year) have a modification to the chassis which allows towbars to carry more load and so Tesla now offer them as an option.

[Stuart70]

With a range of almost 6 miles whilst towing?

[RemarkLima]

The towbar I thought was always an option, just a lack of parts meant it was a request only option?

Stuart70 said:

With a range of almost 6 miles whilst towing?

Our current one has a factory tow bar, and with a bike carrier, the range isn't affected much, and we've only had to tow a short way and it's been fine - you go slower towing right?

[CharlieAlphaMike]

RemarkLima said:

The towbar I thought was always an option, just a lack of parts meant it was a request only option?

That's not what I was told when I ordered mine. I'm sure they said something about chassis strengthening points no longer being there but I think they said they would be there again sometime in 2022. It wasn't a concern for me because I hadn't considered having a towbar. I think the Tesla staff just mentioned it in passing when chatting with them.

[Heres Johnny]

Tow is factory fit and still available but you have to order and then modify the order to get it, or buy one of the many new inventory cars they shipped with the tow bar even though few people realised its available, so the cars would never get matched to customer orders.

The Model S is where most people talk about after market towbars and they are not rated for towing, just bike carrriers. I guess you could with the M3, but most just buy the right car already equipped,

[RemarkLima]

That's the problem - without a factory fit, the Model 3 is 0 rated for towing, the same as the Model S.

There's not that many with a factory fit tow bar that's the facelift - more of the pre-facelift have it, not that I can find. And Mrs Lima would like a blue one, so it becomes even harder to find on that's a) facelift, b) blue, c) has towbar and d) is VAT qualifying

Point d) isn't a show stopper, but a, b and c are it seems.

I did speak with the local towbar shop, they they can retrofit to a Model 3 but you need to sign a disclaimer that you can't tow and it's only for bike carriers.