Are there any KJ Verada AWD owners that have had a towbar fitted to their vehicle?

Depending on which Mitsubishi dealer you talk to, they are both available for the AWD and not available for the AWD.

I have talked to Hayman Reese and they don't make a standard 1500kg towbar for the AWD.

I would prefer to fit genuine Mitsubishi parts to protect the warranty.

I wouldn't have thought there would be any difference between FWD and AWD. Same rear end. Maybe they just dont list it but i would doubt there would be any difference at all but i could be wrong.

in my industry, i see plenty of AWD magnas pulling caravans....

they exist.... just speak to a trust worty mitsu dealer

Had one fitted between Xmas and the New Year by Carasel in Sydney.

No different to the standard fit for a 1200Kg bar.
Cost about $235 fully fitted with electrics.

Spud.

Had one fitted between Xmas and the New Year by Carasel in Sydney.

No different to the standard fit for a 1200Kg bar.
Cost about $235 fully fitted with electrics.

Spud.

The only Mitsubishi dealer that said that there was one listed for the AWD quoted $720.00 to fit inc. electrics.

Yeah thats a dealer for you. An absolute rip off. I could get a heavy duty tow hotch for that, with electrics and even electric brake controlers for that money.

Ring hayman reese and tell them the situation. They should know if there is a difference and it shouldnt make any difference on the warranty if its done by them. Wouldnt pay more than $500 for a heavy duty bar.

As spud said, there is no difference. Wouldn't have thought so.

My Jan 2003 Verada AWD was supplied with one from the dealer (Knox Mitsubishi, Melbourne). The details on the manufacturer's name plate are as follows:

Vehicle Make Mitsubishi
Vehicle Model KE/KJ 42 Verada
Part No Towbar MR 906668
Part No Tongue MR906686
Manufacturer Allin Towbars
Maximum Towbar Capacity 1500kg
Maximum Towbar Download 150kg

Due to the towball download weight of the camper I tow (131kg empty), it's being replaced next Friday with a Hayman Reese heavy duty towbar (Hitch Receiver) for $495 fitted. I have to do this in order to get a high enough capacity level ride setup, ie 250kg capacity (also from Hayman Reese). All other systems on the market aren't strong enough to handle the towball weight.

Whoever you are talking to just isn't trying!!

Roble

My Jan 2003 Verada AWD was supplied with one from the dealer (Knox Mitsubishi, Melbourne). The details on the manufacturer's name plate are as follows:

Vehicle Make Mitsubishi
Vehicle Model KE/KJ 42 Verada
Part No Towbar MR 906668
Part No Tongue MR906686
Manufacturer Allin Towbars
Maximum Towbar Capacity 1500kg
Maximum Towbar Download 150kg

Due to the towball download weight of the camper I tow (131kg empty), it's being replaced next Friday with a Hayman Reese heavy duty towbar (Hitch Receiver) for $495 fitted. I have to do this in order to get a high enough capacity level ride setup, ie 250kg capacity (also from Hayman Reese). All other systems on the market aren't strong enough to handle the towball weight.

Whoever you are talking to just isn't trying!!

Roble
Many thanks. If necessary, I'll go to Knox Mitsubishi. How is your car going? Any complaints?

The best price on an after-market tow bar for my KJ Verada is a Hayman Reese unit for $220.00 fitted including wiring.

Sounds great, doesn't it.

Then l find out that it is fixed differently to the genuine Mitsubishi unit and requires a section of the bumber to be cut away. No way....not on my car. I just don't fancy a lump of black steel protuding out the back. At least with the genuine unit, once you remove the "neck" you'd hardly notice the towbar at all.

So.......looks like $700.00 for a genuine unit. Am l being silly or does anyone else dislike the site of a towbar?

The best price on an after-market tow bar for my KJ Verada is a Hayman Reese unit for $220.00 fitted including wiring.

Sounds great, doesn't it.

