Installing and connecting a tow bar on the Lada Kalina: which one to choose, installation features and connection

• Types of towbars for Lada Kalina
• Towbar selection criteria
• Tow bar kit for Lada Kalina
• What else will you need?
• Towbar installation
• Connecting the towbar socket on the Lada Kalina
• Registration required

Installing a towbar or towbar on a Lada Kalina is a relatively simple operation. It is more difficult to choose a suitable model and connect the electrics. When choosing a device, take into account the year of manufacture of the car, the parameters of the trailer and other factors.

Types of towbars for Lada Kalina

The TSU consists of 2 main parts:

1. Bearing beam (cross member). It is bolted to the side members of the vehicle.
2. Coupling ball unit or SSHU (ball). Attaches to the crossbar.

Depending on how they are connected, towbars are divided into types:

1. With welded ball. Both parts are welded to each other.
2. Conditionally removable. The ball is bolted on.
3. Removable. The platform is equipped with a lock that allows you to quickly connect and remove the ball without using tools.

The first option is the most reliable - it does not require maintenance or monitoring. But it is only suitable for those who use the trailer constantly. Dismantling such a trailer hitch is difficult, and driving with it without a trailer is prohibited: the product exceeds the dimensions of the vehicle and can cause an emergency.

The conditionally removable option is suitable for those who use the trailer infrequently or, conversely, sometimes travel without it. The ball can be easily unscrewed using 2 wrenches. The disadvantage of this option is the need to regularly tighten the bolts and check their condition.

Those who often install and dismantle trailer hitches choose the removable option. The ball is attached in one motion and without keys, but this design costs 2 times more than its welded and bolted counterparts.

Tips for using a towbar

If you do not take into account the rules for using a towbar, it can quickly fail. The device has a limited service life and capabilities, which can be increased by following a number of actions:

• it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of the tow bar in advance so as not to overload it when using towed products;
• the weight of objects in the trailer should be evenly distributed - if this is not done, the controllability of the machine will be impaired (insufficient weight can cause similar problems);
• It is recommended to use safety chains - they will prevent damage to the tow bar and other vehicle components in the event of an unexpected situation with the trailer;
• it is necessary to periodically lubricate the towbar - in order for the lubricant to remain for a long period, you need to use caps and plugs (the features of these components are aimed at improving the performance of the equipment);
• It is recommended to periodically check the diameter of the towbar ball - if due to wear it has become less than 49 millimeters, the ball requires replacement (only original parts can be used);
• Every thousand kilometers you need to check how well the fasteners are tightened.

Low quality towing products should not be used. The lower the quality of the device, the higher the likelihood of an unforeseen situation. Therefore, saving on the purchase of a tow bar is not recommended.

Towbar selection criteria

Only certified towbars are allowed for installation. For Lada Kalina they are produced under the following brand names:

• Sheriff;
• Trailer;
• Leader plus;
• Autos;
• Motodor;
• Galia (Slovakia);
• Bosal-Oris (Germany).

The first five brands are Russian.

The trailer hitch is selected according to its characteristics:

• Maximum trailer weight.
• Maximum permissible vertical load on the ball.
• Ball diameter.
• The location of the mounting holes and the distances between them.
• Possibility of installing additional accessories, for example, a frame for transporting bicycles.

In Russia and Europe, a ball with a diameter of 50 mm is considered standard (GOST 28248, DIN 74058 and ISO 1103). But it may not fit an American trailer.

The position of the mounting holes for the Lada Kalina of the 1st and 2nd generations is different. Before going to the auto shop, use a ruler to measure the distance from the channel to the nearest side holes. At the towbar, the distance between the planes of the “ears” and the side holes should be the same.

There are universal models - with holes for machines of both generations.

In addition, the design of the trailer hitch must be such that the following distances are maintained:

• between the bumper and the center of the ball - at least 65 mm;
• between the center of the ball and the road surface – 350-420 mm.

