In general, we recommend using a 13-pin wiring kit. If required, it can be reduced to a 7-pin connection with a short adapter. A 7-pin wiring kit may be used if the trailer being towed does not have reversing lights or a rear fog light. For caravans, a 13-pin wiring kit is always recommended. This ensures reliable operation of the rear fog light, a permanent power supply for the refrigerator and power supply for the battery charger.

If your vehicle has a check control or computer system, such as CAN bus, you should never use a universal wiring kit. Using a universal wiring kit could cause system faults.

A towbar must always be supplemented by an electrical connection for the trailer lights. The intended use is important here. Please note the following points:

• To select the correct wiring kit, you must also have more detailed vehicle information available, especially information about the vehicle’s electrical or electronic system.
• What vehicle is it (make, model, model year – ideally the official model designation as stated in the vehicle documents)?
• Does the vehicle have check control?
• Is the vehicle model available in different electrical system versions?

Towbars damaged in an accident generally cannot be repaired. After rear-end damage to a vehicle, a towbar may have damage that is barely visible to the naked eye and can only be detected using complex testing procedures. In most cases, this is not economically viable. In such cases, we recommend replacing the complete towbar. Replacing individual components is also usually not economical and, from a safety perspective, often not possible. If the ball neck is bent, the entire towbar should be replaced for safety reasons, not only the ball neck.

In general, repairs and servicing can be carried out on detachable ball necks, provided there is no accident damage. The part must be sent to us via your specialist workshop or specialist dealer. Repairs are normally completed within four weeks. Billing is handled through your specialist workshop or specialist dealer. If the ball neck is bent, for example as a result of an accident, the entire towbar should be replaced for safety reasons, not only the ball neck.

Spare parts may be required after an accident or when purchasing a used towbar with missing components. Towbars are safety-relevant components that require general type approval and are subject to producer liability. As we cannot ensure that the towbar still meets the required safety standards, we cannot supply safety-relevant spare parts for the reasons stated above. Exceptions include detachable ball necks and accessories such as protective caps, housing covers, keys, lock covers, fitting instructions and type plates. If required, please contact the specialist dealer from whom the towbar was purchased.

As a general rule, when you receive an automatic detachable towbar, you should make a note of the key number. This is stamped on the head of the key. Using this key number, you can request a new key from us at any time via your specialist workshop or dealer.

As a general rule, the driver is required to check that the lights are working properly before driving off. If there is a fault, you should first check the connection between the plug and the socket. If this does not resolve the issue, we recommend taking the vehicle to a specialist garage.

Fitting instructions must be kept in the vehicle. Our towbars generally include an approval confirmation in which the installer, usually the specialist workshop, must confirm correct installation. For EC-approved towbars, inspection of the correct installation by an officially recognised expert such as TÜV or DEKRA is not required. The fitting instructions must be added to the vehicle documents and kept in the vehicle.

Towbars are subject to general type approval requirements (in Germany “Allgemeine Bauartgenehmigung”), documented by an approval mark on the type plate. The installation and operating instructions for a towbar include the information shown on the type plate. They must be kept in the vehicle and serve as the operating permit during a TÜV inspection. A separate expert report is only required if the towbar does not have type approval and has instead been approved through an individual inspection procedure.

Every towbar is fitted with a type plate. It contains the D-value, the exact type designation of the towbar, the tongue weight and an approval mark. As a rule, the type plate is positioned so that it remains legible after installation. If the type plate has become illegible or has been lost, it can be reordered through an independent workshop or an authorised brand workshop. The workshop must confirm the identity and safe, accident-free condition of the towbar by means of a statutory declaration.

If the type plate has become illegible or has been lost, it can be reordered through an independent workshop or an authorised brand workshop. The workshop must confirm the identity and safe, accident-free condition of the towbar by means of a statutory declaration.

The ball diameter is standardised in Europe and measures approximately 50 mm when new (A50-X). The ball can wear as a result of prolonged trailer operation or insufficient greasing. The absolute wear limit is 49 mm. The ball must not fall below this dimension at any point.

Tongue weight is the maximum permissible downward force acting on the towball. This maximum force, expressed as a weight in kg, can be found in your vehicle documents. The maximum possible tongue weight of the towbar is shown on the type plate. The tongue weight specified by the vehicle manufacturer must not be exceeded. To avoid negative effects on the driving dynamics of the vehicle-trailer combination, the specified tongue weight should also not be undercut. A scale can be used to determine the tongue weight before hitching the trailer.

The maximum possible tongue weight of the towbar is shown on the type plate. Important: The tongue weight specified by the vehicle manufacturer must not be exceeded.

