I've ordered my car through Drivethedeal and just spoke to the dealer. She said they are having issues with their tow bar fitter and are just about to stop using him. She suggested I try and source my own towbar fitter. Grrr. So seems I'm not going to pick up an uncompleted Yeti from day one. Not happy but I'd rather have a decently fitted tow bar than a shoddy one with problems...

So: can anyone recommend a decent tow bar place around London or nearby? And just to confirm I'm not after a £250 Indespension-type permanently fixed tow bar. I want the big daddy Westfalia detachable tow bar - which I know will cost considerably more. Any experience and best prices appreciated. I don't mind to travel further afield if need be. I also would rather pay a bit more and get a decent setup professionaly done by someone that have done it before, than getting it the cheapest.

Thanks.

Johann

Edited 27 October, 201015 yr by 900000

I've ordered my car through Drivethedeal and just spoke to the dealer. She said they are having issues with their tow bar fitter and are just about to stop using him. She suggested I try and source my own towbar fitter. Grrr. So seems I'm not going to pick up a completed Yeti from day one. Not happy but I'd rather have a decently fitted tow bar than a shoddy one with problems...

So: can anyone recommend a decent tow bar place around London or nearby? And just to confirm I'm not after a £250 Indespension-type permanently fixed tow bar. I want the big daddy Westfalia detachable tow bar - which I know will cost considerably more. Any experience and best prices appreciated. I don't mind to travel further afield if need be. I also would rather pay a bit more and get a decent setup professionaly done by someone that have done it before, than getting it the cheapest.

Thanks.

Johann

Hi 900000, very unusual for YOU to be asking for help

Towbex http://www.towbex.co.uk/ my local deal quoted me just under £500 for one before I decided my budget couldn't stretch that far as I would also need to shell out £250.00 for a towbar cycle carrier,

The towbar they will fit is Skoda approved and meets with all their specifications.

Worth giving them a buzz, and if you let me know when you're coming down we could meet up for a cornetto or something :yes:

(I like my cornettos' as some members will testify. )

Edited 27 October, 201015 yr by Macdemon

Hi 900000, very unusual for YOU to be asking for help

<blush> Next to TP and some other people on here I know but nothing!

Thanks for the link Macdemon.

http://www.witter-to...bars/towbar.php

Enter your car details - Detachable Swansneck for Yeti is from £483 fully fitted at one of their approved dealers - pay a little more for vehicle specific electrics.

I've had Witter Detachable Swansnecks on my last two Golfs - absolutely perfect and excellent back up service = my 2p

I think James's team at Allams has done one or two inc. Aerofurb's if I remember correctly.

Mike

I think James's team at Allams has done one or two inc. Aerofurb's if I remember correctly.

Mike

Ah yes!!! Why did I not think of that! I'll email him now. Thanks.

Stockport Towbars - did the job for me - reasonable price with the wiring loom as well.

I sent out two requests last week (26/10) to two different dealers via their Skoda Websites (not my own email) along the lines of :

"supply and fit a Skoda Westfalia detachable towbar with a rear skirt removable panel and with 13 pin electrics integrated into the cars CanBus system".

I am prepared to travel up to a couple of hours so I picked dealers mentioned on this site.

Got this reply from Rainworth in Worksop on 27/10.

"Good morning

Thanks for your enquiry, we have indeed been involved in tow bars for Yeti. We use a local subcontractor who carries out all our tow bar work. We can supply and fit a Westfalia detachable 13 pin system, they do not use Skoda systems and the electrical kit is non genuine it links into the can system but NOT like the Skoda option. The work will take several hours as the cut out panel cover frame support has to be stuck to the bumper and the sealant takes several hours to go off. The price will be £425.00 plus vat

Best Regards

John Evans

After Sales Manager

01623 623400

[email protected]

SKODA; NATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR 2008 , 2009 "

So far no reply from the other dealer ...Allams

tom

I sent out two requests last week (26/10) to two different dealers via their Skoda Websites (not my own email) along the lines of...

