Tesla Towbar: The Comprehensive Guide

A towbar (AHK) is a great thing to have. For holiday trips with the caravan, weekend excursions with the bike rack, or picking up a wardrobe from your trusted furniture dealer.

Having a towbar makes things easier in many situations. Of course, you can certainly manage without one, and you probably won't need it 360 days a year, but a towbar (just like many things in our...) is... Accesories) such a thing, for which the following applies: “Better to have than to need“.

For many years, Tesla had a different perspective. A Tesla with a tow hitch – unheard of for a long time. The concerns were probably too great that the less aerodynamically efficient trailers would significantly reduce the range. Or perhaps a Tesla tow hitch was simply considered unnecessary – after all, it is (also) a stylish, trendy vehicle.

They have since changed their minds; a Tesla tow hitch is now available. almost all models offer at least one option. to have.

Many Tesla customers, especially buyers of the Model 3 or Model S, purchased their vehicles without a Tesla tow hitch. Even if their model is generally compatible with a Tesla tow hitch, Tesla does not offer this retrofit option. Therefore, the only remaining option is the aftermarket, where retrofits are readily available.

In this Tesla trailer guide We will give you an overview of the topic of Tesla, trailer hitches and their retrofitting.

Tesla towbar: When does it need to be retrofitted?

The first Tesla model to feature a tow hitch was a large and heavy gullwing sedan – the Model X. However, even the Tesla Model X tow hitch had to be selected as an option until 2018. Those who purchased before then may have to do without a tow hitch and will need to retrofit one.

Fortunately, the device has been included as standard equipment since 2018.

The situation is different with the oldest Tesla still being sold. The Tesla Model S tow hitch wasn't even offered until 2020, so there are likely a great many vehicles on the road without one.

Only since the facelift and the introduction of the Plaid variant have Model S customers, regardless of the chosen trim level, had the option of a tow hitch. However, this must be purchased separately from the Tesla shop and cannot be added directly through the configurator.

The situation was similar at the beginning with the Tesla Model Y. For a long time, the tow hitch also had to be purchased separately.

However, in mid-2022 the change followed; since then, a Tesla Model Y with a tow hitch can also be selected directly in the Tesla configurator.

The good news: A tow hitch is available directly from the Tesla Shop for all Model Y models. This eliminates the need for retrofitting and keeps the costs for the Model Y tow hitch predictable.

Currently, they amount to €1,500. Furthermore, a plug-in system makes the Tesla Model Y tow hitch detachable.

Tesla Model 3 Towbar

Things only get really complicated when you want to tow a trailer with the Model 3. Before May 2019, there was no Tesla Model 3 tow hitch; since then, it has been available as an optional extra in the configurator. However, even then, you could only order the Tesla Model 3 with a tow hitch if you opted for the Standard Range or Long Range versions.

This situation has not changed to this day.

A Tesla Model 3 Performance tow hitch does not exist, and retrofitting one is not entirely straightforward, as only the "Base Performance" model, available on request and differing from the Long Range model only in its increased power, is suitable for towing.

Whole 500 kilograms trailer load to extract the most value from this performance variant.

There is also a need to retrofit a towbar to the Tesla Model 3, because all customers whose vehicle is older than May 2019, who drive a Base Performance model or who simply did not choose the Tesla Model 3 Long Range Towbar or Standard Range Towbar option, are probably still driving without a towbar.

By the wayAt Teslabs you will find High-quality Model Y accessories. No towbar, but things like high-quality rim protection or roof racks.

Retrofitting a Tesla towbar: All the important information at a glance

Those who decide to retrofit a Tesla tow hitch usually ask themselves the following questions: Who offers retrofitting or a retrofit kit? Will it pass TÜV inspection? And how much will it all cost?

In this section, we will address these questions.

Third-party Tesla trailer hitches

Safety and reliability are also absolutely essential in the aftermarket for third-party automotive parts. Last but not least. Do you lose anything during a retrofit?, which intervenes as deeply in the vehicle structure and electronics as a complete trailer hitch, namely the Tesla warranty and guarantee for the parts in question. Furthermore, the The structural integrity before the TÜV inspector is important.

One supplier that installs TÜV-certified compatible parts and even offers a two-year warranty on the towbar is Kupplung-vor-Ort in Lower Bavaria. They can retrofit a towbar to a Tesla Model 3, and also offer solutions for the Model S and Model X.

Another provider, which is often recommended in the tff forum, is... MisterDotCom. TÜV-approved retrofits for the Model S and Model 3 are also available here, with the towing capacity of the installed Model S towbar even reaching 1,850 kilograms.

MisterDotCom also offers the option to retrofit the Tesla Model 3 Performance towbar, although it is noted that this is currently only technically possible – they are still working with TÜV on formal approval.

A wide selection of compatible towbars for all Tesla models, from fixed to swiveling, as individual parts or complete sets, can be found at [website address]. kupplung.deHowever, TÜV compliance is not specified for all models.

Generally speaking, the range of products on the The towbar market is primarily focused on the Model 3 and S.. Since most Model X and Y vehicles were available with a tow hitch, This is not surprising.

Retrofitting a Tesla tow hitch: Costs

The costs for retrofitting a towbar vary considerably. For example, the cost of a towbar for the Tesla Model 3 at MisterDotCom is... approximately €1,350 for the parts and another €550 for installation (if desired).

At kupplung.de You can find solutions for approximately €700–800 plus at least €319 for installation.

