I have a OEM LR Towbar, it has High Tensile M16 Bolts with a rating of 10.9

Standard towbar bolts are 8.8 strength rating

Is there a reason for the higher tensile rating for OEM

is it due to the higher towing limits? I'm fitting a MaxxRaxx tow bracket and need longer bolts to do so

so 8.8 or 10.9 which to go for< my local spares only have 8.8 and thought it could be just overkill, but better to be safe

I believe I need to torque to 240nM too

if you could have a look on the fixed towbar, the bolts will have a number on the face saying what rating they are  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I now have a fixed Witter instead of the removable type, fitted by Trailer/towing specialists. My boltheads show as 8.8 which has a max loading before stretch after being torqued of over 9,000kg compared to the 12.9's of 13,000kg. I personally can't see any situation where you would come close to the 8.8's max loading.

I suppose if some plonker used it as a snatch recovery point, then maybe be close, but then you shouldn't use the towbar for that anyway

8.8 sounds fine to me from what I read myself too

Cheers EY  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

At the risk of being pedantic I assume that someone did the calculations and came to the conclusion that high tensile bolts were required. Now you are just assuming that lower strength bolts will do. I suggest before you use these bolts you get the calculations done.

God forbid the tow bar becomes detached with the van on the back, someone will investigate, wrong bolts, no payout.
Price of van compared to price of bolts?

Doesn't matyer that the 8.8 bolts are easily up to the job, wrong bolts, easy getout. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner