Tow bar prep and detachable tow bar = £489.36 + VAT.

My Dealer knew exactly what was involved and explained it to me.

CAN - bus was mandatory from 2001 for petrol and from 2004 for diesel vehicles. So no more more skotchlock fitted tow bar electrics. Anything added will be seen by the system as a fault condition, unless added and programmed to CAN - bus.

I also hear that a couple of years down the line that caravans and possible trailers will have active suspension and braking tied into the vehicle CAN -bus, so all the safety features on Yeti will be active on your caravan.

Chris.

Now that is interesting. One independent supplier did not seem to understand what was needed for the electrical side of the installation and, I think, some owners have gone ahead and had the electrics "skotchlocked" into the rear light wiring.

... and, I think, some owners have gone ahead and had the electrics "skotchlocked" into the rear light wiring.

That is why it always pays to do your research well before you commit to something. :yes:

Hi,

I spent nearly 20 years working for a certain motoring club, but retired best part of 10 years ago, so have what I can only call a basic knowledge of modern systems. Enough, I hope to get a little understanding of the tow bar system. I think in general people do not realise how much vehicle systems have changed over the years. I know how shocked I was when I discovered my first Octavia had low voltage igniters to fire the spark plugs all controlled by the ECU.

CAN - bus does save the makers a lot of money, especially in cabling, being as there is only a sort of ring main and a data stream to operate all the lights and various systems.

Here is a link that goes a long way to explaining why skotchlocks are now redundant. Further in the link is a picture of a VW / Audi 'gateway'

http://marco.guardigli.it/2010/10/hacking-your-car.html

Chris.

Edited 10 February, 201115 yr by chriskelland

After carefully absorbing all the various threads on here (thanks all), I had a fixed towbar fitted yesterday. Comments/observations as follows:-

SUK weren't much use in advising what towbar prep consisted of - so I didn't bother.Also both the DtD dealer and another dealer not too far from me were clueless/unhelpful and merely suggested that I go to an independant fitter instead. So I did, and someone on here ( cant remember who, but thanks!) recommended Towbex of Lancing W.Sussex.

When I phoned them, Steve was very helpful and clearly knew what he was talking about which obviously helps to inspire a bit of confidence. They apparently have fitted bars for the local Skoda dealer.

I opted for the fixed bar because 1)I like the idea of a bit of rear protection, having been rammed in my mondeo by a sliding car with no damage to me and plenty to him...2)I wanted to re-use my Witter bike rack and bumper protector plate. 3)I couldn't be bothered putting on and taking off a detacheable bar every time I needed to use the caravan, especially with my knees..4) A fixed bar is cheaper and 5) As someone else has commented,on a 4x4 off-roader a fixed bar doesn't look out of place.

So - it cost £492 all-in, including a 13 pin plug, a dedicated wiring kit, AND they do the re-coding afterwards. It took about 3 hours, so I hopped on the train in to nearbly Worthing to kill a bit of time. I'm pleased to report that everything is as it should be, the bar/bumper plate/bike bracket do NOT set off the parking sensors, a trailer symbol appears on the Bolero when it's connected, and the sensors are then disabled, the caravan lights and indicators all work, and it even runs the 'van fridge which the mondeo never did. So

Pete

I am amazed at the prices being quoted here. I had my local dealer quote and without factory prep is was £694 with prep £642.

Also got an independent to quote and with the the same removable set up it was £550 done at your home (Kent).

Loom only £157 from elsewhere, a colleague of mine has the all singing all dancing programming kit and has just fitted his Passat 57 plate and reprogrammed the parking sensors and CAN.

I really struggle with the best part of £700 pounds for a towbar. Still looking while I wait for my ex demo 110 2wd Elegance due around the end of the month.

I am amazed at the prices being quoted here. I had my local dealer quote and without factory prep is was £694 with prep £642.

Wow so only a £52 saving if you had the tow bar prep done! This was what I realised too. Factory towbar prep is not really worth it as even the dealers ignore it. And I'm not going to tow caravans so the bigger cooling fan does not bother me.

Wow so only a £52 saving if you had the tow bar prep done! This was what I realised too. Factory towbar prep is not really worth it as even the dealers ignore it. And I'm not going to tow caravans so the bigger cooling fan does not bother me.

