Im looking to add a towbar to the mighty Verada at some stage.
I presume the towing capacity is 1500kg? What about the downforce? I was thinking of a bike carrier as well but one of my bikes weighs 160kg, add the carrier and its nearly 200kg on a smooth surface, add in some bumps and yeah.. Which leads me to my next question

Mounting points. Does the verada have existing bolt-on mounts or do they need to be welded?
And in either case, if i wanted more downforce capacity without risking a bent subframe. Is it possible to add extra mount points further back

Also my verada is in pristine condition. It seems somewhat of a shame to cut and hack the rear bumper. Is it possible to get towbars which go down and under the bumper instead of through it? I beleive i have seen some but dont remember the year model or whether it was a verada/magna. I presume the rear bumpers are different

The Magna/Verada towing capacity is rated at 1500kg max. Don't get taken in by advertisements of higher-rated towbars - they don't change the car's rated capacity.

Towbars typically come in standard (~900kg) and heavy-duty (1500kg) ratings. In each case, the rated downforce is 10% of the towing capacity. Similarly, trailers, vans, etc should apply a downforce equivalent to their laden weight to the towbar. A 160kg (motor?)bike weighs more than the recommended 150kg max downforce for a heavy-duty towbar. Standard towbars can be bolted direct to the chassis. The heavy duty ones bolt to the chassis too, but also require mounting holes to be drilled into the wheel well, to cater for the extra load.

As for the rear bumper, some Magna/Verada models have a removable section through which the (genuine) bar goes. VRX Magnas don't have that, so fitting any towbar requires a section to be cut out of the bumper. The genuine Mitsubishi towbars have a flat cross-section (even in the heavy-duty model) whereas the Hayman-Reese towbars have a square cross-section. Doubtless, the Hayman-Reese towbars are more likely than the genuine Mitsubishi towbars to need some of the bumper removed. Some of the available towbars do go under Verada bumpers (see, for example: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MITSUBISHI-MAGNA-VERADA-TE-TH-TJ-SEDAN-STANDARD-towbar-/380819890399). And you're probably going to end up with a couple of holes drilled into the bumper anyway for the trailer socket...

is there a difference between the magna and verada towbars?
What year models will fit a 1998 Ei sedan?

Chances are i'll have to get one from a wreckers, and chances are it won't be an identical car. And i'd say I need to remove it myself so i'd prefer to not waste time removing and buying something that doesn't fit

As for the rear bumper, some Magna/Verada models have a removable section through which the (genuine) bar goes. VRX Magnas don't have that, so fitting any towbar requires a section to be cut out of the bumper.

And you're probably going to end up with a couple of holes drilled into the bumper anyway for the trailer socket...

If your bar has the cutout you will find the section under the towbar is pretty fragile and breaks off at the slightest excuse. Did on my TJ anyway. Might as well cut it off neatly.

As for mounting the socket onto the plastic bar . . . . NO! Way too weak. Make up or buy a metal bracket so the socket attaches to the towbar itself. If that isn't possible, have the socket and cable loose in the boot and just droop it out when the towbar is in use.

Putting a bike carrier and motor bike on the back will exceed the downforce rating, you will need a bike or general purpose trailer.

If you strip one off a wreck, grab the socket and wiring, and look carefully at how it is joined to the car's rear wiring harness.

Mine's a wagon so presumably a bit different, but towbar (flat style) goes under the bumper with no cutout needed. Definitely go for the ribbon cable and connector in the boot, that plug looks bloody awful anywhere you mount it and keeping it in the boot keeps it clean, dry and free of Huntsmans (been there, over 10 years ago and still not seeing the funny side). No way would you want to sling 160kg+ directly on the towbar, go for a bike trailer if possible (presumably it's a motorbike at that weight, I've never seen a motorbike mounted on a towbar bike carrier before).

is there a difference between the magna and verada towbars?
For any given year model, they're the same. Wagons are different to sedans, though. You'll also find that the same towbars fit models spanning a number of years.

