Does anyone have a fixed towbar on their Yeti?

If so any what make? Any pics?

I have read in the caravan press that Skoda's detachable bracket makes most caravans ride nose up ... are fixed brackets the same?

Am I right in thinking there are two levels of towbar prep available on the Yeti ... one for general towing and one offering full power options to the caravanner?

Thanks in advance.

There seems to be a lot of disagreement between the towbar suppliers. I was told by Chester Towbar Centre that a detachable bracket wes the only option as a fixed bracket would affect the rear parking sensors. Also they would only supply a single (trailer only) plug. Skoda supply the full 13 pin harness and an adaptor to 7 pin for trailers.

I have read in the caravan press that Skoda's detachable bracket makes most caravans ride nose up ... are fixed brackets the same?

I have the detachable bracket, and it is within the specified height limits and certainly didn't make my Adria run nose high.

Am I right in thinking there are two levels of towbar prep available on the Yeti ... one for general towing and one offering full power options to the caravanner?

Thanks in advance.

Basic prep just does the lights, full kit gives fridge and battery charge as well.

I have the Westfalia original Skoda removable. It is very slightly nose up with no load on the trailer. I do not tow a camper, but a 750 kg utility trailer with an 8 foot bed, twin axles. With load in the trailer, it is level.

I feel the ball on a Westfalia removable hitch is higher than that on any other car I've ever owned, but I've not had an "SUV" before. It is certainly within the laid down range for tow bars.

My 750kg trailer rides noticably nose up when unladen.

This borrowed Brian James car trailer was marginally nose up, but was spot on when loaded. (Sorry, no pics of it loaded, but it wasn't much different with the load correctly positioned on the trailer)

So, I conclude that the hitch is correct!

Edited 4 December, 201015 yr by speedsport

Has anyone any experience of having the official Skoda (made by Westfalia) detachable bracket fitted, and did it come with the bumper cover? Or did you have to pay extra for it?

I had the bracket fitted by my Skoda dealer (or at least that's who I paid!) when the car was new. My SM did not have the factory tow bar prepartion, and I've only specified single electrics. Because there was no tow bar preparation, I assume my dealer had to cut the apature in the rear bumper themselves, but they have not fitted the finishing cover to hide the bracket when not in use. They keep telling me that there's no such thing, and 6 months on, show no interest in "finishing" the job. Now with all the winter salt on the roads, its getting quite mucky in there, which I dont think it should (the red plastic bracket socket cover is fitted).

I recall seeing the cover in a previous post on the forum, and the item is now listed in the Yeti accessories brochure (part EEA 630 011) for £16. But my dealer is still dragging its feet, still saying that it's not available.

Anyone got experience of what comes in the Skoda (aka Westfalia) kit that might help me in my negotiations with my dealer?

Edited 4 December, 201015 yr by speedsport

Thanks!

We have a fixed Witter towbar on our Yeti. I had to have the fixed bar because I have a Witter cycle rack that utilises a tube that fixes behind the towball. The Witter bar is neat and tows an 8'x 4' trailer level. Also a fixed towbar/ball is a great deterrent to being hit from behind and protects your bumper!

Edited 4 December, 201015 yr by survey

Speedsport,

mine has the full prep so came with what I presumed was a different bumper that has the hole and cover. It does not appear to be a case of just cutting out the shape as the cover fits into lugs moulded to the inside of the bumper. It is about 12" long by 4" deep.

Can't photo it, at work.

ADD;

Skoda/Westphalia bar fitted with 13 pin socket.

Edited 4 December, 201015 yr by Llanigraham

Speedsport,

mine has the full prep so came with what I presumed was a different bumper that has the hole and cover. It does not appear to be a case of just cutting out the shape as the cover fits into lugs moulded to the inside of the bumper. It is about 12" long by 4" deep.

Can't photo it, at work.

ADD;

Skoda/Westphalia bar fitted with 13 pin socket.

Hi Graham,

there's photo's of aeros factory prep and dealer fit Skoda bar somewhere on here which are of good quality.

edit here post 154 My link

TP

Edited 4 December, 201015 yr by The Plumber

My detachable westfalia was fitted via dealer without cover panel. Rang dealer and a few days later panel arrived in post and was fitted by me in five minutes. Fitting was with supplied pre-stuck double sided tape which has remained secure over the caravan season. It seems earlier panels were fixed by "curing" which would be more permanent.

Our caravan has noseweight of 75kg and rides level.

My detachable westfalia was fitted via dealer without cover panel. Rang dealer and a few days later panel arrived in post and was fitted by me in five minutes. Fitting was with supplied pre-stuck double sided tape which has remained secure over the caravan season. It seems earlier panels were fixed by "curing" which would be more permanent.

Our caravan has noseweight of 75kg and rides level.

What kind of 'van are you towing ... I know the guy who tested one for Scottish Caravanner Magazine said his Bailey rode nose up. I'm towing a 2010 Swift.