I don't think we are quoting like for like here unfortunately.

The tow bar prep includes wiring harness and the bumper fitting with the trap door (which cost £85 if bought separately). Plus the ECU programming etc.

Of course if you aren't having a detachable then the trap door is not much use, if you aren't having 13 pin electrics then you may not need a new harness and I'm sure sure that scotch lock fittings would do the job. Never heard anyone having a problem with them. I have a detachable but a fixed bar doesnt look out of place on a 4x4

We could really do with a sticky on Tow Bar fitting as this issue come up time after time. :yes:

We could really do with a sticky on Tow Bar fitting as this issue come up time after time. :yes:

We could really, really do with proper FOLDERS! So under the Yeti section we can have a Towbar folder, one for Interior, one for Exterior, one for Winter Tyres, a general one and what not. And ta da! No more need for stupid stickies as all you want will be in said folder and easy to find for anyone. Not rocket science but seemingly impossible to create on our beloved forum... :no:

We could really, really do with proper FOLDERS! So under the Yeti section we can have a Towbar folder, one for Interior, one for Exterior, one for Winter Tyres, a general one and what not. And ta da! No more need for stupid stickies as all you want will be in said folder and easy to find for anyone. Not rocket science but seemingly impossible to create on our beloved forum... :no:

I agree 110% . It would then be much easier to find things of interest and to refer back to them in future.

The search function does not seem to work as it should on Briskoda and it is virtually impossible ( for me at least !) to

refind topics of interest .

You get my vote 900000

We could really, really do with proper FOLDERS! So under the Yeti section we can have a Towbar folder, one for Interior, one for Exterior, one for Winter Tyres, a general one and what not. And ta da! No more need for stupid stickies as all you want will be in said folder and easy to find for anyone. Not rocket science but seemingly impossible to create on our beloved forum... :no:

Good call..!

I just brought a tow-sure bar for £90 (without electrics) and fitted it myself in 2 hours.

All I had to do was remove the rear bumper, the mountain is behind two plates which unbolt.

Also - see my new signature

I agree 110% . It would then be much easier to find things of interest and to refer back to them in future.

The search function does not seem to work as it should on Briskoda and it is virtually impossible ( for me at least !) to

refind topics of interest .

You get my vote 900000

Brilliant! We really could do with clearly labelled "technical" matters - model specific or general - moderators, any suggestions?

So is there any information on the available options for towbar fitting.?

I have no tow bar prep and want to understand how to go about this correctly with a westfella detachable and factory fitted rear bumper insert.

Marco, I have put details on my post in the 'for sale' section, I can e-mail you the manual is you want

Wow! I'm breathless reading through all of the conflicting information.....

I take delivery of my new Yeti WITH factory prepared towkit @£155 c/w removable bumper flap. My dealer (Claybank in Eccles, Manchester) has given me lots of different prices but little information as to why the prices are so high, as much as £700+.....

They said that I could have a removable towbar with 13 pin electrics but then said this wouldn't stop parking sensors, fog lights etc from working when hitched. If I wanted that well that would be another £220!! When you factor in the £155 already paid I really do struggle to understand how a towbar can be worth almost a grand!!

Peter Bowman of Bury quoted a shade over £500 - I just need to reconfirm exactly what I am getting for that and will also try Jones in Manchester.

I really want to get this right as if its done properly, it will exploit the hi-tech features of the Yeti so prepared a reasonable sum however I feel that some of the information I've been given already is misleading.

If anyone in the North West of England has any positive experiences, answers on a postcard (god that really shows my age!!)

Thanks John

Wow! I'm breathless reading through all of the conflicting information.....

I really want to get this right as if its done properly, it will exploit the hi-tech features of the Yeti so prepared a reasonable sum however I feel that some of the information I've been given already is misleading.

If anyone in the North West of England has any positive experiences, answers on a postcard (god that really shows my age!!)

Thanks John

Hang on a few days.. I am due to have a fixed Swan Neck fitted with 13 pin electrics, a PROPER wiring harness - into the fuse box - complete with charging/fridge conection, fully programmed etc for £355 inc vat. from MDS towbars who are coming to my house to do it on the 2nd of June. (MDS are based in Rochdale and operate all over the North West) I will take photos as we go along and post them on this site.

