Small cars need not tow the line

A Westfalia cargo system. Photo / Supplied

Got a small car or convertible and want to carry more than the boot can handle? A Tauranga towbar company says it has the answer, with a system designed to fit modern cars and tie into their complicated electronics. Its towbars and tow-bar linkages fit carry boxes, and ski and bicycle racks with a difference.

Forget unloading the bikes to use your boot, say co-owners Stuart Terrell and Henk de Kock; their rack hinges out of the way. It includes lights and a number plate carrier to conform to New Zealand law and is easily removed when not in use.

The system also carries a sturdy plastic cargo box, with drainage holes for easy cleaning.

Crash structures and electrical systems can be compromised by poorly thought-out equipment, which is why manufacturers are often wary of retro-fit tow kits which may void your car's warranty. De Kock and Terrell, however, are evangelists for doing it right, and their Westfalia-branded product is endorsed by a growing list of manufacturers, including Mazda and Mercedes.

The result is something of a success story, with their Tauranga factory manufacturing about 15,000 tow kits a year, and a new factory and exports sales on track from June.