Then l find out that it is fixed differently to the genuine Mitsubishi unit and requires a section of the bumber to be cut away. No way....not on my car. I just don't fancy a lump of black steel protuding out the back. At least with the genuine unit, once you remove the "neck" you'd hardly notice the towbar at all.

So.......looks like $700.00 for a genuine unit. Am l being silly or does anyone else dislike the site of a towbar?

Re my earlier post, I'm going through the process of fitting a hitch receiver (heavy duty towbar), so here's some comments:

Because the Verada AWDs have the American bumpers, there is no way a towbar (from any manufacturer) can be fitted without cutting a section out - have a look at any Magna rear "vis a vis" a Verada rear. The Verada bumper extends a lot further under the back of the car than the Magna's hence, if a section is not cut out, you just cannot get to the bolts that you secure the tongue to the rest of the towbar assembly with. The bolt access issue is probably why the Verada doesn't have the rectangular cut out for the tongue (cause you couldn't get to the bolts anyway). If the cutout is done properly, it dosen't look too bad!

Also, be very careful of Hayman Reese's (HR) part numbering as their catalogue does not correctly identify the right towbars for AWDs with build dates before 06/03. How do I know - because yesterday I had a towbar installer try to fit one and after 90 minutes of stripping the rear of the car (including bumper and standard towbar) found that the supplied item wouldn't fit because of the extra strenghtening for the "live" rear axle. Another 90 minutes was spent putting it all back together (without the original towbar) - pissed off installer (with HR) and semi pissed off customer (with HR but not installer as it wasn't the installer's fault). HR's telephone response was to the effect that they had'nt been told that AWDs were available before June 03!!

Having another attempt to fit a new towbar next Tuesday with a HR part for post 06/03 AWDs. Will post a comment on success or otherwise then (and maybe some right part numbers).

One final comment, from what I saw yesterday, the HR towbars are a substantially better thought out product than the genuine Mitsu item - pity about the Company's attitude to its customers and dealers though.

Roble

Exactly correct about the Verada having a larger bigger bumper, I am also told orginally Mitsi did three towbars for the Magna (unsure about Verada). 1200kg std tounge, 1500kg std tounge and 1500kg square hitch tounge.

"Roble"

The car l had before my KJ AWD was a 1999 KH Verada Ei. I don't believe that the bumper design changed at all from the KH to the KJ. The KH was fitted with a genuine Mitsubishi 1500kg bar which fitted beneath the bumper without any "cutting" being done.

In short, that's the bar l want. I didn't need to make use of the towbar all that often so l used to remove the tongue. Once it was removed, the bar was "almost" invisible.

I expect to be going near Chadstone Mitsubishi today. I'm going to stop and see if any of the KJ Veradas that they have in the used car lot have towbars.

I had the standard hayman reese tow bar on my car then upgraded it to the heavy duty one. At the time of installation, both the instructions said that the bumper had to be cut like you say. But the installer said that they don't and neither required the bumper to be cut and they both fit perfect and look great.

My Jan 2003 Verada AWD was supplied with one from the dealer (Knox Mitsubishi, Melbourne). The details on the manufacturer's name plate are as follows:

Vehicle Make Mitsubishi
Vehicle Model KE/KJ 42 Verada
Part No Towbar MR 906668
Part No Tongue MR906686
Manufacturer Allin Towbars
Maximum Towbar Capacity 1500kg
Maximum Towbar Download 150kg

Due to the towball download weight of the camper I tow (131kg empty), it's being replaced next Friday with a Hayman Reese heavy duty towbar (Hitch Receiver) for $495 fitted. I have to do this in order to get a high enough capacity level ride setup, ie 250kg capacity (also from Hayman Reese). All other systems on the market aren't strong enough to handle the towball weight.

Whoever you are talking to just isn't trying!!

Roble
I've still got the tongue that came with my previous KH Verada. It is the same part number as you show above.

Finally got the hitch receiver fitted last week and I can confirm for any AWD's with compliance plates dated pre 06/03,that the part identified in the HR catelogue for post 06/03 AWDs is the one you need. And yes, the bumper had to be cut to fit the hitch. They did a good job and it doesn't look out of place.

Roble

PS Sorry for the delay in posting, but Optus cut me back to dial-up modem speed (cause I downloaded the workshop manual) and at 28k the Internet is a *****.

The car l had before my KJ AWD was a 1999 KH Verada Ei. I don't believe that the bumper design changed at all from the KH to the KJ. The KH was fitted with a genuine Mitsubishi 1500kg bar which fitted beneath the bumper without any "cutting" being done.

In short, that's the bar l want. I didn't need to make use of the towbar all that often so l used to remove the tongue. Once it was removed, the bar was "almost" invisible.

Any Verada fitted with a tow bar has had the bumper bar cut. you don't notice it as it is only small and on the underside of the bar and helps to let the bar fit around the tow neck better. If you don't cut your bumper bar it will look worse.

The difference in the tow bars between the Magna and the Verada is only in the tounge section so in theory you could fit a magna tow bar to your verada hence with a serious hack job. If you thought that your KF didn't have the bumper bar cut then don't be worried about your new car cause you probably won't notice it either.

Tensixty6
What are you planning to tow behind your Verada? I have a mate with a 19 foot Haines Hunter.His KJ got intimate with a powerpole so was looking at upgrading to an AWD. Curious to see what they are like at towing. My KF has no problems towing the boat.

I'm towing a Jayco Camper van, empty weight 880kg. Now, with the right level riders to handle the towball weight, towing's a dream. Very comfortable, very stable at 100kph+.

And, just to give you the full picture, I've also had Pedders heavy duty springs fitted (which also lowered it about 25mm and got rid of the excessive body roll of the Verada) and a sports exhaust from the cat back for some more low down torque. This was not really necessary, but the torque has made a difference when towing (take offs and hills are much easier) and the extra get up and go when not towing is nice too (yes, I occassionally participate in traffic light derby's)!!

Roble

Steve_R

"Tensixty6
What are you planning to tow behind your Verada? I have a mate with a 19 foot Haines Hunter.His KJ got intimate with a powerpole so was looking at upgrading to an AWD. Curious to see what they are like at towing. My KF has no problems towing the boat."

Nothing heavy...just a trailer. I can't think of any reason why the AWD should not be able to cope with the same weight (towing) as FWD. Actually, come to think of it, l would think AWD would come in very handy at some boat ramps.

Steve_R

What model KJ (wrecked) does your mate have, Ei or Xi?

I regulary tow a 1200+kg caravan behind my KH wagon which does it fine. Sits perfect and stable any speed. Have electric brakes but no load distrib hitches. Have to admit that i was suprised that the car tows much better after i lowered it. Much more stable and not a harsh ride at all. The wagons would tow better because they are heavier than sedans and they have the solid beam rear suspension setup which is better for towing over IRS.
Sometimes I tow the same caravan behind a KJ2 sedan and it doesnt feel any where near as stable and safe. It wollows around a bit with the IRS.

Also sometimes tow a 2000kg+ 22 foot boat behind the car. It doesnt like that too much. Does it fine but brakes dont like it and its heavier than the car so it can push you round a bit.

From what I remember from working at a Mitsubishi dealer, from TE to TH, and possibly later except for AWD and the TL Verada, there were only 3 towbars listed from the factory.
Short sedan flat tongue, 1500kg. For Magnas.
Long sedan flat tongue, 1500kg. For Verada with the 5mph bumpers.
Wagon flat tongue, 1500kg. All wagons.
The Magna sedan bar won't fit the Verada as the bumper mountings are different, smaller with no impact absorbers, to the Verada. The Verada bumper needed a slight trim under the edge so the fascia would fit around the tongue, as mentioned it is unseen unless you look under the bumper. Wagons had no fit issues that I remember, apart from the rear muffler needing a drop bracket. The reason why Verada wagons don't require a different towbar is they use normal Magna wagon rear bumpers since they were never exported to the US.