So I fitted a tow bar

[TB 00]

I know, I know, I know, you don't fit tow bars to cars like the Stinger but necessity had it that it was either fit a tow bar OR buy a SUV, and THAT was never going to happen. I thought I'd show you a couple of photos of the New Zealand Kia Dealers fitting skills. Apparently this was designed and produced in a joint effort between Kia NZ and Best Bars NZ.
Tow bars themselves aren't all that attractive however I do like the option of removing it when not in use so as not to draw attention, in a "look how ugly that is" kind of way.
Fitted cost, including wiring harness and GST was $1174.44

 

[upsidedown]

It looks like the same level of skill that your New Zealand guys used like my Australian ones in cutting out the rear bumper. No real level of quality in finishing the cut edges etc. so I need to get in there with a file at the very least and tidy things up

Mine had the cutout for the pin on the left not the right and the wiring harness is a flat cable which sits in the spare wheel well and gets hung over the bumper when needed. Not sure why it doesn't have an external fitting like yours but it is something I need to follow up as well as probably painting the panel behind the cutout to a black colour to make it look more presentable

How hard do you find tightening up the anti rattle bolt with the gooseneck in position. I haven't had a chance to try mine yet but it looks fiddly

 

[TB 00]

Yes quite fiddly, I took it back to the dealer as the wiring harness was faulty and needed replacing. They have since painted inside the bumper black so as not to draw too much attention to it. Overall it's OK but that's about all.

 

[AV8R]

Just don’t use launch control when ur towing! Lol

 

[westcoastGT]

its just a car , and it needs to be practical ! good job ! looks pretty discreet without the hitch attached !

 

[AV8R]

Might get one so I can tow this! Lol

 

[westcoastGT]

Might get one so I can tow this! Lol
View attachment 7155

Geeeezuuuzz ! You guys get big Mosquitos down there ! Bit of Round UP might do the bugger in !!

 

[AV8R]

Yep we put saddles on them and fly em around. Everything is big here, spiders, sharks, Roos , snakes, fish, jelly fish. And our police drive Stingers.

 

[upsidedown]

They have since painted inside the bumper black so as not to draw too much attention to it. Overall it's OK but that's about all.

You have more faith than me that the service people would even get that right after the poor workmanship cutting out the bumper

Just don’t use launch control when ur towing! Lol

I might have to get a sticker that says "If you can read this then I've lost my trailer"

its just a car , and it needs to be practical ! good job ! looks pretty discreet with the hitch attached !

Yes I agree practicality is always needed

 

[AV8R]

If some one hacked into my bumper I would be very annoyed.

 

[upsidedown]

If some one hacked into my bumper I would be very annoyed.

Yes can't say I was overly impressed when I first saw it but there is no other way to do it based on the design

It will look better when a tradesman like job is done on the cut edges and the black paint is done. The only thing that saves it somewhat is that because it's so low it's not that obvious

 

[upsidedown]

Just an update for the unwary regarding the trailer socket fitted to my Australian model. It is a flat 7 pin socket so obviously 7 terminals for the trailer connection but it also has a n/c reed switch operated via a magnet in the flip open cover. This is to disconnect the reversing sensors when a trailer is attached. So therefore the attached cable actually has 9 wires the other 2 being for the switch.

 

[StingEm]

Interesting. There are two unused plugs inside the rear bumper on the US cars. I wonder if one of those plugs is for this purpose (trailer wiring)?

 

[upsidedown]

Interesting. There are two unused plugs inside the rear bumper on the US cars. I wonder if one of those plugs is for this purpose (trailer wiring)?

No I'm not sure what those plugs are as mine (if we are talking about the same plugs) are still there after the towbar fitting. The towbar wiring goes over in under the left side luggage covering as well as a positive wire connected through a fuse to the battery. I asked the dealer about how easy it was to disconnect the wiring as I wanted to change the location of the socket from a flying lead inside the trunk to a fixed mount on the bumper and he said there were multiple connections to be made whatever that means. So I just removed the fuse, disconnected the socket very carefully, taped up all the wire ends individually and poked it through the new grommeted hole I made. A job well done if I do say so myself.

