Lada Kalina is the optimal car for our country; its characteristics are extremely suitable for most drivers. This car is available in sedan, hatchback and station wagon versions. We are interested in the last two options, which are purchased most often. They are most often bought because, according to drivers, the body in such versions has a more complete image and attracts the eyes of passers-by.
So most often it is the station wagon and hatchback that can be found on the streets of our cities, and we will consider how to install a towbar on them.
Device options
The towing device, which can be used on cars, can have various versions of its type. In our country, a towbar is common, which is based on a towing ball. The thing is that similar devices were previously used, which had a less perfect appearance and did not allow one to fully enjoy all the delights of driving a car with a trailer. Previously, on Soviet cars, a tow hook was usually installed, onto which the trailer drawbar was placed and fixed on top. But at the same time, the drawbar had the ability to move along the horizontal axis, and when turning, the trailer could pull the rear side of the car to the side.
On this occasion, engineers had to puzzle over how to do it in such a way as to minimize the effect of the trailer’s weight on the car. For this purpose, a trailed ball was invented, which was able to provide the very desired smooth movement of the car.
The ball is mounted behind the vehicle and the round trailer tongue is mounted on top of it. This whole structure resembles a ball bearing, in which a round surface moves on the ball. So here, when the car body shifts, it turns out that the trailer, as if on a bearing, moves along the horizontal axis.
Towbar Lada Kalina
Types of products
Today, some drivers manage to transport heavy luggage in domestic compact VAZ models, but note that the trunks of such cars are not entirely suitable for transporting cargo of this nature. Also, the folded backrest of the rear seat row does not “save” the situation much. For transporting very large items, using a trailer is an excellent solution. The tow bar serves this purpose. Considering that the luggage compartment volume in the Lada Kalina is a modest 235 liters, then choosing a coupling device will be a very effective solution.
Today the market is able to offer its buyer three tow bar options:
- a removable product, the main advantage of which is mobility, because it can be either installed or dismantled at the slightest need;
- a welded device that is not at all easy to dismantle, because this will require the use of special equipment;
- flange design, which involves the simplest installation procedure, allowing you to avoid cutting the bumper.
Tow hitch installation
The towbar on the Lada Kalina is installed in the same way as all other cars of the VAZ line. It is attached to the subframe at the rear of the car, protruding slightly beyond the rear bumper. The installation process begins with the purchase or manufacture of the device itself. The towbar externally consists of a pipe frame to which brackets are welded for their future fastening. You can weld this structure yourself; you only need the ball itself and the metal for welding. But you can also buy a ready-made version; a universal towbar may well fit both a station wagon and a hatchback.
So, we have a ready-made device in front of us, which just needs to be properly secured. We will need the following tool:
To do this, we find a point that will be equidistant from the edges of the car and will be the center of the width of the car. This is where the ball should be located. Now we attach the brackets to the subframe under the rear bumper and mark the places where the holes will be drilled. Next, you will need to make these holes and carefully screw the towbar so as not to damage the rear bumper, because it is plastic and is very expensive.
A towbar is a towing product designed to connect a trailer to a vehicle. Installing a new towbar on Kalina NA has a number of features. The Kalina hatchback car has a trailer that is not capable of withstanding heavy loads. Therefore, installing a towbar for this vehicle is necessary if it is planned to be used for transporting goods. It will help to use a removable trailer and make the car more versatile.
Difficulty of choice
If you look at the assortment, it may seem that buying a trailer hitch for Kalina will not be difficult. But we have already considered this issue using the example of choosing and installing towbars on Lada Largus, as well as on Lada Vesta cars and on the no less popular, but requiring expansion of the luggage space Lada Priora.
The main problem is not that the price is high. No, most of the good towbars suitable for Kalina are quite inexpensive. Therefore, for regular Kalina and Kalina Cross you won’t have to spend a lot of money. The problem is the assortment, which is simply huge. And you have to choose among them. I advise you to start with the type of construction, of which there are 3.
- Welded. The drawings are quite simple, but very reliable due to the welding connection. At the same time, it will not be possible to dismantle such a trailer hitch without special tools and equipment. It is not removable, which may cause problems when operating a car without a trailer;
- Removable. The advantage is the possibility of dismantling. The connection is quite reliable if the permissible loads are not exceeded. Easy to use and affordable;
- Flanged. Installation is extremely simple; you can eliminate the installation step of trimming the bumper. Although the designs are the most expensive, taking them in the current realities is the most profitable.
Types of device for station wagon and hatchback
Installing a towbar on a Kalina hatchback is difficult because the design does not provide for the possibility of its use. The Kalina hatchback body does not have holes intended for mounting a tow bar, so only some models can be used.
There are three categories of towbars:
- removable - easy to install and remove, regardless of conditions;
- welded - has a higher strength index, but it cannot be removed after installation;
- flanged - characterized by simple installation; in this case, it is not necessary to violate the bumper design.
The choice of device for Kalina station wagon depends on the generation. Most towing and coupling products for the first generation are not suitable for second-generation cars. It is also not recommended to use a towing device designed for the Grant sedan. The station wagon has a wide trunk, so there is a need for a tow bar in some cases. It is recommended to use removable type devices for station wagons and sedan. The standard equipment of this type consists of:
- seven-pin socket;
- protective cap;
- electrical wiring;
- installation materials;
- technical data sheet of the product.
If one of the components is missing, the package is incomplete and the equipment may not work. Therefore, when buying a new product, you need to make sure that its elements are in place.
The advantages of the removable type are associated with:
- easy transportation;
- simple installation work;
- convenient storage conditions.
You can buy a removable tow bar at almost any auto store. But some models may have different prices. This feature is explained by the design differences of products for connecting trailers. Therefore, you should choose a device for a specific vehicle.
Some towbars used on second-generation station wagons are suitable for the hatchback. The most acceptable options are welded towing products. They are intended for unibody bodies available in the Tolyatti and other hatchback variants.
Welded type towbars are sold in car dealerships, but they are easy to make yourself. The advantage of this option is its high reliability. Such devices will look less presentable than their counterparts, but this is compensated by their high strength rating. The manufacturing principle for a hatchback is simple. But after installation, the device cannot be removed.
Tow bar kit for Lada Kalina station wagon
Nowadays, such products, which can be purchased in specialized stores, are classified as collapsible devices. This option has a number of advantages over competitors, namely:
- easy transportation;
- simple installation;
- convenient storage.
The set of towed products for the hatchback includes:
- technical certificate;
- protective cap;
- fasteners;
- wires;
- socket with seven contacts.
Towbar kit for Lada Kalina 2 station wagon
Important to know! It is quite easy to purchase similar parts for Kalina station wagon, since they are sold in almost every car store. But, device models can differ significantly from each other in design and price terms. The cost of trailed products ranges from $25 to $30.
Step-by-step installation process on a station wagon
On the Kalina station wagon, it is possible to use a towing device on the Kalina. Therefore, it already has holes with screws for attaching the device. The standard size of the screws is M10. Installation requires two people. The first one should hold the tow bar, and the second one should attach it.
If the tow bar for Kalina has not been used before, you will need to use a screwdriver to look for threaded holes. There are a total of six bolts used to secure the device. After they are found, you need to act according to a clear system:
- holes for fastenings are cleaned;
- a towbar is brought to them (it must be placed so that it cannot harm the muffler);
- standard bolts are screwed in (you need to start from the first side hole);
- checking the correctness of fastening;
- the screws are tightened.
For installation, it is recommended to use a spanner type with a cardan mechanism. Additionally, it may be necessary to connect an outlet for the trailer electronics to operate. But you shouldn't do this yourself. DIY installation will take up to twenty minutes.
What exactly do you need to buy for a station wagon?
Let's turn to the official documentation, more precisely, to the catalog of assembly units. In this document, one of the drawings shows the body frame:
Rear floor frame, station wagon
All parts, in addition to the 12th, make up the floor frame. A towbar must be attached to parts “14” and “3”, as well as to channel “13”. These parts are provided with holes (their total number is 6).
The distance from part “13” to the first side hole in our case is 145 mm, to the second – 245 mm. For the “first Lada Kalina” these distances were different. Towbars suitable for the VAZ-1118 are not necessarily suitable for the Kalina-2. However, there are also universal solutions. A drawing of one of them is presented below.
A universal tow bar will have 4 or 5 holes on the sides:
Scheme of a universal towbar (for Granta, Kalina-1 and 2)
If the kit comes with threaded strips, then know that they will not be needed. The standard holes in the body are threaded from the factory. In conclusion, here is a photo illustrating all of the above:
Hole layout, new family station wagon
When making your choice, do not make mistakes! You can take a ruler with you and measure the distance from the plane of the “ears” (see diagram above) to the first side hole. It should be exactly 145 mm.
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.
DIY tow bar
To create a homemade towbar you will need:
- metal corners;
- metal pipe;
- working welding machine.
The part in which the corners and the pipe will be connected is indicated. After this, one corner is attached by welding to the rear channel, and the other to the trailer. The operating period of a homemade device is from 5 to 10 years, depending on the strength of the material used. But this option is suitable for those who know how to install a tow bar on Kalina with their own hands.
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.
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.
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.
How to choose and correctly install a tow bar on a Kalina hatchback? Most owners of this popular model are interested in a similar question. However, not everyone knows what role this device plays in everyday use of a car. Meanwhile, it is the towbar that serves as the main connecting link between the trailer and the car.
2 Towing device for station wagon
As in the case of the hatchback, not all types of towbars are suitable for the Kalina station wagon. The best option would be to purchase a removable structure. Since the station wagon has a large trunk, you won’t always have to use a trailer. This is why a removable tow bar is an ideal purchase. When purchasing a structure, you should pay attention to its standard equipment:
- seven-pin socket;
- electrical wiring for installation;
- protective cap;
- technical data sheet for the towbar;
- materials for installation.
If at least one component from the set is missing, you should not buy such a device. Installing a towbar on a station wagon has its own nuances. Viburnum with such a body has ready-made holes for mounting a towbar. Therefore, attaching it, if necessary, will not be difficult. However, according to the advice of experts, each time the structure is secured, its pins must be lubricated with a special paste. Permatex, Xado or Verylube lubricants are suitable for this.