The guy says they have done a few Yetis and they are no problem, and I know that the wiring loom is the correct one...let's wait and see...

I have factory tow bar prep and was quoted £850 for detachable fitting by local Skoda dealer. I intend ringing round just to see how genuine that is?

I have the dealer fitted removeable swan necked ball, with factory prep electrics, and 13 pin plug.

When plugged in:

1/ the reverse sensors show a trailer and the "bleep" is turned off.

2/ the car rear fogs don't work.

3/ the car alarm senses if the caravan is disconnected, when turned on.

4/ the "bulb out" warning shows if a trailer bulb isn't working.

5/ fridge and battery charging enabled

The first 4 of these are done by the reprogramming of the ECU that should be included in the price of the electrics. It says so in the brochure.

Sorry can't give you a price as I did a very good deal with my supplying dealer, but it was less than half that!

Edited 23 May, 201115 yr by Llanigraham

Thanks for that at least I have something to aim for.

I'm surprised by the range of quotes being bantered about within the dealer network.

I can't see that anyone has mentioned it but I'm presuming that you all have your SM'S already and are now looking at a retro fit towbar be it fixed or removable.

Well, we haven't got ours yet and when ordered was told that factory prep was a waste of money if your only towing occasionally so we only ordered a removable bar at a price of £680. This does include the little hatch so the bumper looks neat but as for the reversing censors and alarm tweaks I have yet to inquire.

If it's of any use I will enquire soon and let you know what our dealer says (if he knows).

Dom.

Wow! I'm breathless reading through all of the conflicting information.....

They said that I could have a removable towbar with 13 pin electrics but then said this wouldn't stop parking sensors, fog lights etc from working when hitched. If I wanted that well that would be another £220!!

It stikes me that Claybank are taking the p**s - £220 to reprogram the electrics !!! Most Skoda dealers will do it for about £50, a professional tow bar fitter with the right kit will do it for free - Jones in Manchester have the kit. Or you could look on this site for a local fellow member with a VAGCOM kit.

As I understand it the factory prep just wants a socket fitting on the end (either 13 pin or 7 pin) if you want caravan electrics as well they do need to be added, but an ignition controlled kit (for charging/fridge) costs usually about £15 plus fitting, Skoda do a kit that plugs into the fuse panel, (about £40) But I am going to have one fitted that goes straight off the battery (with a fuse) via an inline voltage sensor to the 13 pin connections in the back of the car. I have used this method on several vehicle's, it doesn't come into contact with the vehicle's electronics, and provides a 'clean' source of power.

As I have said in a previous post, watch this space - I will report as soon as my job is done !!

(Claybank were the dealer who I asked if I could look inside a Yeti with Elegence spec, when I explained that the vehicle was being contract hired the salesman just walked away !!)

Edited 24 May, 201115 yr by Millstone

Managed to get some more figures today so don't know how these will compare to other peoples experiences.

Considering that I have towing package (factory fit) I've been quoted for parts £157.00 for towing electrics, then either £120 for a fixed bracket or £235 for detachable.

Fitted prices were £420 fixed / £535 detachable which is an improvement on my previous quote, again from a Skoda dealer.

There was a bit of a blank expression when I started going into reprograming and break-away cable anchor brackets.

£535 is what I paid for a Skoda (Westfalia) detachable fitted to my car with tow bar prep.

I did need however to get someone with VCDS to code it (10 mins) My dealer doesn't seem to have a techie who knows how to!

Brilliant piece of kit.

£535 is what I paid for a Skoda (Westfalia) detachable fitted to my car with tow bar prep.

I did need however to get someone with VCDS to code it (10 mins) My dealer doesn't seem to have a techie who knows how to!

Brilliant piece of kit.

Thanks for the heads up on price I was thinking £500-ish as a ball park figure.

Ive decided to go to Simpsons Skoda in Colne as they have always been trustworthy and reliable. I want to ensure that the Yeti's complex brain is fully utilised when towing my 25 foot long caravan!! They will fit and supply detachable kit for £600. Its a lot but for that I want to get peace of mind that its been done correctly. They want the car for 2 days as they say its a big job.