I decided to change my Octavia 1.6FSI, which I was using to tow an Abbey Freestyle caravan (all-up-weight of 1280kg), which as you can guess, the poor thing was struggling with. Picked up my ex-demo YETI SE 4x4 140bhp from local dealers with 500 miles on clock and a good P/X. Looks great in Silver Grey Metallic with the sunroof already fitted. (Dealer told me that they are having problems with delivery dates of the Yeti because of delays with the sunroof manufacturers for those customers that require this extra.

Had a towbar fitted by a third-party that the dealers recommended (they fit all their towbars for them) - the car had no towbar prep and the cost was around £250 incl VAT. (single electrics) - the reversing sensors are not switched off when I'm reversing the caravan, so is a little irritating - but I don't reverse that much with a caravan!!

As for the car - I am very impressed with it - fantastic towing ability, steady as a rock on motorways and gives me much more confidence with towing. I got about 34 mpg on a 400 mile trip (towing) - yet to find out what it might be when solo.

Drives very well around corners (very little body roll) and great acceleration. All in all - very pleased and recommended !!

One thing I did find awkward was fitting towing mirrors to those large, roundish mirrors - I found some that work, but not entirely happy with the ones I have (Pyramid ones), if anyone has any experience of fitting towing mirrors and could recommend some, please let me know! :yes:

Hey nice to hear from you Steve, and welcome to Briskoda.

Enjoy the panoramic sunroof coz they're like honest politicians (non-existent haahaa)

No experience with towing as the wife and I have a static caravan in Dorset

I decided to change my Octavia 1.6FSI, which I was using to tow an Abbey Freestyle caravan (all-up-weight of 1280kg), which as you can guess, the poor thing was struggling with. Picked up my ex-demo YETI SE 4x4 140bhp from local dealers with 500 miles on clock and a good P/X. Looks great in Silver Grey Metallic with the sunroof already fitted. (Dealer told me that they are having problems with delivery dates of the Yeti because of delays with the sunroof manufacturers for those customers that require this extra.

Had a towbar fitted by a third-party that the dealers recommended (they fit all their towbars for them) - the car had no towbar prep and the cost was around £250 incl VAT. (single electrics) - the reversing sensors are not switched off when I'm reversing the caravan, so is a little irritating - but I don't reverse that much with a caravan!!

As for the car - I am very impressed with it - fantastic towing ability, steady as a rock on motorways and gives me much more confidence with towing. I got about 34 mpg on a 400 mile trip (towing) - yet to find out what it might be when solo.

Drives very well around corners (very little body roll) and great acceleration. All in all - very pleased and recommended !!

One thing I did find awkward was fitting towing mirrors to those large, roundish mirrors - I found some that work, but not entirely happy with the ones I have (Pyramid ones), if anyone has any experience of fitting towing mirrors and could recommend some, please let me know! :yes:

Try a set of Milenco Aero towing mirrors , there not cheap but very good quality and fit most cars

steve

One thing I did find awkward was fitting towing mirrors to those large, roundish mirrors - I found some that work, but not entirely happy with the ones I have (Pyramid ones), if anyone has any experience of fitting towing mirrors and could recommend some, please let me know! :yes:

Tested my old Mileco Aero. It works but it is tight.

I'll make some adjustments

Red arrows: tight

Gren arrow:2,5 mm rubber.

Look here Mirror link

Edited 26 May, 201016 yr by Helgestahill

I used Mileco Aero mirrors over the weekend, the clip were completely inserted into the mirror, insert them on the straight part of the mirror, they were absolutely fine.with no marks on the wing mirrors.

Photos?

Who did it?

Was there any input from the Skoda Dealer, re-programming the CanBus etc.?

At that price presumably it is a fixed towbar so what is the cut out like in the rear skirt?

tom

Photos?

Who did it?

Was there any input from the Skoda Dealer, re-programming the CanBus etc.?

At that price presumably it is a fixed towbar so what is the cut out like in the rear skirt?

tom

Hi there - the company that fitted my towbar is Bermick in Leicester http://www.bermick.co.uk/

The Skoda franchise in Leicester always use this company to fit their towbars and the salesman rang them while I was there and requested a price - no information was given about towbar prep. and the towbar dealer did not ask any questions re reprogramming anything - the fitting was as quoted when I picked the car up after completion.

It is a fixed towbar and I have taken some photos here (posted to a Flicker account - hope it works!!) - the cutout in the skirt cannot be seen unless you get down on your knees and look underneath, so it's very neat.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50599164@N06/

Hope that helps!

Cheers Steve