Frequently asked
Questions

ORIS towbars fit to all bike-carriers, which are designed for bicycle transportation on the towbar’s ball neck. They are manufactured according to the current regulation. Therefore they are suitable for all common bike-carriers, designed for installation on the towbar´s ball neck. For more information regarding the legal NORM for the geometrical specifications of those towbars please see the PDF under the link below – No. 55 Mechanical coupling, Annex no. 5.
Regulation R55-ballneck dimension

As long as the vehicle manufacturer approves the trailer weight for a vehicle, there is usually a suitable towbar available.

Refer to the owner’s manual or logbook of your vehicle for additional information. For the past several years, these documents have contained a schematic depiction of the attachment points for a towbar. The towbar must be mounted at these attachment points. For this reason, towbars are usually designed only for use with a specific model of vehicle.

You will need the following information in order to select the best towbar for your requirements:

1. Make of vehicle, model, model year (the best place to find this is in the official type designation in the vehicle documentation)
2. Engine version and drivetrain layout (all-wheel-drive vehicles sometimes require different mounting equipment)
3. Suspension type (different mounting equipment may be specified for vehicles with suspension featuring ride-height adjustment)
4. Body configuration (sedan, coupe, five-door, van, or station wagon)

There are three types of towbar (technically speaking the trailer ball with bracket):

1. Trailer hitch with a fixed/rigid ball
2. Trailer hitch with removable ball (no special tools needed to attach or remove the ball).
3. Trailer hitch with swiveling ball

The ball on the towbar should never impair or obstruct visibility of the rear license plate in any way. For this reason, it may not be possible to provide a fixed-ball towbar for some vehicle models.

If a fixed-ball towbar blocks visibility of the license plate, you will have to use a removable or swiveling system. Under these circumstances the ball hitch may be inserted or swiveled into place only when a trailer is being pulled or when a rear carrier system with its own license plate is utilized.

After use, the ball hitch must always be removed or swiveled back below the vehicle. In addition, if you only plan to use the towbar infrequently, you should choose a removable or swiveling trailer hitch.

Towbars that comply with EC directive 55 respectively 94/20/EG are not subject to mandatory inspection.

You may choose to enter the towbar in the vehicle’s documentation if submitting the vehicle’s registration to the registration authorities, such as when selling the vehicle. Post-installation inspection and entry in the vehicle’s registration documents may be required in some countries.

In general, a towball cover protects the towball from the weather and at the same time prevents a possibly greasy or dirty ball from soiling your clothing. Some couplings need to be grease free and the towball cover will also help to keep the towball free from grease.

A conventional towball cover should not be used for retractable towbars. When this system is in the rest position, the towball is behind the bumper and upside down. In this instance, a normal towball cover will collect moisture and whirled-up dirt, which can then lead to severe corrosion. Therefore, you should not use a towball cover for retractable towbars in the rest position. Instead, a specially slotted model should be used.

When the towball is in use, its protective coating – silver zinc coating or black lacquer – is worn away, which can then lead to rust. This is completely normal. It is advisable to cover the necessary areas with a little grease and to use a towball cover.

The position of the ball is based on the ball’s center point. DIN 74058 specifies a minimum clearance between the bumper and the center of the ball of 65 mm. The distance from the center of the ball to the road surface must be between 350 and 420 mm for a fully loaded vehicle. Accordingly, the center of the ball on an unloaded vehicle may be farther away from the road.

The distance between the trailer ball and the road is specified for each vehicle model when equipped with standard tires and standard suspension.

Since there must be a separable connection between the cross member and the ball hitch, the ball hitch may exhibit a moderate amount of tolerance. This will allow you to jiggle the ball. Tolerance of this type is a design requirement. As long as the towbar is properly installed, this does not represent a safety risk.

When the vehicle is in motion, the removable hitch must be locked at all times.

The ball diameter is standardized in Europe and is approximately 50 mm (A50-X) when new.

The ball may wear if used with a trailer for a long period of time or if used without adequate lubrication. The absolute wear limit is 49mm. The ball’s cross section should never be less than this dimension at any two diametrically opposed points.

ORIS towbars fit to all bike-carriers, which are designed for bicycle transportation on the towbar’s ball neck. They are manufactured according to the current regulation. Therefore they are suitable for all common bike-carriers, designed for installation on the towbar´s ball neck. For more information regarding the legal NORM for the geometrical specifications of those towbars please see the PDF under the link below – No. 55 Mechanical coupling, Annex no. 5.
Regulation R55-ballneck dimension

Please refer to the vehicle documentation or ask the manufacturer of the vehicle for its maximum towing capacity.