How to choose a tow hitch

When choosing similar products for a hatchback and station wagon, you should take into account the car model, since not every device for the first generation will fit a sedan or station wagon of the second generation.

Selecting the necessary part is quite simple; the main thing to remember is that Kalina is available in three modifications. For example, for the Kalina hatchback VAZ 1119, the towbar that is used for the Kalina station wagon will not fit, but the towbar for the Lada Granta can be mounted on a station wagon of the second model.

Tow bar kit for Lada Kalina

It is recommended to choose a fully equipped trailer hitch model. Delivery includes:

• towing device (beam + control unit);
• technical certificate;
• bolts and other fasteners with plugs;
• bracket for its fastening;
• protective cap;
• installation instructions.

The missing elements can be easily found in car dealerships, but there is a possibility that they will be incompatible with this hitch model. That is why it is recommended to buy the version with the full set.

Pay attention to the number of contacts in the socket. There are 2 types:

• for Russian trailers – 13 pin;
• for imported ones - 7 pin.

A 13-pin socket is preferred. If you later purchase an imported trailer, it is easy to find a 7-pin adapter for it.

But connecting a domestic trailer to a 7-pin socket will be difficult: there are also adapters, but some of the cables will have to be connected manually.

If you have to purchase wires separately, use products with the following characteristics:

• copper;
• with multi-wire conductors;
• with a cross-section of cores from 1.5 sq. mm;
• with double insulation.

Mounting the device on a hatchback

Attaching a towbar to a hatchback is more difficult, since the body is not designed for its use.

Before you start attaching the parts, they need to be wiped free of dust and grease. After applying the markings, the fastening process begins:

• holes are drilled for fasteners (at least five special holes will be required);
• parts are treated with an anti-corrosion agent;
• using bolts and self-tapping screws, the socket with contacts is installed;
• the socket is connected according to the instructions;
• wires are being connected.

Sometimes work may be required to remove the bumper.

What else will you need?

Prepare a soldering kit and heat-shrinkable tubes - this is for connecting the electrics. You can also use special clips.

If the car's lighting equipment is controlled by a microprocessor (mainly for cars older than 2010), the trailer will have to be connected through a matching unit. Without it, the computer mistakenly considers an increase in the resistance of the on-board network to be a sign of a lamp burnout and blocks the power supply.

Before starting installation work, prepare a multimeter.

Towbar installation

The installation of the trailer hitch on the Lada Kalina is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Remove the rear bumper.
2. Open the trunk and take out the spare tire to gain access to the holes with plugs.
3. Drill or cut out plugs.
4. Install M10 or M12 bolts into the holes (depending on the design of the trailer hitch).
5. The car is lifted on a lift or driven into a viewing hole.
6. From below, holes are found in the side members and they are cleaned of anticorrosion.
7. Place the towbar beam and bolt it.
8. Fix the bracket for the socket.

A strip with threaded holes from the trailer hitch kit is not needed: the Lada Kalina side members are threaded at the factory.

Bolt tightening torques:

• M10 – 47 Nm;
• M12 – 81 Nm.

If installation is carried out without a lift and inspection hole (access to threaded fasteners is difficult), use a cardan wrench.

Electrical connection

The towbar socket is secured using a special bracket. The bracket itself is secured using self-tapping screws and bolts. Lada Kalina wiring includes a standard kit. This kit includes harnesses to connect the outlet. The wires have different colors. Thanks to this, the lights are connected without errors. The equipment is sold together with an electrical diagram indicating how to connect the wires.

For both versions of the Lada Kalina there are the same number of contacts and wires. There is a standard place and connectors for the wires. If the insulation of the wires has been damaged, you must insulate them yourself.

The holes for the wires have plugs. Modern cars are equipped with sensors that monitor the operating condition of the tow bar. You can buy sensors separately if the standard machine design does not have them.