"What kind of 'van are you towing ... I know the guy who tested one for Scottish Caravanner Magazine said his Bailey rode nose up.I'm towing a 2010 Swift."

2001 Avondale Rialto 480/2 (1160 KG Max) We had a yr 2000 Bora 115 Tdi and van has proved superb to tow over the 9 seasons we have used it. With the Bora it was definately nose down when towing.

Thanks!

Llanigraham, on 04 December 2010 - 14:26, said:

Speedsport,

mine has the full prep so came with what I presumed was a different bumper that has the hole and cover. It does not appear to be a case of just cutting out the shape as the cover fits into lugs moulded to the inside of the bumper. It is about 12" long by 4" deep.

Can't photo it, at work.

The Plumber, on 04 December 2010 - 14:31, said:

Hi Graham,

there's photo's of aeros factory prep and dealer fit Skoda bar somewhere on here which are of good quality.

edit here post 154 My link

My detachable westfalia was fitted via dealer without cover panel. Rang dealer and a few days later panel arrived in post and was fitted by me in five minutes. Fitting was with supplied pre-stuck double sided tape which has remained secure over the caravan season. It seems earlier panels were fixed by "curing" which would be more permanent.

Thanks everyone.

The factory towing prep does include a different bumper with the "hatch" already cut out, and with a different impact absobing "crash pad" behind the bumper. The photos (those are the ones I remember seeing - thanks) appears to show the same size hole, so presumably the bumper finisher panel mentioned in the accessory brochure is common to cars with or without the full factory prep (so you can get a replacement panel if you lose yours!).

Gordiebroon, did you have to pay for the panel, or did the dealer send it free 'cos they should have fitted in the first place?

John H

No charge was made for the panel. It should have been fitted as an integral part of the tow bar work. It is a light grey colour as is the surrounding bumper so no paint matching is required.

The panel is the same for factory and dealer fitting so there will be a part no. Remember also to get the fixing frame which might have yet another part no. This fixing frame provides the lugs onto which the panel hooks and stops it dropping out

I have fixed tow bar , no problems with rear sensors , caravan tows slightly nose down as i prefer to carry most of kit in car . Had no problems with he Yeti as a tow car , roll on the summer so I can get hitched up again !

Has anyone any experience of having the official Skoda (made by Westfalia) detachable bracket fitted, and did it come with the bumper cover? Or did you have to pay extra for it?

I had the bracket fitted by my Skoda dealer (or at least that's who I paid!) when the car was new. My SM did not have the factory tow bar prepartion, and I've only specified single electrics. Because there was no tow bar preparation, I assume my dealer had to cut the apature in the rear bumper themselves, but they have not fitted the finishing cover to hide the bracket when not in use. They keep telling me that there's no such thing, and 6 months on, show no interest in "finishing" the job. Now with all the winter salt on the roads, its getting quite mucky in there, which I dont think it should (the red plastic bracket socket cover is fitted).

I recall seeing the cover in a previous post on the forum, and the item is now listed in the Yeti accessories brochure (part EEA 630 011) for £16. But my dealer is still dragging its feet, still saying that it's not available.

Anyone got experience of what comes in the Skoda (aka Westfalia) kit that might help me in my negotiations with my dealer?

We've just had a dealer fit Westfalia / Skoda detachable towbar fitted last Wednesday and can advise that it DOES come with the aperture cover. The frame for the cover on ours was glued and the dealer asked us to leave the cover off for a day as due to the temperature, the glue was taking longer to cure. Fitted now, no problems.

Just for interest, we paid £593 for single electrics. There seems to be quite a variation in prices from dealers - the first dealer we approached wanted over £1000, so anyone looking should shop around.

We've just had a dealer fit Westfalia / Skoda detachable towbar fitted last Wednesday and can advise that it DOES come with the aperture cover. The frame for the cover on ours was glued and the dealer asked us to leave the cover off for a day as due to the temperature, the glue was taking longer to cure. Fitted now, no problems.

Just for interest, we paid £593 for single electrics. There seems to be quite a variation in prices from dealers - the first dealer we approached wanted over £1000, so anyone looking should shop around.

Oh Dear , The tow bar price discussion is rearing its ugly head again, all I'm saying this time is mine was under £300 and its O-K

Oh Dear , The tow bar price discussion is rearing its ugly head again, all I'm saying this time is mine was under £300 and its O-K

I wasn't actually trying to start a debate about prices, but just thought I'd add it in case anyone else was in the position of trying to find a dealer fit price. The prices do seem to vary quite a bit between dealers and the one we paid was after checking out a few dealers within a reasonable distance.

I'm sure there are others out there who could organise a better deal, but I thought ours fair and it was the cheapest dealer fit quote we had by about £50.

If you got the same kit as us for under £300, well I say well done to you.

I had the Westfalia supplied and installed by the dealer. They cut the hole and glued in the reinforcement and installed the cover - which is part of the "normal" installation. 13 pin electrics and no factory trailer prep.

The Yeti recognizes and checks all the trailer lights - and reports on the MFD if there is anything amiss.