Yeti towbars

[Brijo]

(It's a pity that there are two current threads about Yeti towbars, with some overlap, but this is the one I posted on so I'd better continue here....)

Further to #11 above, the dealer's group pdi centre has agreed that something seems to be amiss with the coding - or lack of it. As I won't actually be towing until next Spring (by which time the Yeti should be run-in) there's no hurry now that the point has been made, so we've made a date for early next month for them to collect it for checking and correction. More news when there is any!

In the meantime, I have Skoda UK asking me to complete their online 'new car' survey.

[Yeti2013]

Had my towbar fitted at the Skoda dealer after requesting a Skoda towbar, Skoda electrics, and recoding. When collected the bumper looked as though a child had cut the hole, the cover plate would not fit properly due to the inside seal plate not being glued. I asked the service manager if their staff had fitted it, only to be told they had got an external towbar expert to fit! I have now checked the electrics and it is obvious it has not been recoded either.

Although it does do the same as the one fitted on my Ford Escort in 1988!!!! Its going back to the dealer.

[Truthseeker]

The official Westfalia/Skoda towbar kit should include a replacement bumper with the hole already cut (mine was as my tow bar fitter gave me the old rear bumper without the cutout to keep). Looks like they have cut out the hole using the template on the existing bumper - probably gave it to the apprentice/trainee to do. Request a new pre cut bumper.

[Llanigraham]

The post-factory/dealer-fit kit does not include a complete bumper, but the frame to fit the premarked cut-out, special primer and glue, plus the removeable "flap". I suspect your dealer had a spare bumper to hand he wanted to get rid of, or he was confused!

[Truthseeker]

The post-factory/dealer-fit kit does not include a complete bumper, but the frame to fit the premarked cut-out, special primer and glue, plus the removeable "flap". I suspect your dealer had a spare bumper to hand he wanted to get rid of, or he was confused!

Sorry Graham, and not wanting to question your far greater knowledge than a relative newby, but the kit was ordered through a Parts Wholesaler who supplies OEM parts to the trade. My Towbar and bumper was supplied & fitted by a third party company that supply/fit towbars for all VAG main dealers in Milton Keynes. I managed to find out who the local Skoda dealer uses and went direct to them saving £120 in the process (dealer margin). Coincedently, the kit was delivered when I happened to be at the company for something else, and I was able to inspect it with the fitters to ensure all parts were present. The new pre-cut bumper was included, although the fitters had to glue the metal frame inside the replacement bumper to secure to removeable flap. I have my original bumper, and I know it is mine as there was a distinctive scratch to identify.

My Skoda dealer quoted £820 to supply and fit (quite possibly without a new bumper), but by going direct to the company that they contract out to I paid £700 -including a proper factory suplied pre-cut bumper, thus avoiding any botched cut by the apprentice/trainee.

I would assume however, that when ordering the Skoda kit direct from a Skoda dealer as a DIY project, it is not necessary to have the new rear bumper as I am aware that there is an outline of where to cut. Anyway, glad I did not have to worry about a bodged job like Yeti2013.

[speedsport]

I have to agree with Graham on this one, as when I had my tow bar fitted the kit did not include a whole new bumper, just a template for cutting the "hole" the retainer frame, glue & primer. I still have the instructions that confirm all this.

Maybe things have changed since 2010 and a different kit & process is now involved.

[jezzep]

I have to agree with Graham on this one, as when I had my tow bar fitted the kit did not include a whole new bumper, just a template for cutting the "hole" the retainer frame, glue & primer. I still have the instructions that confirm all this.

Maybe things have changed since 2010 and a different kit & process is now involved.

If you have the tow bar electrics, remember that the bumper doesn't need to be cut. The silver part under the black plastic part differs, because it has a removable part for the tow bar....

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[Truthseeker]

I have to agree with Graham on this one, as when I had my tow bar fitted the kit did not include a whole new bumper, just a template for cutting the "hole" the retainer frame, glue & primer. I still have the instructions that confirm all this.

Maybe things have changed since 2010 and a different kit & process is now involved.

It must have.

[Truthseeker]

If you have the tow bar electrics, remember that the bumper doesn't need to be cut. The silver part under the black plastic part differs, because it has a removable part for the tow bar....

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It appears there are two things going on here. First, you can obviously order a conversion kit that included a template, retaining frame, glue and primer, and use your existing bumper - as probably what happens in most instances. Or, as in my case a new one is supplied. This was nothing that I arranged, as I thought that my bumper was to be cut and the kit fitted. But I can assure you that the pieces that I saw before being fitted included a brand new pre-cut rear bumper.

Graham suggested that maybe the fitters had an old one they wanted to dispose of. If all removable tow bars have to use the kit, then where would a spare undamaged one come from. Anyway, as I have already stated, I still have my original uncut bumper.

By the way, my tow bar was fitted in November last year.

I guess that the Parts Wholesaler either supplied a new pre-cut bumper in error, or that some kits contain one. Anyway - as least mine was factory cut, and not hacked out by the trainee, as Yeti2013's appears to have been.

[Skoda Torque]

Apologies for the delay in replying to this query - but I have only just had my 2012 Yeti 4x4 TDI Elegance with both front and rear parking sensors, fitted with a tow-bar.

I did not originally order the vehicle tow-bar prepack but relied on the fitter to install a Witter detachable bar with Volkswagen / Skoda dedicated wiring loom.

This was taken through to the Fuse box were two additional fuses were fitted.

The job was done at my home by PCTowbars based in Plymouth, who did an exceptionally good job which included recoded the vehicle

The tow-bar fitting is accessed through a small cut-out under the rear bumper and the electrics (7 pin) fold away when not in use.

 

Once the trailer is connected the dashboard multiscreen shows that the front sensors are operational and the image of a trailer appears to remind one its there.

Total cost was sub £500 and considered good value.

[dcl5ad]

hmm this thread is making me question my order. We specced a 170 elegance up last week with a detachable factory fit tow bar and were talked out of it by the dealer in lieu of them fitting one. We've a build week of the 1st week in October & I'm now thinking I need to be phoning and getting the spec amended.

[Llanigraham]

Personally I would have the factory fit tow bar, as that way the dealers aren't trying to make a profit out of you and you know that everything will be done correctly.

[dcl5ad]

So we had our tow bar fitted yesterday. I'm not a happy man. Supposedly this witter unit is "identical" to the westfalia OEM device. Clearly it's not. i don't even think it's a genuine witter kit. The thing protrudes from the back bumper like a badly fitting diy job. The electrics are dubious: fog light and PDC work correctly but no dash indicator and seemingly no integration with the alarm. For some reason the fitter has removed one of the crash structures from the car. Back to the dealer on Monday.

 

The witter fitting instructions seem to imply that it should, disappear behind a plastic shield, just like the westfalia.

 

Irate doesn't cover it:

 

 

 

Edited 9 November, 2013 by dcl5ad

[IainM1970]

They alwyas remove the crash bar when fitting the towbar, mine is at the back of the garage and will go with the car when I trade in in case the next owner wants to remove the towbar.

 

Mine is fitted with a Witter removable bar, though it has never been removed as I asked for a fixed bracket.  More than happy with its performance over many thousands of towing miles.

[dcl5ad]

The bar is really good quality granted, it's just the complete abortion of a job they've done in fitting it and then sorting it to talk to the car properly. Typical British amateur thicko unemployables granted a Generally Not Very Quick in automotive bodgery.

[Llanigraham]

Removal of the alloy crash bar is correct, as it has been replaced with the tow bar carrier.

 

Your recoding has not been done properly so take it back and refuse to accept it until it has. My list of what it should include has been posted here earlier and in the sticky thread.

 

Have they put in a removeable panel in the bumper or just cut a hole? If it is a hole I'll warn you now that it will get full of cr@p!!

[dcl5ad]

It's just a hole cut in the bumper. There's no way a panel could fit as it's such a bodge job. Don't think they even used a template looking at the wavy edges to the hole.

Does yours need you to press the brake pedal in order for it to recognise the fact that a lighting board is no longer connected?

Edited 9 November, 2013 by dcl5ad

[Llanigraham]

It's just a hole cut in the bumper. There's no way a panel could fit as it's such a bodge job. Don't think they even used a template looking at the wavy edges to the hole.

Does yours need you to press the brake pedal in order for it to recognise the fact that a lighting board is no longer connected?

Oh dear!! They do sound like a bunch of cowboys!! There are "cut lines" marked on the inside of the bumper for fitting the proper hatch.

 

You shouldn't need to touch anything other than simply unplugging the plug. The electronics instantly recognises that the plug is there or not, presumably by either the additional load or the increased resistance.

They have used a proper loom, and not a by-pass filter type, haven't they?

[dcl5ad]

Looks like its a canbus loom from rightconnections.co.uk which should be ok so long as it's coded correctly.

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[wakev]

Have a look here at post 154 shows how the cut out and flap should look.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/144075-yeti-forum-members-picture-thread/page-6

[Brijo]

^+1

[g6zru]

Looks like its a canbus loom from rightconnections.co.uk which should be ok so long as it's coded correctly.

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Does anyone mind if I ask on off topic question? No? OK then, what is Tapatalk all about?

I have just obtained a Nexus tablet so is it essential, and what does it do?

Replies via the messaging system please so that I don't hijack this thread any further.

 

Many thanks

 

Fred

[Truthseeker]

It's just a hole cut in the bumper. There's no way a panel could fit as it's such a bodge job. Don't think they even used a template looking at the wavy edges to the hole.

 

That is a right bodge job. That is proof to always get a factory fit if offered even if it costs more, or at the very least get the proper Skoda approved Westfalia towbar.

 

Looks like you will have to grin and bear it as even if a new rear bumper is fitted with the proper cut out, I can't see that the Witter will be correctly hidden.

[dcl5ad]

Indeed, we initially asked for the factory fit, but then got persuaded to go for dealer fit. After reading the forum I tried to get the order changed but I was a couple if days late. The dealer then agreed to have the westfalia fitted for the same price. Now I'm sure the dealer would love me to roll over and grin and bear it. Not happening. They ordered a westfalia kit. Apparently out of stock for 8 weeks. So agreed, reluctantly to accept the witter on the understanding that it was exactly the same.

In the meantime I got suspicious and phoned westfalia. Was told they were in stock so phoned the dealer again on the Friday. Agreed they could fit whatever turned up on the Monday and was promised it would be done on the Monday evening.

No show but then had to head off to Ireland. Got a call while I was away to say one had turned up. Agreed to have it fitted this last Friday. Monkeys turned up with pile of anonymous boxes which appear to have been: rightconnection canbus electrics. Witter detachable bar, some other manufacturers beam into which the witter detachable coupling unit is fitted.

Tomorrow I need to phone MSB and request /demand the removal of the witter junk, order a westfalia and the associated plastic cover. I still have my dealer survey to complete so i still have that ganging over them. On top of which I can go to SUK and /or VW finance as the vehicle is not as specified.

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[Cornishman53]

I had my dealer fit a Witter detachable flange towbar, but the full approved Skoda wiring kit. Whilst the Skoda approved accessory is a Wetsfalia they do not manufacture the flange type hitch. Having had the Skoda electrics fitted by dealer the whole electrical system is warranted, and I have the hitch I want for jaws, bike rack etc. I also obtained the towbar on EBay a lot cheaper than the Skoda dealer could source, even the approved accessory.