Chances are i'll have to get one from a wreckers, and chances are it won't be an identical car.
There are plenty on ebay to choose from, too, which gives you a greater chance of getting one of the same model.

but nobody is going to post a towbar so thats not an option. Even if they were the postage would be what... $100?

And are you absolutely sure the towbars are the same? the Verada bumper sticks out quite a bit further doesn't it? thus I can't see it fitting

I've never seen a motorbike mounted on a towbar bike carrier before).

See it on motor homes occasionally. Never on a sedan or s/wagon.

http://www.rv-camping-lifestyle.com/images/rv-motorcycle-carrier-Harley.jpg

Would you call that a Hog on the back of a Hippo? lol

but nobody is going to post a towbar so thats not an option. Even if they were the postage would be what... $100?

And are you absolutely sure the towbars are the same? the Verada bumper sticks out quite a bit further doesn't it? thus I can't see it fitting
Evidently you haven't bothered looking. There are plenty of ads for the same towbars to fit Magnas & Veradas and the freight, well, you check it out ...

There is a towbar on eBay for sale and it doesn't seem to interfere with the Verada longer bumper:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-Magna-Verada-Towbar-Boronia-Brand-1600kg-max-Sedan-10-96-12-98-/191101469569?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c7e890381

I just hooked up the towbar to the KL wagon yesterday and was shocked it's fastened with a clip.
Had to use the KL to tow a trailer load of rubbish to the tip as the old workhorse the VQ 5.0ltr stato was smashed up last week.... damn.

Evidently you haven't bothered looking. There are plenty of ads for the same towbars to fit Magnas & Veradas and the freight, well, you check it out ...

I have a TF Magna and a KH Verada, the Magna has a tow bar and I was going to fit it to the Verada but there no way it would fit due to the longer bumper on the verada. The tow bar might be the same but the last part the tongue must be different to allow the bigger bumper on the Verada. But then again that is just going by the one thats fitted to my Magna.

Just had another look, yes theres no way the Magna tow bar would fit my verada unless I cut a piece out of my bumper. It doesn't look like a hayman reece one might be factory.

I just hooked up the towbar to the KL wagon yesterday and was shocked it's fastened with a clip.
Sounds like a receiver-hitch towbar, like Hayman-Reese use - they're quire reliable.

I have a TF Magna and a KH Verada, the Magna has a tow bar and I was going to fit it to the Verada but there no way it would fit due to the longer bumper on the verada.
All that shows is they're not all created equal. Any Verada towbar that doesn't require a cut-out will fit a Magna, so some manufacturers use that design for both. Conversely, some manufacturers design for Magnas and expect Verada owners to use cut-outs... Some even require cut-outs for both! Caveat Emptor.

Evidently I did look, and most of them list compatibility ONLY for verada models. They don't specifically say 'wont fit magna', but they make no mention of the T* series, only K* series

So I presume if I found a magna with one I could grab it, but I will have to cut the bumper unless it's sticking out way too far (would be a verada one on a magna)

most of them list compatibility ONLY for verada models. They don't specifically say 'wont fit magna'
If they fit a Verada without cutting they'll fit the equivalent Magna without cutting. Not necessarily vice-versa. Got it?

I'm gonna bump this because I found one locally at the wreckers on a Magna, but it looks like it sticks out a bit so might be a Verada one. Any info on how much they stick out? This one measures approx 7 inches from centre of ball to the rear bumper.
Or is there another way to identify? i.e. I noticed the tongue does not look like 1 piece, rather it bolts to the main mounting hardware, like this one http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tow-Bar-suit-Mitsubishi-Verada-KE-KF-KH-KJ-series-1-/191082082039?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c7d612ef7&_uhb=1
I'm not interested in cutting my bumper, and mine does not have a removable flap either

The trailer wiring harness, I presume its the same for Magna and Verada? all year models?
And is there already a plug inside the boot for it or do I need to do some splicing?