 

[StingEm]

No I'm not sure what those plugs are as mine (if we are talking about the same plugs) are still there after the towbar fitting. The towbar wiring goes over in under the left side luggage covering as well as a positive wire connected through a fuse to the battery. I asked the dealer about how easy it was to disconnect the wiring as I wanted to change the location of the socket from a flying lead inside the trunk to a fixed mount on the bumper and he said there were multiple connections to be made whatever that means. So I just removed the fuse, disconnected the socket very carefully, taped up all the wire ends individually and poked it through the new grommeted hole I made. A job well done if I do say so myself.

Interesting. Yes, I think we’re talking about the same plugs. My only other thought was that maybe cars with the 360-degree cameras had additional cameras in the back that connect to those plugs.

Next time I have a subscription active on KiaTechInfo I will try to find them in the wiring diagrams.

 

[upsidedown]

Interesting. Yes, I think we’re talking about the same plugs. My only other thought was that maybe cars with the 360-degree cameras had additional cameras in the back that connect to those plugs.

Next time I have a subscription active on KiaTechInfo I will try to find them in the wiring diagrams.

Mine has the 360 camera so it can't be that so not sure. I don't believe there is another rear camera for the 360 degree as I think it just stitches together all the normal cameras to make up an image. My car is red but from the 360 view it shows as white?

I was thinking of getting an active 72 hour subscription even though it is a US site and looking at the wiring schematics as I assume that they should be fairly relevant even for an Australian car

Do you know when I'm logged in whether I can download and save any of the schematics. Like a short visit but get heaps of info?

 

[StingEm]

Mine has the 360 camera so it can't be that so not sure. I don't believe there is another rear camera for the 360 degree as I think it just stitches together all the normal cameras to make up an image. My car is red but from the 360 view it shows as white?

I was thinking of getting an active 72 hour subscription even though it is a US site and looking at the wiring schematics as I assume that they should be fairly relevant even for an Australian car

Do you know when I'm logged in whether I can download and save any of the schematics. Like a short visit but get heaps of info?

You can, but it’s a bit annoying. You will basically have to “print” each document you want to a pdf on your drive. The most annoying part is organizing all of those PDFs into folders with appropriate file names as you go along.

I was pretty impressed with their site actually. It’s certainly not bad (I expected it would be bad for no real reason).

 

[upsidedown]

You can, but it’s a bit annoying. You will basically have to “print” each document you want to a pdf on your drive. The most annoying part is organizing all of those PDFs into folders with appropriate file names as you go along.

I was pretty impressed with their site actually. It’s certainly not bad (I expected it would be bad for no real reason).

Ok thanks much appreciated

 

[Stumpeter]

Thanks TB 00 for posting the pics of the towbar installation, made me cautious about my instal. I had mine fitted yesterday but got them to NOT fit the the goose neck or cut the panel under the bumper. Spent a few hours today with my Dremmel cutting the holes to suit, pretty happy with job, it means I have to get under the car to remove the goose neck, but I intend leaving it on as added car park protection. Hopefully the pics are self explanatory, one shows before cutting with the bulge in the plastic where the bar is.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Thanks TB 00 for posting the pics of the towbar installation, made me cautious about my instal. I had mine fitted yesterday but got them to NOT fit the the goose neck or cut the panel under the bumper. Spent a few hours today with my Dremmel cutting the holes to suit, pretty happy with job, it means I have to get under the car to remove the goose neck,View attachment 22902 View attachment 22904 View attachment 22904 View attachment 22905 View attachment 22906 but I intend leaving it on as added car park protection. Hopefully the pics are self explanatory, one shows before cutting with the bulge in the plastic where the bar is.

That’s the tidiest fit out yet, make a template of your handy work & go sell it to Kia Australia, so much better than the bodge jobs they have done....good job....