Connecting the towbar socket on the Lada Kalina

The electrical connection is carried out by a car dealer or an accredited car service center. Otherwise, there is a risk of fire or system malfunction. If the car is new, then the manufacturer will remove the warranty for connecting it yourself.

Procedure:

1. Study the connection diagram provided by the outlet manufacturer.
2. Attach the product to the bracket.
3. Provide access to the harness block of any of the vehicle's rear lights.
4. Turn on the side lights, use a multimeter to find the live wire and mark it.
5. Similarly, look for the wires of the right and left turn signals and brake lights.
6. Disconnect the terminals from the battery (safety precautions).
7. Connect pieces of wire about 60 cm long to the car wires and transfer the markings to them.
8. The conductors are assembled into a bundle and brought out through the hole in the body, having previously removed the plug.
9. Based on the markings, connect the wires to the outlet in accordance with the diagram.
10. Check the correctness of the electrical installation: test the circuit with a multimeter for breaks and short circuits.
11. If everything is in order, reconnect the terminals to the battery.

The socket is connected and ready for use.

A few words about lighting technology

Trailed towable devices, i.e. car trailers, require brake lights. The same applies to side lights and turn signals. In addition, if the trailer weighs more than 750 kg, it is equipped with a reversing light.

There is no separate terminal block that allows you to connect all the “electrics” of the trailer in Grant/Kalina-2. Of course, the towbar will be equipped with a socket, such as shown below. But connecting this outlet by running the cables inside the body will not be so easy.

Standard towbar socket, 7 pins

An experienced installer, when making connections, will be able to implement the diagram shown here:

It is advisable to connect trailer lamps via a relay

The wires can be passed through one of the holes provided in the floor of the body. These holes themselves are protected by plugs.

Trunk floor diagram, station wagon/hatchback

There is nothing more to add here. We wish you success.

Anyone who connects the tow bar without the participation of a car dealer may lose the warranty on the electrical system. Any intervention in the electrical circuit will void the warranty if it is carried out without the consent of the dealer. Make a choice.

Registration required

The possibility of installing a tow bar on the Lada Kalina is provided by the manufacturer. Therefore, there is no need to register it if it is a certified product. But the car enthusiast must have the following documents with him:

• technical certificate of the trailer hitch with an installation mark;
• copies of certificates of product compliance with Russian standards;
• invoice or receipt for installation of the device.

Installing a towbar without a certificate or that is not suitable for a given car model (it was necessary to drill holes in the side member) is interpreted as making changes to the design of the vehicle. In accordance with the requirements of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union, the vehicle will have to be registered with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. The procedure involves testing the product for strength in an accredited laboratory, which will require financial costs from the owner.

Towbar for station wagons and its installation

Let's look at the installation procedure, following the standard instructions. Please note that all towbar mounting screws are metric and have a standard size of M10. You'll need a spanner, but that's not all. Considering the weight of the product, it is better to carry out installation by two people: one mechanic holds the towbar, the second tightens the screws.

We remove the mastic from the holes in the side members.

First of all, before installation you need to find the standard threaded holes. Using a Phillips screwdriver, they are cleaned of anticorrosion.

The towbar assembly itself is placed under the body so as not to damage the muffler mount. Then, hand screw in the six bolts that should be included in the kit. Don't forget to install the washers supplied by the manufacturer.

Getting to the bolt heads will be difficult. Use a socket wrench to tighten all the screws last.

It is important to know that you cannot use power tools when performing installation. The hand rotating the handle of the spanner develops quite sufficient force.

Depending on the qualifications of the installer, the entire installation operation takes 10-20 minutes. Additionally, you may need to connect an outlet that will power the trailer's electronics. Here it is better to contact an official dealer. You cannot connect the wiring yourself - this may void the warranty. We wish you success.

The result of all efforts may look like this:

Installed tow bar, Lada Kalina Cross car

What is shown here is not a station wagon, but a crossover, but the body of these cars differs little from the station wagon.