Thanks Tom. As stated higher up this thread I did contact James from Allams directly. He has emailed me to say he is away this week until Thursday but that he has forwarded my request (exactly like yours) to the service people that should email me with a quote before his return on Friday.

I'll post here once I get an answer.

I've ordered my car through Drivethedeal and just spoke to the dealer. She said they are having issues with their tow bar fitter and are just about to stop using him. She suggested I try and source my own towbar fitter. Grrr. So seems I'm not going to pick up an uncompleted Yeti from day one. Not happy but I'd rather have a decently fitted tow bar than a shoddy one with problems...

So: can anyone recommend a decent tow bar place around London or nearby? And just to confirm I'm not after a £250 Indespension-type permanently fixed tow bar. I want the big daddy Westfalia detachable tow bar - which I know will cost considerably more. Any experience and best prices appreciated. I don't mind to travel further afield if need be. I also would rather pay a bit more and get a decent setup professionaly done by someone that have done it before, than getting it the cheapest.

Thanks.

Johann

Oh dear I have the indespension £ 278 tow bar ( Not £250 ) , does the job perfectly for me, I was not aware that there was a" keeping up with the Jones " with regard to tow bars , but i wish you every success with your quest to have the biggest and best tow bar , fitted by the best and most expensive fitter/ auto electrician in the country .

So: can anyone recommend a decent tow bar place around London or nearby? And just to confirm I'm not after a £250 Indespension-type permanently fixed tow bar. I want the big daddy Westfalia detachable tow bar - which I know will cost considerably more. Any experience and best prices appreciated. I don't mind to travel further afield if need be. I also would rather pay a bit more and get a decent setup professionaly done by someone that have done it before, than getting it the cheapest.

Thanks.

Johann

Oh Dear this is the problem with living 'Down South' considerably more for a Westphalia Detachable tow bar? Try these people http://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars/tow-bars-for-skoda/skoda-yeti-towbars.html Their one comes in at £196.65 (with single electrics included) They offer excellent countrywide service, and don't try to sell you anything you don't want.

No I don't have any connection with them, just purchased my last 2 tow-bars from them, and their advice is free and willingly given.

Re the last couple of posts. It's not about biggest and best but about getting a Skoda approved towbar not only integrated into the Canbus system (not difficult with generic wiring) but with the Skoda specific loom that is also electronically integrated to the car's system. There is a previous post on this somewhere that says the system recognises the trailer connection and shows a graphic on the Bolero screen.

I am also not willing to take any chances with warranty issues.

tom

Re the last couple of posts. It's not about biggest and best but about getting a Skoda approved towbar not only integrated into the Canbus system (not difficult with generic wiring) but with the Skoda specific loom that is also electronically integrated to the car's system. There is a previous post on this somewhere that says the system recognises the trailer connection and shows a graphic on the Bolero screen.

I am also not willing to take any chances with warranty issues.

tom

+1

Millstone - and the fitted price?

Re the last couple of posts. It's not about biggest and best but about getting a Skoda approved towbar not only integrated into the Canbus system (not difficult with generic wiring) but with the Skoda specific loom that is also electronically integrated to the car's system. There is a previous post on this somewhere that says the system recognises the trailer connection and shows a graphic on the Bolero screen.

I am also not willing to take any chances with warranty issues.

tom

+2

+3.

I have the proper Skoda bar fitted with the proper electrics and can confirm that when connected the display shows a trailer, plus the "lamp out" shows if the trailer lights aren't working, plus I am told the stability control senses the trailer movement as well.

Millstone - and the fitted price?

Not sure yet, but I will enquire when I know the delivery date for my Yeti, and post accordingly.. (though I usually fit my own - including 7 way relays on cam-bus systems)

However if you follow into P F Jones's web site you will see that they offer vehicle specific wiring kits for the Yeti, both 7 pin and 13 pin. They are probably Westphalia's biggest retailer and are founder members of the trade association. In the North West you will find that they fit for most of the local car retailers. I would rather have a tow bar fitted by an experienced towbar fitter than a motor dealer, things like proper connections for earth wires, and the correct size cabling, and taking the (seperate) live feeds required for the 12s socket from a point strong enough to take the load (usually the battery with an inline fuse close to)

Then when the tow bar is fitted if need be I will have the on board computer 'flashed' (by the dealer) to accomodate the changes - P F Jones's web site specifically refers to this.