The vehicle manufacturer will determine maximum load capacity based on the vehicle’s engine specification, transmission, and drivetrain layout. The manufacturer’s specified maxima represent mandatory limits and should never be exceeded under any conditions.

Our D-value calculator makes it easy for you to quickly determine the loads that you can tow with your towbar.

Download our D-value calculator as a spreadsheet

The rated tongue weight is the maximum approved weight that the trailer’s drawbar may exert on the ball from above.

Please refer to your vehicle documentation for this maximum force (in kg weight). Please refer to your towbar’s data plate for its maximum approved tongue weight. Do not exceed the tongue weight specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

To avoid adverse effects on the combination’s dynamic handling and response characteristics you should also avoid tongue weights lower than the specified minimum. A scale may be used as an aid in determining the tongue weight before the trailer is attached.

Every trailer hitch is provided with a data plate. It contains the D-value, the exact type designation of the trailer hitch, the tongue weight, and a test mark. The data plate is usually attached so that it can be read when the trailer hitch is installed.

If the data plate has become unreadable or has been lost, you can order a replacement through an independent mechanic or an official dealership. This auto shop must submit a sworn declaration confirming the trailer’s identity and verifying that the towbar is safe and accident-free.

The ‘D-value’ is located on the trailer hitch’s data plate. This is a defined force at which the manufacturer has tested and the official homologation authority has approved the towbar for use.

This value is calculated using a special formula and contains, among other things, the maximum approved weight of the tow vehicle and the maximum approved gross weight of the trailer. However, for you, the operator, only the specifications in the associated vehicle documentation are binding.

A towbar must always be supplemented with the electrical connection for the trailer lights. The intended application is also an important factor. Please note the questions listed below.

To choose the correct electrical kit you will need precise information about the vehicle, particularly regarding the vehicle’s electrical and electronic systems.

1. What type of vehicle is being used for towing (make, model, model year, ideally the official model designation in the vehicle documentation)?
2. Does the vehicle have check control system?
3. Is this vehicle model available with more than one electrical system configuration?

Find out more about ORIS electrical sets

If your vehicle has a check control system or electronic control and monitoring systems (CAN bus) then you should never, under any circumstances, use a universal electrical kit. Use of a universal electrical kit could lead to system malfunctions.

In most cases, we recommend using an electrical kit with a 13-pin plug and socket. If needed, you can use a short adapter to reduce it to a 7-pin connection. If you are using a trailer without reversing lights or fog lamps, you may use a 7-pin electrical kit. A camper or caravan should always use a 13-pin electrical kit. This ensures that the rear fog lamps remain operational while also maintaining the power supply for the refrigerator and the battery charging unit.

ORIS towbars are manufactured from S355J2G3 (St52-3N) or a material of equal quality. As a result, they are always suited for use with bicycle racks.

On ORIS towbars, the ball and transition to the neck are produced according to the DIN 74058 standard.

Manufacturers of removable bicycle racks observe this standard. But if for some reason the bicycle rack cannot be installed, please contact the manufacturer of the bicycle rack.

If you loosen the bolts and then screw the same ball neck back on, the homologation does not expire. However, the homologation only remains valid if the correct bolts/nuts/washers are fitted and used. Therefore, you should always ensure that:

1. You use the tightening torque for the bolts specified in the fitting instruction
2. You replace bolts, nuts and washers that are no longer intact with new and equivalent ones (please pay attention to the strength class and the correct dimensions).
3. If the ball neck is bent (e.g. due to an accident), then – for safety reasons – the entire towbar has to be replaced (and not only the ball neck).

As described in the operating instructions, it is necessary that you, as the end user, keep the mechanics of the detachable towbar clean and grease it regularly if necessary. Missing grease, dirt and corrosion or rust can quickly lead to the system no longer functioning safely. Therefore, please be sure to observe the maintenance instructions in the operating instructions.

The detachable towball necks from ORIS are standardised. Therefore, it is theoretically possible to use the towball neck A from one towbar A in another towbar B. However, the homologation and the associated approvals are only ever carried out for one defined combination in each case: I.e. towball ball neck A with towbar A and towball neck B with towbar B.
Therefore, please only use your towball neck in your towbar, otherwise you will lose the type approval (ABE) for the coupling and your vehicle.

