Spent a lot of money today (not) buying a second hand towbar for a TJ, sight unseen. Its a Hayman Reece type, mounts only on the four bumper bar bolts. Got the wiring loom and mounting bolts with it. Its only rated at 1,000 Kg, which is unexpected. Will only be towing a small trailer with it, so it should be fine.

Anyone have any experience with this bar?
Where to mount the trailer plug? Leave it in the boot or mount it on the bumper bar?
Which side of the boot does the wiring loom run?

I bought a HR towbar just after I bought my TL, mounted the wiring inside the boot using a flat cable and a 7 pin round plug which is 'normal' in Queensland - I think mexicans use the flat plug. This way you don't have the ugly plug outside plus as it's not exposed to the elements, the contacts inside the plug stay clean. I removed the rear skirt to fit....couldn't figure out why one of the attaching parts had an extension fitted (one of the 4 bolts). I thought I struck lucky with mine at $70....did you do better? Didn't read the compliance plate as the bloke I bought mine from said he towed an Avan all round Australia with it....cannot read it now as it points up and is hidden. I wired mine into the right hand side....just cut and soldered the trailer wires in....Magnas use pretty thin wire compared to Commodores I found.

i got a hr on mine i used a verada one which has the 1500kg tow rate had to drill a hole in the boot for the extra bolt

Thanks for that info. $70 sounds cheap, I paid $110 but it was worth it not having to grovel in the dirt at u-pull-it to get one off. I noticed the extension on one of the mounting holes on the bar and got the bolts off the original car too. Got the internal wiring harness as well so wiring it up should be easy and I will keep the socket in the boot. Its a round one and pretty mutilated so it was probably mounted low on the bumper. Be some time before I put it on the car though, bit busy at the moment. Checked the compliance plate and its 1,000 kg towing with 80 Kg down force maximum, should be fine to use - 6 X 4 trailer full of rubbish is its intended purpose. It's never going to tow a caravan as the wife prefers to fly and stay in hotels, while I would prefer to drive and use motels. lol

Someone on here once said that there is a proper trailer loom on the left side so there is no need to splice into existing loom. A search may turn it up. Having said that, I got mine done by Alin Towbars in Richmond for high $200s back in 05. It is the square removable hitch with the flat cable plug sitting in the boot when not needed. Alin Towbars did a lot of towbars for mitsubishi dealers and yet they spliced into existing loom on the right.

Someone on here once said that there is a proper trailer loom on the left side so there is no need to splice into existing loom..

You may be correct - see this ad on Ebay which says you just plug it in:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mitsubishi-Magna-Towbar-BRAND-NEW-/180561622078?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a0a4fb43e

Someone on here once said that there is a proper trailer loom on the left side so there is no need to splice into existing loom. A search may turn it up. Having said that, I got mine done by Alin Towbars in Richmond for high $200s back in 05. It is the square removable hitch with the flat cable plug sitting in the boot when not needed. Alin Towbars did a lot of towbars for mitsubishi dealers and yet they spliced into existing loom on the right.

Mitsubishi sell a loom with flat 7 pin plug for $52. You disconnect one of the tail light plugs and plug one end of the loom into the plug, and the other end into the tail light...easy.

Thread mine!

I finally got around to trying to use the towbar, but the wiring is giving me problems. I replaced the loom on the right hand side with the one from the wreckers, as it has an extra plug on it for the trailer wiring. I had to rewire the socket for 5 pin, but then found that the trailer lights were acting strange, like too many coming on at once. Probing the back of the plug showed that with the left indicator on, all the lights on the trailer came on flashing because a lot of the wiring in addition to the indicator wire had voltage on them. I might have to put the original rear harness back in, then spice into that for the trailer wiring to get it to work right. Unless its something simple I've missed. Haven't checked the trailer earthing yet, as I can't locate the earthing point, but looking for that is next, before I start splicing. With the trailer disconnected from the towbar harness, the multiple voltages are still showing up on the tow bar wiring harness in the boot.

Fun!

Some of my worst hair-pulling episodes have been with trailer wiring!...usually happens when you are in a hurry. I agree....fun.

Mitsubishi sell a loom with flat 7 pin plug for $52. You disconnect one of the tail light plugs and plug one end of the loom into the plug, and the other end into the tail light...easy.

I made my own...even cheaper. I have my wiring sitting in the boot, makes the rear of the car looks tidy. With the flat loom, you can use it and close the boot.
I use the 7-pin flat plug. You will need to refer to the elec diagrams from the manual to wire it up properly. No need to splice, just plug and play.

Yep, pulled the trailer cable apart and all ok, but the trailer wiring is acting up - years sitting in the rain will do that - just need a new plug and socket tomorrow, and ensure the earth is continuous from trailer plug to taillights, and all should be fine! (Maybe)

MadMax...I've got the Hayman Reese towbar on my TJ. I asked for the connection plug to be put inside the boot. All up, brand new, it cost me $210, fitted from a place here in Victoria (Glen Waverley). The plug works fine and the bar itself seems sturdy enough.

Yes, nothing wrong with the tow bar or the wiring, just the trailer itself. I remember from working on old Holdens that a bad earth will send the current in the wrong direction, and a whole bunch of lights go on on the trailer when you use the indicators or brake - lesson learnt/remembered, should be an easy fix - once the weather warms up a bit. lol I should really rewire the trailer with new wiring and lights but its years old and rusting out anyway, I will buy another when this one has a load break through the bottom, in a few years' time. lol

should be an easy fix

You are definitely dreaming!

You are definitely dreaming!

Nope, just an optimist! lol

UPDATE: (if you care . . . .)

FIXED! Got to use my trailer! (Doesn't take much to keep me happy, but now I can complain about the fee charged for dumping rubbish . . . . lol)

The tow bar wiring harness that came with the second hand tow bar had an extra plug and socket in it, compared to the original that runs down the drivers side of the boot, so I assumed thats where the tow bar wiring plugged in, but no go. Lights on trailer lit up in a weird pattern. I moved the trailer wiring plug to the driver side tail light, but the same. I then moved it to the passenger side tail light, and all worked well.
In hind sight I could have left the original wiring harness in . . . . obviously the wiring on the TJ is not the same as the donor car. Weird or what? lol
Anyhow, for the TJ the Hayman Reece trailer wiring plugs into the passenger side tail light, OK? lol