Not wishing to start an argument with my first posting(s) I really wanted to just comment on the (higher) prices charged by companies in the south.

This a very interesting and informative forum, I hope to be both gaining knowledge and possibly contributing some too. I am a member of a couple of other forums, both vehicle and caravan based - you should see some comments about dealer fitted towbar electrics! - and I am looking forward to becoming a Yeti driver, I do very high mileage (90-100K in 3 years) so I read other people's comments with great interest.

Keep posting.....

+4

+ ****ed off at the delegation by our suppling dealer to a **** poor automotive electrical "specialist" who wasnt.

But we got sorted out.

Contract No doubt simply on the grounds they were the cheapest.

DOH

I went down the Witter route. Selected a detachable Flange (not swan neck) type from the Witter site then found their

recommended fitter. - Total price with twin electrics was quoted as £594.90

My recommended 'Witter fitter' was Towequipe in Nuneaton.

I contacted them directly and asked them for a price for fitting the same Towbar described above with twin electrics.

I smile when I look at my invoice and see a total price of £363.00!

Yes, a full £231.90 saved for exactly the same product and service just by going direct.

Witter - shameful profiteering or what?

This is what I had fitted - check the link:

http://www.towequipe.co.uk/1/1/1279785-witter-detachable-flange-towbar-fits-skoda-yeti-09-sk24qf.html

By the way, I had no fancy looms or purpose made harnesses. The electrics were scotchlocked into existing wiring.

My basic Yeti has no sophisticated stability programmes nor park sensors. I wont see a picture of a trailer on my dash either.

I'm not sure how I'll cope but I think I'll notice when a 'van's attached and will rely on a stabiliser,

sound weight distribution, correct nosewight, the 85% rule and thoughtful driving to mitigate potential problems.

I will be surprised if my 'cheap' bar falls off when I hitch my van, I would be equally surprised if my lights

didn't work cos they're scotchlocked.

I think we can all get a bit wrapped up in the desire to have the so called best cos the best will surely be safest and most

reliable etc,etc. We are happy to be sold to and justify the expense because of x,y and z.

Ye take the expensive road an I'll take the cheap road an we'll

probably end up in Scotland at roughly the same time

Ye take the expensive road an I'll take the cheap road an we'll

probably end up in Scotland at roughly the same time

Indeed we will. Each to their own as the saying goes (and respect for other people's choices). If there had been no choice in this world we'd all still be driving black Ford Model Ts.

Indeed we will. Each to their own as the saying goes (and respect for other people's choices). If there had been no choice in this world we'd all still be driving black Ford Model Ts.

Given the choice I'm sure we would always buy the very best, in the real world choices are made on economic grounds All us on here must be doing O-k what ever Yeti , Towbar etc we chose , I'm Happy with S 110 hp Yeti, sensibly priced tow Hitch,and used Caravan all paid for.

Edited 4 November, 201015 yr by mellyboy

This is what I had fitted - check the link:

http://www.towequipe...-09-sk24qf.html

By the way, I had no fancy looms or purpose made harnesses. The electrics were scotchlocked into existing wiring.

My basic Yeti has no sophisticated stability programmes nor park sensors. I wont see a picture of a trailer on my dash either.

I'm not sure how I'll cope but I think I'll notice when a 'van's attached and will rely on a stabiliser,

sound weight distribution, correct nosewight, the 85% rule and thoughtful driving to mitigate potential problems.

I will be surprised if my 'cheap' bar falls off when I hitch my van, I would be equally surprised if my lights

didn't work cos they're scotchlocked.

I think we can all get a bit wrapped up in the desire to have the so called best cos the best will surely be safest and most

reliable etc,etc. We are happy to be sold to and justify the expense because of x,y and z.

Ye take the expensive road an I'll take the cheap road an we'll

probably end up in Scotland at roughly the same time

Please let us know how you get on if you need to invoke the 3 year guarantee.