For your towbar, you will find the characteristic values for the permissible masses of the towing combination (D-value) as well as the permissible vertical load (S-value) on the type plate.
However, the S-value is not identical with the permissible load for bike carriers!

In general, the geometry of the towball is designed according to DIN/ISO. This geometry can reliably carry up to 75kg of bike carrier load when the carrier is clamped onto the towball in the classic way – with newer towball necks made of chrome steel. Higher loads and intensive use can lead to a crack in the cylindrical part below the towball. And it can also cause damage to the cross member of the towbar or even to the body of the vehicle.

Please be sure to observe the instructions in the vehicle’s operating manual as well as the operating manual of the carrier and the towbar. The lowest value stated in the three instructions applies.
For loads greater than 75kg, the carrier must be supported in some other way in addition to the clamping on the towball, in order to reduce the load on the towball.
ORIS offers the FIX4BIKE® system, two pin mountings below the towball on which the bike carrier can rest. But here too, all three associated components must allow higher loads: vehicle, towbar and bike carrier.

The operating instructions for anti-rolling friction couplings usually call for the towball to be free from paint. If left unsanded, the varnish will clog the brake pads in the coupling and prevent the braking effect.

In this case, it is correct to remove the black lacquer. Sandpaper with a grain size of at least 400 or higher should be used for this.

To protect the towball from corrosion or rust, it should be protected by a light film of grease and a towball cover when not in use. This film should be removed prior to towing.
Galvanised towball necks or towballs – silver coating – do not need to be ground down. The zinc coating has a very good adhesion to the steel ball and does not stick to the brake shoes.

Intensive use of the towbar with a FIX4BIKE® bike carrier can cause wear on the FIX4BIKE® pins. Normal wear is perfectly reasonable and does not affect functionality and safety.

However, if the diameter of the pin at the load-bearing point goes below 15mm, then the towball neck should be replaced (original diameter = 16mm).

After an accident or when purchasing a used towbar with missing parts, you may need to obtain replacement parts. Towbars are safety-relevant parts that require official type approval and are subject to manufacturer liability. Since we cannot ensure that the towbar continues to comply with safety requirements under these conditions, we are unable to provide you with any safety-relevant replacement parts.

Exceptions to this provision are removable ball necks and accessories such as cover caps, housing covers, keys, lock covers, installation instructions, and data plates. If you need any of these parts, please contact the dealer where the towbar was purchased.

Some automotive manufacturers publish their own installation instructions, and these will be available only through the manufacturer’s authorized dealers.

Installation instructions must be kept in your vehicle at all times. Our towbars are delivered with an inspection confirmation in which proper assembly by the installer (usually a technical workshop) must be confirmed. EC-tested towbars do not require inspections by an official agency (TÜV, Dekra) to ensure that they have been installed correctly. The installation instructions should be kept and retained with the vehicle documentation.

When purchasing an automatically removable towbar, it is good practice to note the number of the key. This number is engraved into the key head. With this key number you can request a new key from us at any time or via your specialist workshop / dealer.

Order a replacement key

In Germany, towbars are subject to the directives of general type approval (ABG). A test mark on the data plate indicates compliance.

The installation and operating manual for each towbar includes the information engraved on the data plate. It must be kept in the vehicle at all times, where it also serves as proof of official type approval during installation inspections conducted at an official inspection station. A separate inspection is required only if the towbar has not been granted official type approval but was instead inspected individually.

In general, repairs are carried out on removable ball necks as long as there is no accidental damage. For this purpose it is necessary to send the part to us via your specialist workshop / dealer. The repair is normally carried out within 4 weeks. The calculation is carried out by your specialist workshop / dealer. If the ball neck is bent (e.g. due to an accident), then – for safety reasons – the entire towbar has to be replaced (and not only the ball neck).

Trailer couplings and hitch assemblies cannot be repaired after sustaining accident-related damage. When the rear of a vehicle is damaged, the trailer hitch assembly may be damaged in ways that are invisible to the naked eye and detectable only with costly testing. This is usually not financially practical. In these cases, we recommend replacing the entire trailer coupling assembly. Replacing individual components is usually neither financially feasible nor acceptable in view of safety-related considerations.

The driver of the tow vehicle is always responsible for ensuring that the trailer’s lights are operating correctly before starting off. If the lights are not working properly, first check the connection between the plug and socket. If this does not solve the problem, we recommend seeking the assistance of a repair center.