The D-value is shown on the type plate of the towbar. It is a defined force value with which a towbar is tested by the manufacturer and approved by the homologation authority. This value is calculated using a specific formula and includes, among other factors, the permissible gross weight of the towing vehicle and the maximum permissible gross weight of the trailer. For users, however, only the information stated in the relevant vehicle documents is binding.

The position of the ball is based on the centre point of the ball. According to DIN 74058, the distance from the bumper to the centre of the ball must be at least 65 mm. The distance from the centre of the ball to the road surface should be between 350 and 420 mm when the vehicle is fully laden. On an unladen vehicle, the centre of the ball may therefore be higher above the road. The distance between the towball and the road is defined for the specific vehicle model with standard tyres and standard suspension.

Because there must be a detachable connection between the cross member and the ball neck, slight play can occur at the ball. This can be felt by shaking the ball. This basic level of play is due to the design. Provided the ball neck has been fitted correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, it does not present a safety risk. During driving, the detachable ball neck must always be locked.

ORIS detachable ball necks are standardised. In theory, it may therefore be possible to use ball neck A from towbar A in a different towbar B. However, homologation and the associated approvals are always based on one defined combination: ball neck A with towbar A, ball neck B with towbar B. For this reason, please use only your ball neck in your towbar. Otherwise, the operating permit for the towbar and the vehicle will become invalid.

On the type plate of your towbar, you will find the characteristic values for the permissible masses of the vehicle-trailer combination, the D-value, as well as the permissible tongue weight, the S-value. However, the S-value is not identical to the permissible load capacity for bike carriers. In general, the geometry of the ball is designed in accordance with DIN/ISO. With conventional clamping of the carrier onto the ball, this geometry can reliably carry a bike carrier load of up to 75 kg on newer ball necks made from chromium steel.

Excessive loads and intensive use can cause a crack in the cylindrical section below the ball. Damage may also occur to the cross member of the towbar or to the vehicle body.

Please always observe the instructions in the vehicle owner’s manual, the carrier operating instructions and the towbar operating instructions. The lowest value stated in the three sets of instructions applies.

For loads greater than 75 kg, the carrier must be supported in another way in addition to clamping onto the ball in order to reduce the load on the ball. ORIS offers the FIX4BIKE® system for this purpose. Here, the bike carrier can be supported on the two pins below the ball head. However, the same principle applies: all three associated components must permit higher loads: the vehicle, the towing device and the bike carrier.

In general, a protective cap protects the ball against the weather and also prevents a greased or dirty ball area from staining clothing. With swivelling towbars, a conventional protective cap should not be used. When this system is in its rest position, the ball is located behind the bumper and points downwards. In this position, a normal protective cap would collect moisture and road dirt, which would lead to heavy corrosion. For this reason, no cap should be used on swivelling towbars in their rest position. A specially slotted model can be used instead.

When the ball head is in use, its protective coating, either silver zinc coating or black paint, is worn away, which can then lead to rust. This is completely normal. We recommend covering the relevant areas with a little grease and using a protective cap.

If you loosen the screws and then refit the same ball neck, the homologation does not become invalid. However, the homologation remains valid only if the ball neck is fitted correctly and the correct screws, nuts and washers are used. You should therefore always ensure that the tightening torque specified in the fitting instructions is used for the screws.

If screws, nuts or washers are no longer intact and are replaced with new equivalent parts, please pay attention to the strength class and the correct dimensions.

If the ball neck is bent, for example as a result of an accident, the entire towbar should be replaced for safety reasons, not only the ball neck.

As described in the operating instructions, the mechanism of the detachable towbar must be kept clean and greased regularly when required. Insufficient grease, dirt and corrosion or rust can quickly prevent the system from functioning safely. Please therefore always follow the maintenance instructions in the operating manual.

The operating instructions for anti-sway ball couplings usually require the ball to be sanded in order to remove the paint. If the paint is not removed, it can contaminate the friction pads in the ball coupling and prevent the braking effect.

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

To protect the ball against corrosion or rust, it should be protected during periods of non-use with a light film of grease and a protective cap.

Galvanised ball necks or balls, identifiable by their silver coating, do not need to be sanded. The zinc coating adheres very well to the steel ball and does not stick to the brake shoes.

ORIS towbars are generally made from S355J2G3 (St52-3N) or an equivalent material. They are therefore generally suitable for use with bike carriers.

The ball and the transition to the neck on ORIS towbars are designed in accordance with DIN 74058. Manufacturers of attachable bike carriers take this standard into account. If the bike carrier still cannot be fitted, please contact the manufacturer of the bike carrier for clarification.

Intensive use of the towbar with a FIX4BIKE® bike carrier can result in wear on the FIX4BIKE® pins. Normal wear is entirely acceptable and has no effect on functionality or safety. However, if the diameter of the pin at the load-bearing point falls below 15 mm, the ball neck should be replaced. The original diameter is 16 mm.