There are two types of retractable towbars: mechanical retractable towbars and full electric rectractable towbars. A retractable towbar is the optimum solution if you use the towbar regularly, if the design of your car is important to you and if you want maximum usability. In stored position, the retractable towbar is completely invisible. But with a single movement the towbar is ready to use.
Retractable towbar
Innovation
- Invisible, maintains the design of the vehicle
- Retractable
- Tow ball is stored behind the bumper after use
Safety
- Tow ball is always connected to the sleeve
- Same strength as a fixed towbar
- Audible and visible locking
- Maximum towing weight and axle load
Ease of use
- Immediately available
- Ready to use with one single movement
- Maintenance free
Manually retractable towbars (MX)
With the retractable towbar you will have a towbar that keeps the design of our car intact. Brink has a wide range of retractable towbars.
Easy to use
With a retractable towbar in the stored position, the boot is easily accessible and easy to load. In addition, the towbar is maintenance free and easy to operate. By simply operating a lever under the car, the ball appears from behind the bumper. It can then be locked into place with minimal effort by positioning manually into the self lock location. During this rotational movement the towbar makes a small upward movement until it locks with a click. Removal is equally as simple. By pushing the rotary knob in the direction of the ball and turning it with your thumb in a flowing movement in an upwards position, it releases the lock. Then the tow ball can be folded away behind the bumper and locked with a click into the stored position.
Electric retractable towbars (MXe)
Brink has become a real specialist in electric retractable systems. For over 10 years, we offer our fully electrical retractable MXe solution to customers like Jaguar, Landrover and many more.
There are two types of MXe electric retractable solutions: MXe and the MXe HD. The MXe HD is developed for heavy-duty towing and has a higher D-value. The MXe HD is also able to measure lose noad, whereas the MXe is not.
- Double axis retractable system
- Specific beam design to be developed
- Tow ball on socket
- Production ready system
- Generic tow ball available
BLE Brink Lightweight Electric retractable towbar
Since the beginning of 2019 the Brink R&I team is working on a new revolutionary fully electric retractable system. We named it BLE which is an abbreviation for Brink Lightweight Electric.
The retractable market is facing a revolution, in the past the electric retractable systems were only made for niche and high-end cars, but from extensive market analysis and feedback from our OE customers we see that this is rapidly changing to implementation on relatively normal passenger cars. The fully electrical retractable system is functionally safe and easy in use. Therefore, we developed a lightweight and highly competitive system.
- Single axis retractable system
- Socket in tow ball
- System is under development
- Specific tow ball design
- Specific beam design to be developed
- Specific software needs to be developed
Specifically developed and tested for your car.
Brink has been synonymous with towbar expertise for over a hundred years. Thanks to our core values of innovation, ease of use and safety, we have grown to become a global market leader in designing, testing and manufacturing towbars in addition to a wide range of vehicle specific wiring kits.
Developed internationally
We are proud of the fact that we design, test and manufacture all our towbars in our own state-of-the-art production facilities in The Netherlands, France, South Africa and Thailand. All our towbars are developed for local conditions, and engineered by our global engineering teams. We are driven to deliver our standard of high quality in everthing that we do, proved by official certificates like IATF 16949, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001.
Car manufacturers' choice
Brink is the first choice of many car manufacturers. Our collaboration is very extensive. We contribute to their innovation, design and construction process and guarantee they receive reliable and high-quality products that can easily be integrated into their cars. Brink is in liaison with many vehicle manufacturers during the design phase of a new car.
Difference between AM and OE
OE stands for original equipment. In OE projects, we cooperate intensively with the car manufacturer. The development process for an OE towbar starts at the source, during the design phase of a new car. Aftermarket parts can be produced by manufacturers that were not involved with original sales, therefore aftermarket parts also have a much wider range of qualities. With Brink, you are always certain of premium quality and a perfect fit. Our development process for Brink branded aftermarket towbars start with a 3D scan of the car, as our towbars are always developed specifically for each vehicle. Brink is the perfect partner for you, whether it is an OE or AM project.
Innovation retractable towbar
However, with the retractable towbar, you will no longer have to store a ball in your boot while still having a towbar that leaves the design of your car intact. Therefore, the retractable towbar appeals to all your wishes.
Ease of use
It is really easy to operate the retractable towbar. The ball appears from behind the bumper by pulling a lever under the car. The ball of the towbar can be locked in place in with minimal force by gripping the top with your hand and gently pushing it in. During this rotation, the towbar moves slightly upwards until it locks with a click. You only need two actions to unlock the ball again. First, use your hand to turn the dial on the ball in the direction of the ball, then use your thumb to twist it down in one smooth motion to unlock the ball. Next, grip the ball of the towbar with your hand and turn it back in the direction of the bumper. The ball clicks in place behind the bumper in one smooth motion.
Ergonomic operation
The dial on the ball of the manually retractable towbar has an ergonomic design. The dial is comfortable to use as your fingers, hand, wrist and arm are in a natural position when taking hold of the dial. Because of this, you can ensure an optimal power transmission with a minimal exertion of force when unlocking the towbar. You can quickly and easily unlock the manually retractable towbar. This dial has arrows that show the action needed for unlocking the system.
Safety
The retractable towbar offers the same security and towing ability as a fixed towbar. The ball is always connected to the sleeve now too, ensuring it cannot slip loose while driving.
Audible locking
The lock of the manually retractable towbar is very audible. As you lock the ball you can hear a clear click, thanks to ErgoclickTM. This confirms that the towbar has been properly locked in place.
Visible locking
It is easy to see whether the manually retractable towbar is locked. The dial has a built-in colour indication consisting of colour codes. Green means a successful lock. Red indicates a new attempt is required.
