I've recently ordered my first Skoda courtesy of the scappage scheme. If it all goes to plan I should have a shiny new Octavia (1.8TSI SE in Rosso Brunello) on the drive in time for Christmas.

I want to fit a towbar so that I can attach a bike carrier and am considering doing it myself (better than watching Xmas telly), so would be grateful if anyone can help with the following questions:

Do detachable towbars have any disadvantages other than being more expensive?

Am I correct in thinking that a universal electrics kit with a 7 way bypass relay should work OK?

Is there a suitable +12V supply available in the boot area (for the bypass relay), or would you need to run a cable back to the fuse box?

I'd rather get a plug in dedicated electrics kit but they seem to be very pricey, and I'm sure I saw a post somewhere that suggested that it plugs in to the fuse box, hence requires removal of a lot of interior trim to fit. Does anyone know if this is the case?

My recommendation would be to get the offical Skoda wiring kit, yes may be more work, but a must better integrated result.

My recommendation would be to get the offical Skoda wiring kit, yes may be more work, but a must better integrated result.

Better integrated how - what does the official kit add over a universal one, other than not needing to tap wiring using scotchlok connectors?

If you have reverse sensors, it will disable them + provide CAN support

My car won't have reverse sensors. What else does CAN BUS support do for you?

tells the esp you've got a trailer in tow but that doesnt make any difference if your putting a bike rack on anyway

I fitted the towbar to my car and while I didn't get a OEM wiring kit I got a kit that plugged into the back lights, so no scotchlock connectors needed. It had to be powered by a wire through the driver's side door sill to a new fuse in the fuse box. I'm pretty sure there's nowhere suitable for taking the power for trailer lights from the back of the car. If you've got ESP and tow anything big it's probably better to get the OEM setup, but for a bike rack or a light trailer it's probably a waste of money.

I fitted the towbar to my car and while I didn't get a OEM wiring kit I got a kit that plugged into the back lights, so no scotchlock connectors needed. It had to be powered by a wire through the driver's side door sill to a new fuse in the fuse box. I'm pretty sure there's nowhere suitable for taking the power for trailer lights from the back of the car. If you've got ESP and tow anything big it's probably better to get the OEM setup, but for a bike rack or a light trailer it's probably a waste of money.

Thats pretty much as I thought - my car won't have ESP or reverse sensors and its unlikely I'll ever tow anything, so it sounds like the Skoda kit will be a waste of money.

I'd certainly be interested in a plug in solution that doesn't involve scotchlok connectors, could you let me know where you got yours from and how much it cost?

Towbar was from www.micksgarage.ie , wiring kit was from www.towequipe.com - it's got even cheaper since I bought mine too: http://www.towequipe.co.uk/products/bwir748107-car-specific-towbar-wiring-fits-skoda-octavia-hat-04-on.html

Edited 9 December, 200916 yr by psycholist

Thanks, thats just what I'm looking for. I think the extra £30 over a universal kit is probably worth it.

As for powering the trailer lights - I thought that the estates have a power socket in the boot, so was wondering if the hatchbacks might have provision for the socket in the wiring loom?

I didn't see anything that looked likely when I had my hatchback apart. You're better off running it on a separate fuse with the correct rating for the application anyway. The cigarette lighters fuses are 15A, so running off that would allow the relay system to get fried without the fuse blowing. It's easier to fit the kit I linked to than the OEM kit as you don't need to pull loads of trim off the door sills thanks to there being no block connector on the end of the power wire - I used a wire hanger to put it through, only had to take the trim off under the fuse box and the edge piece of the back seat (Which comes off by hand anyway) as well as the boot lining to do all the wiring.

Sounds like a good compromise.

Is the power wire routed through the sill itself or does it go underneath the sill trim?

As stated in numerious other towbar related threads. the OEM loom also provides a theft deterant, if the car is locked and the trailer/lighting board is then disconected the alarm goes off, you also get full bulb failure warning on the dash (so no need for the extra light/beeper for the indicators), then there's the other bits that have already been mentioned.

Edited 9 December, 200916 yr by No Waiting

Do detachable towbars have any disadvantages other than being more expensive?

A few thoughts:

A detachable towbar tow ball can be left in the boot and won't hit your shins as you pass

A detachable tow ball left in the boot won't get dirt and grease on your clothes as you stand behind the car

A fixed tow ball needs a plastic cover to stop it rusting or transfering grease

These are always lost or stolen

A fixed tow ball is just that little bit further away from your car and in a very minor accident would be hit first perhaps causing damage to the towbar behind the bumper?

When you sell the car the next owner might appreciate a detachable towbar more than fixed if he/she doesn't intend towing anything? Extra value for him/her when he/she sells the car on without having to look at a towbar every day?

Id prefer to have a towbar hit rather than my bumper