MisterDotCom charges €1,500 plus €650 for installation for the Model S. kupplung.de Prices range from approximately €900 to several thousand euros.

Kupplung-vor-Ort only provides prices for all products upon request. In addition to the installation and material costs, you must also factor in the fees for a TÜV inspection, which amount to approximately €100.

For comparison: The original Tesla Model 3 towbar for 2021 (since the facelift) currently costs €1,350, the same price Tesla charges for the Model Y.Separately sold couplings for the Model S or earlier versions of the Model Y are available in the Tesla Shop for €790 and €1,500 respectively.

Towing capacity, tongue weight, price: Differences between Tesla models

A tow hitch is now available for almost all Tesla models. However, there are still significant differences in what you can actually do with the device. This section provides an overview of permissible trailer and support loads.

Interestingly, the values ​​mentioned here often differ significantly from those given in the USA, for example – so technically, more is probably possible with many models.

Tesla Model 3 2021 towbar

The 2021 Model 3 facelift made only minor changes to the vehicle's towing specifications. The maximum towing capacity increased from 910 kilograms to 1,000 kilograms, and the permissible tongue weight increased from 91 to 100 kilograms.

The latter, however, is used for vertical loads such as a bicycle carrier. to 54 kilograms reduced. Those with 20-inch rims even only get 20 kilograms of vertical support load.

If you choose the trailer package, Tesla will charge you €1,350.

As mentioned earlier, the "trailer hitch" option is now the only model not available for the Model 3 Performance. Those who choose the "Base Performance" model with a trailer hitch can expect a maximum towing capacity of 500 kilograms and a maximum tongue weight of 25 kilograms.

The question here, however, is whether the low values ​​have a technical or a regulatory background.

Given that the Model 3 Performance is not allowed to tow a trailer primarily because of its 20-inch wheels, which the "Base Performance" model does not have, the latter seems more likely.

Tesla Model Y tow hitch

Tesla offers a towing package with slightly higher towing capacity for the slightly larger Model Y – available for €1,350 directly during configuration. For this price, the buyer receives a maximum towing capacity of 1,600 kilograms. The Tesla Model Y tow hitch also has a vertical load capacity of 100 kilograms – but this is reduced to 72 kilograms for vertical loads.

Furthermore, the Performance version of the Model Y is not left out; it receives exactly the same specifications as its siblings, the Standard and Long Range versions.

Tesla Model X tow hitch

The Tesla Model X is currently the only Tesla that comes with a tow hitch installed automatically at no extra cost – and has done so since 2018. It is also the only model with which one can seriously consider towing larger trailers.

This is made possible thanks to a towing capacity of 2,250 kilograms (Plaid) or 2,300 kilograms and a vertical load of 90 kilograms (Plaid) or 100 kilograms, which drops to 54 kilograms.

Tesla Model S tow hitch

After a long period without a tow hitch for the Model S, during which numerous professional and semi-professional aftermarket solutions emerged, the 2021 facelift introduced a factory-installed tow hitch – or rather, the option to install one. The detachable hitch still needs to be purchased separately and is available for €790 in the Tesla Shop.

The maximum towing capacity is the same as with the previous model. Model Y at 1,600 kilograms, the support load is 100 kilograms.

Install Tesla tow hitch

Simply owning a towbar is of little use; it must also be fitted to the vehicle. So how does the assembly take place?

That depends, of course, on whether the clutch is installed at the factory or not.With factory-installed towbars, the ball head can usually be removed or reinstalled using a simple plug-in mechanism. However, if you want to install a towbar for your Tesla Model 3, for example, which you purchased from the aftermarket, it is recommended to visit a specialist automotive workshop.

If you are skilled in DIY, self-assembly is certainly an option.

Reputable manufacturers like those mentioned above provide detailed assembly instructions, making installation possible even for self-installation.

However, be aware that fitting a complete towbar is a major undertaking that usually requires the temporary removal of the bumper and other visible parts.

Tesla Trailer Guide: Conclusion

For a long time, the words "Tesla" and "towbar" didn't really seem to go together. Due to a lack of initiative from the electric car pioneer, the first third-party retrofit solutions gradually emerged, but the majority of customers still had to do without a towbar.

Only since Tesla became a competitive mass producer with the Model 3 and later the Model Y, and its customer base expanded significantly, has the manufacturer itself begun addressing this issue. At the same time, demand naturally grew in the third-party market, leading to a larger supply there as well.

Anyone buying a new Tesla today will most likely have the option of a tow hitch – and at a relatively reasonable price compared to the third-party market.

However, the truth is that the possible towing capacity is usually limited, especially if you were previously used to reasonably well-equipped combustion engine vehicles.

Interestingly, the maximum towing capacity of a Tesla can be increased with some third-party accessories – and these are TÜV-approved, it should be noted. Furthermore, many older Teslas are on German roads that either didn't have the option of a tow hitch or didn't choose it.

Both of these factors mean that the demand for retrofitting Tesla trailer hitches continues and will likely continue for some time.

On the other hand, it is expected that Tesla will increase its range of compatible trailer hitches in the future. Better batteries, expanded charging infrastructure and Optimized software makes range increasingly less important, even with a large trailer; a Tesla has sufficient power and weight for that. anyway – And if anything changes, you're guaranteed to find out about it on our Blog.

Does your Tesla already have a tow hitch, or do you still have to manage without one? Tell us in the comments!