A spare key for a GDW T30 or T60 tow bar can be cut from the key number alone, no original key needed. T30 uses a flat key with codes in the ACS01–ACS10 and TR01–TR10 series; T60 uses a slotted key with codes 100–109 and 200–209.
GDW detachable tow bars have a small anti-theft lock in the neck, and the keys for it have a habit of disappearing between towing seasons. The good news: every one of those locks is coded, so a replacement GDW towbar key can be cut from the short number stamped on the lock, without the original and without touching the tow bar. No dealer visit, no six-week wait for a special-order part. This guide shows you which system you have, where the number hides and how to order.
IN THIS GUIDE
T30 or T60? Identify your system in ten seconds
GDW, the Belgian manufacturer that has been building tow bars in Waregem since 1952, uses two different lock systems on its vertical detachable bars, and they take two completely different keys. Before anything else, work out which one you have. Look at the key if you still have one, or at the keyhole if you don't.
| System | Key type | Code series | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDW T30 (older) | Flat key with a cut bit | ACS01–ACS10, TR01–TR10 | ACS03, TR05 |
| GDW T60 (newer) | Slotted key with a groove | 100–109, 200–209 | 103, 207 |
Flat key with a bit means T30. Slotted key with a groove means T60. The two systems don't mix, so a T30 key will never operate a T60 lock and the other way round. Handily, the code format tells you the system on its own: letters plus digits (ACS or TR) is always T30, a plain short number in the hundreds is always T60.
One more thing worth knowing. The ACS and TR series aren't exclusive to GDW: the same lock design sits on Witter, Tow-Trust and Thule (Brink) detachable bars too. That's why the key is identified by the number, not the badge on the tow bar. If your bar says Witter but the lock says TR05, TR05 is what you order. We've covered that whole cross-brand family in our Witter, GDW, Thule and TowTrust towbar key guide.
Where to find your GDW key number
Three places, and it costs nothing to check all of them.
| Where to look | What you're looking for |
|---|---|
| Face of the lock barrel | A short code stamped into the metal around the keyhole on the detachable neck. Wipe it clean and use a torch at an angle. |
| Your original key | The same code stamped on the bow (the head) or along the shaft. |
| The T60 locking handle | On T60 systems the number is often stamped on the locking lever itself, so check the handle as well as the barrel and key. |
Part numbers are not key numbers. The numbers on the tow bar's type plate or in its paperwork identify the bar, not the key. A code like 740.113, for example, is the part number of the T60 handle assembly, and ordering by it gets you nowhere. Your key number is always in the ACS##, TR## or 1xx/2xx format. Nothing else counts.
Read it twice. One wrong character means a key cut for someone else's lock. If a stamp is worn or doubtful, photograph it and send us the photo with your order note; we'd rather check than cut wrong.
Why the key won't turn (usually it's not the key)
Here's the thing that catches almost everyone out, including people testing a brand-new spare: a GDW towbar key only turns when the neck is locked into the socket on the car. That's by design. Take the detachable ball off the vehicle, put the key in and try to turn it on the kitchen table, and nothing happens. It isn't a faulty key and it isn't a wrong code. Fit the neck to the car first, then test.
The second usual suspect is the lock itself. Towbar locks live behind the car in road spray and get used a few times a year, so the barrel dries out and fills with grit. If the key goes in but turns stiffly or not at all, flush the lock with WD-40 to free it, then finish with a PTFE dry lube so it doesn't gum up again. The full routine is in our towbar key fitting guide, and it works the same on GDW locks. Whatever you do, don't force a stiff key. A snapped key in a towbar barrel turns a cheap problem into a locksmith visit.
How to order your GDW key by number
GDW keys are code-only at mr-key.com, so there's no photo to upload and nothing to send us. The number is enough.
Find and double-check your number. Lock face, old key or T60 handle. Write it down.
Confirm the format matches the system. ACS or TR codes belong to the T30 flat key; plain 1xx or 2xx numbers belong to the T60 slotted key. If your code and key type disagree, stop and re-check before ordering.
Pick your number from the drop-down on the GDW towbar keys page and add to cart. That's the whole order.
Cut the same day. Every key is cut in-house and dispatched the same working day, Monday to Friday. Delivery across Europe takes 2 to 8 business days depending on country and carrier. No programming, nothing to pair; it works the moment it arrives.
While you're at it, order two. The second key is cut from the same number in the same run, and the whole reason you're reading this is that towbar keys vanish between seasons. Cheap insurance.
Lost every key, or can't read the number
No key at all is fine, as long as a number survives somewhere. Clean the lock face properly, shine a torch across it at a low angle and check the T60 handle too; the stamps are shallow and easy to miss under road grime. Find the number and you order normally, original or not.
If genuinely nothing is legible anywhere, the honest answer is that cut-by-code can't help, because there's no code to cut to. The last resort is having the cylinder drilled out and the lock or neck component replaced. That route exists, but it's the expensive one: a replacement T60 locking handle alone runs around £70, full detachable neck kits sit in the £140 to £255 range, and they're often special-order parts with lead times quoted up to six weeks. Compare that with a coded key cut the same day and the lesson writes itself: note your key number today, while you can still read it, and keep a spare cut before the last key disappears.
Frequently asked questions
Can a GDW towbar key be cut from just the key number?
Yes. Every GDW towbar lock is coded, so the number alone defines the key. Pick your number from the drop-down and it's cut to code and dispatched the same working day, no original key and no photo needed.
What is the difference between GDW T30 and T60 keys?
T30 is the older system with a flat, bit-cut key and codes in the ACS01–ACS10 and TR01–TR10 series. T60 is the newer system with a slotted, grooved key and codes 100–109 or 200–209. The keys are not interchangeable between systems.
Where is the key number on a GDW T60 tow bar?
Check three places: the locking handle, where the number is often stamped on the lever itself, the face of the lock barrel and the original key. It's a short number like 103 or 207.
Why won't my GDW towbar key turn?
Most often because the neck isn't on the car. GDW locks are designed so the key only rotates when the towball is locked into the vehicle socket. Fit the neck first, then test. If it's still stiff, the barrel likely needs cleaning: flush with WD-40, then finish with a PTFE dry lube.
Is the number on my towbar's type plate the key code?
No. Type plate and part numbers, such as 740.113 for the T60 handle assembly, identify hardware, not keys. A key number is always in the ACS##, TR## or 1xx/2xx format and sits on the lock face, the key or the T60 handle.
My tow bar is a Witter or Tow-Trust but the code looks the same. Is it the same key?
Very likely, yes. The ACS and TR lock series is shared across GDW, Witter, Tow-Trust and Thule (Brink) detachable bars. The number identifies the key, not the brand badge, so order by the code you can read.
I've lost all keys and no number is readable. What are my options?
Without a readable number, a key can't be cut to code. The remaining route is having the cylinder drilled and the lock or neck component replaced, which is slower and far more expensive. Exhaust the number search first: clean the barrel face, check the T60 handle and any old key or paperwork.
Got Your GDW Key Number?
Pick it from the drop-down and we'll cut your key to code and dispatch it the same working day, across Europe.
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