Tips for installing a towbar on a Lada Granta liftback with your own hands

A towing hitch or towbar for a Lada Granta liftback is installed for the purpose of further use of the trailer to increase the cargo capacity of the vehicle.

The standard installation location for the trailer hitch is under the rear bumper. When using a stock bumper, the trailer hitch is installed without additional installation work. If there is a pre-installed custom option, a number of plumbing jobs will be required to cut out the opening for the removal of the removable ball.

Towbar selection

The main point that influences the selection of a towbar model is the maximum weight of the cargo that needs to be transported. Today, three groups of towing devices are produced, designed for transporting trailers, depending on the weight being transported:

• Lightweight, for transporting cargo up to 1.5 tons.
• Medium, for cargo weighing up to 2.5 tons.
• Heavy, for transporting items weighing up to 3.5 tons.

Lada Granta cars can transport cargo belonging to the light group. When transporting, the type of road surface should be taken into account: the load on the coupling device when driving on the ground almost doubles compared to a highway.

Installation of heavy trailer hitches on Grants with a liftback or sedan body is possible, but not advisable. This method of operation will lead to management problems and unnecessary costs.

By design, towing coupling devices are available in two types: non-dismountable and collapsible. The first ones are advisable to use when using trailers regularly. They are reliable and have a fairly long service life. Towbars with a removable ball hook are more practical, but less reliable. The hook can be quickly removed and carried in the trunk, using it if necessary.

A little about the car

Before we talk about what trailer hitches you can take for the Grant, it’s worth saying a few words about the car itself.

Oddly enough, Granta has gained enormous popularity in the Russian market. Largely due to how much such a car costs.

The Lada Granta model is a comparative novelty for AvtoVAZ. The car first appeared only in 2011. The only problem is that it’s not 2022 or even 2022 anymore. And during this time, no improvements or global changes occurred. The car was the same as it was almost 10 years ago, and is still sold in this form. Although it is worth being fair and saying that in 2013 AvtoVAZ pleased us with a conditional novelty in the form of a liftback body. As a result, buyers are offered a choice of liftback, sedan and station wagon. And 2022 introduced us to the restyled version. Alas, nothing significant.

But a Cross version appeared. In fact, this is a slightly raised Grant with a crossover appearance, but the filling of a classic passenger version.

I can't say it's a bad car. It's definitely worth the money. And there aren’t really any alternatives. That’s why Granta’s popularity is prohibitive.

Installation and connection

You can install a tow bar on a Lada Granta either with your own hands or at a service station. The trailer hitch package includes:

• traction hitch;
• fasteners, bolts, nuts;
• socket box;
• hook with ball support;
• set of wires

First you need to remove the negative terminal from the battery. It is easier to install the tow bar with the bumper removed, so it should be removed. On Grant vehicles, the manufacturer provides four technological holes on the side members for installing a tow bar. The other two holes are behind the rear bumper. They are sealed with a protective film that must be removed.

Now you need to install the towing hitch, attaching it with four bolts to the side members of the car and two bolts to the body behind the rear bumper. After tightening the mounting bolts, the electrical wiring should be laid using the standard hole with a rubber seal on the left side of the bumper. Now you can install the bumper in place and connect the tow bar sockets to the power supply for the rear lights according to the following diagram:

Connection diagram to the towbar socket.

After connecting the towbar socket to the on-board network, you can install the trim and plastic trunk lining in their places. The last step is to secure the socket to the trailer hitch bracket and install the removable hook with a ball joint.

Terms of use

The main rule is that you cannot place a load in the trailer that exceeds the weight of the car. It is necessary to monitor the technical condition of the trailer, towing device, and electrical sockets. It is important to regularly lubricate the ball-shaped joint of the towbar with lithol, preventing its premature wear. When installing the hook, you must ensure that it is securely attached to the towing hitch.

Before purchasing and installing a towbar, you should check the documents for the purchased trailer hitch model. They must include a certificate authorizing its use for your brand of car. You should also pay attention to the hitch socket: it can contain nine or thirteen contacts, so you need to choose one similar to the trailer plug, otherwise you will have to spend money on remaking the connector.

Using a car not only as a means of transportation, but also as an assistant when transporting household goods, towing boats and boats requires the installation of special equipment on the car - a towing device. The choice of trailer hitch model depends on the weight of the cargo being transported and the frequency of use of the trailer. The procedure for installing a tow bar on a Lada Granta is simple and can be done with your own hands.

The towbar on the Lada Granta sedan is installed to enable the use of a trailer and tow other cars. The design of the machine involves the installation of a traction coupling device, and has standard mounting points for this product. However, the installation of this device has a number of nuances.

General installation plan

1. We place the car on the inspection channel (pit).
2. To make work easier, remove the rear bumper.
3. We remove the trim in the trunk.
4. We fix the trailer hitch to the side members.
5. We remove and secure the removable ball.
6. We kick the electrical wiring in the outlet.
7. We collect structural elements.

Step-by-step algorithm for installing a tow bar on a Lada Granta liftback with your own hands

At the initial stage, use the inspection hole to have access to the bottom of the car. A hydraulic jack is not effective in this case.

Next step: removing the bumper. Here, the opinions of most experts were divided into two versions: with and without removal. In order to prevent damage to the surface of the plastic and paintwork, it is better to temporarily remove the rear bumper. Given the simplicity of the design, this can be done in no time.

To install electrical wiring, remove the floor and side trim in the luggage compartment cavity. Use a flat-tip screwdriver to pry up the plastic clips, remove them, and unfasten the trim.

The original trailer hitch is secured with six bolts, four of which are on the side members, two on the rear bumper mounts. By default, the manufacturer has provided for the possible installation of a trailer hitch by preparing holes for the bolt at “17”. In order to prevent the formation and development of corrosion, the holes are sealed with film.

We remove the removable ball, fix it outward with a bolt at “17”. Cover the surface with a thin layer of graphite lubricant and put on a plastic cap.

Connecting the Lada Granta Liftback tow bar:

The pinning of the “socket” is carried out as follows:

• No. 1: left turn indicator (yellow);
• No. 2: fog light (blue);
• No. 3: mass (red);
• No. 4: right turn indicator (yellow);
• No. 5: reverse (brown);
• No. 6: stop signal (turquoise);
• No. 7: side lights (green).

The numbering of pins on the motherboard starts with one. The pin is located at 12 o'clock, then clockwise. We secure the socket box and put on the trailer drawbar. We check the pinout first. We assemble the structure in the reverse order, installing the Granta liftback towbar with our own hands is completed.

What you need to buy

To work, you need a specific set, which includes the following products:

1. Headlight kit. Fog lights for the Lada Granta are available in two versions: “BOSCH”, produced in Ryazan, and PTF Kirzhach, produced in the city of the same name. The first type has straight glass, the second has convex glass; this is the easiest way to distinguish them.
2. Installation kit. It includes all the necessary wiring with connectors for connecting to the headlights, interior wires, a power button and a relay. That is, in one kit you get everything you need to connect with your own hands, and its price is quite affordable.
3. Additional materials. This includes corrugation for laying wiring under the hood, crimp terminals, electrical tape and other useful little things. For installation you will also need a drill with drills, a round cutter and preferably a 60 mm ring drill, although you can do without it.

Important! Additionally, stock up on a sharp knife and self-tapping screws for attaching PTF, if they were not available, these little things will greatly simplify the work

Review of Manufacturer Prices

Lada Granta Liftback / Lada Kalina

*prices are as of September 20, 2018.

The cost of a towing coupling device ranges from 2500 to 4200 rubles.

Obviously, in the first case, this is a budget option, which is purchased by most motorists. The quality and service life are at an average level, not comparable to top-end options made from high-quality steel.

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• Ball type. This has already been sorted out. Therefore we move on;
• Type of trailer hitch. These are mainly conditionally removable models. But you can find welded and quick-release ones. I am both for the last option;
• Load. It can be vertical or horizontal. For vertical it is better to take at least 900 kg, and for vertical from 50. But it is better to take 75 or even 100 kg;
• Manufacturer. In terms of brands, the choice is not as great as we would like. Among the favorites I would like to mention the company Leader Plus, the manufacturer of the trailer hitch, as well as the joint venture Bosal Autoflex. It’s worth reading about Bosal separately;
• Body type. For different body types, different trailer hitch models can be provided;
• Trimming the bumper. I have never heard of the need to trim the bumper on any domestic manufacturer's trailer hitch model.

It’s natural to find out how much such a purchase will cost.

Below, I present several options at prices current for 2020.

Reviews

Conclusion As for the choice of towbar for the Lada Granta, it is necessary to proceed from the size of the allocated budget and the weight of the goods being transported. If we are talking about large numbers, it is obvious that there is no need to save. Buy more expensive models, for example, Bosal Baltex. Weight does not exceed 500 - 600 kg in total - a budget solution from Leader - Plus is enough. Subject to moderate use, the service life of each modification is approximately equal. The process of installing a towbar on a Granta liftback is not at all complicated, it is intuitive.

Cost of trailer hitch for Grants

If you have a budget Lada Granta car at your disposal, do not worry that the towing devices for it will be of an elite class, costing about 10 thousand rubles.

In fact, the range is as budget-friendly as the car itself. Let me give you a few examples:

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• For the Leader Plus model, article number VAZ 01H, with a vertical and horizontal load of 50 and 900 kg, respectively, you need to pay about 1,800 rubles. In this case, the mounting, electrics and connection diagram are included in the kit;
• A trailer hitch with number 2190011C with a similar horizontal load, but a vertical load of 75 kg, will cost 2,500 rubles. This is a model specifically for the liftback. Electrics are purchased separately;
• Leader Plus with a type A ball costs 2,000 rubles when fully equipped. Strengths include horizontal load of 1100 kg;
• There are a couple of trailer hitches from Bosal Autoflex. These are 1218A and 1229E. The vertical load is the same, 50 kg. Horizontal 1110 and 1275 kg, respectively. You will have to remove the bumper, but not trim it. The younger model costs 2,500 rubles when fully equipped. 1229E will cost 3,000 rubles, plus another 500 rubles for electrics.

These are just approximate prices, as they may vary depending on the region and the specific seller.

Installation work

The factory-assembled towbar is installed using 6 bolts. The purchased structure must be of high quality, made of durable, thick metal. The paint layer should be thick enough so that it does not peel off after the start of use. Experts advise connecting the towbar to the Grant and conducting electricity to it after removing the rear bumper. The wiring must be carefully insulated to avoid moisture and short circuits.

Difficulties in operation arise at the stage of connecting the electrical outlet, which is necessary for the functioning of the headlights on the trailer. Such tuning will take 5 hours if the circuit turns out to be incorrect. Therefore, experts recommend checking the operation of the circuit on a tester before connecting the wires. If you have the necessary tools and the correct diagram, you can install a towbar on a Lada quite quickly.

It is necessary to strip the braid, leaving the cable intact without cutting it. It is advisable to wind and solder the connected wire. To do this, use a regular soldering iron. This method is considered old, but reliable. Electrical tape helps to insulate the wiring, because heat shrink does not fit onto uncut cables. Soldering is carried out to the blue wire of the rear right headlight. This wire is responsible for the right turn signal, and the brown one is for the side lights.

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).

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.

How to connect the wires?

How does the connection happen? Plastic or duralumin sockets for LADA Granta are available for sale. Many experts are inclined to the second option, denoting these products to be more durable. It happens that the rubber socket cover does not fit the dimensions of the bracket holes. To eliminate the discrepancy, you need to resort to forced pruning measures.

The first stage of connection when installing a towbar device will be to rotate the block approximately 15 degrees counterclockwise and remove it by lifting the tendril holding the block itself. Cable ends integrated into the clamps should be carefully soldered. We check the assembled circuit with a tester. After this, we connect the socket directly to the bracket. During the second stage, we securely fasten the wires by laying them along the bottom of the trunk.

The third stage involves checking (also with a tester) the socket block with the entire list of connected lighting devices. Next we proceed to connecting the trailer wiring plug.

Now the mounted structure, after the connection is completed, can be operated.

To carry out the tuning discussed here yourself, it is recommended to acquire literature on repairing the Lada Granta model. Otherwise, for this service you need to contact a specialized service from professionals.