Octavia II 4x4 towbar fitting help and advice please.

[MarkWoodbridge]

I've got my new Octavia 4x4 (non Scout) now at the dealer and have ordered it with the towbar prep. However the quote to supply and fit the genuine detachable towbar with single electrics is £1000 plus VAT. I should say that this was ordered to Drive the Deal so I don't think the dealership are looking to do me a great price on this.

So my two options are find a dealer who can do it for less or fit it myself.

To fit myself as far as I can work out I need to order the following;

Detachable towbar, 4x4 ZGB1Z3092155 which is 203.40 plus VAT

13 Pin towing electrics ZGB1Z0055204 which is £153.19 plus VAT

And then work out how to fit?

Any help or advice appreciated.

Thanks, Mark

[Scott5247]

I've got my new Octavia 4x4 (non Scout) now at the dealer and have ordered it with the towbar prep. However the quote to supply and fit the genuine detachable towbar with single electrics is £1000 plus VAT. I should say that this was ordered to Drive the Deal so I don't think the dealership are looking to do me a great price on this.

So my two options are find a dealer who can do it for less or fit it myself.

To fit myself as far as I can work out I need to order the following;

Detachable towbar, 4x4 ZGB1Z3092155 which is 203.40 plus VAT

13 Pin towing electrics ZGB1Z0055204 which is £153.19 plus VAT

And then work out how to fit?

Any help or advice appreciated.

Thanks, Mark

[Jeeves]

Hi Mark

Do a quick search for this and there's plenty of information including a link to another website (something like octavia-vrs.com or similar) where there's a step-by-step guide.

I followed that and with the help of a friend successfully fitted my own (to a Scout) without incident. I'm not a DIYer so was pleased with the result. Just be careful removing the grommets under the rear lights which secure the top of the bumper. Tape up the edges of the metal bodywork first as you have little control when these suddenly come out.

VAG were getting rid of some 4x4 only( i.e. not Scout) towbars at roughly half price, so see if you can get Audi Stoke to send you the list of parts.

Once its fitted you'll need to get it coded to account for rear parking sensors.

Good luck.

[Scott5247]

Mark,

I've been looking at towbars for my hatchback for wen it comes and given the good advice to look at Westfalia tow bars. I have been to my local towbar company this morning who have quoted me £499 + vat fitted with 13 pin electrics. Assuming a similar cost for the bits as you have been quoted, that's £142 for fitting +vat. That makes the dealers cost almost £650+.

No wonder a dealer suggested I go for an outside fitting specialist!!!

I haven't checked but I have a feeling that the nose weight on the Skoda towbar is about 50kg. I haven't checked with Skoda but I have a feeling that I've seen it in print somewhere. You might want to check.

Scott

[Tonyp5a]

Hi,

If you don't want to fit it yourself, you might consider giving towbarexpress.co.uk a look. I have been costing up getting a towbar for a Scout I should be getting June / July time and they were quoting £294 for a fixed towbar or add another £130 for a detachable one (including 13 pin wiring). Then she said if it's a new VAG model they can use the dedicated harness, which means that the cars systems control the caravans brakes, giving ABS and anti sway (called T-ESP) while towing, but this boosts the price to £524 for the fixed bar, again +£130 for the detachable (again both with 13 pin electrics).

Hope this helps.

[Rab-k]

I think my detachable came in at about £700. The dealer outsourced the work but it was the OEM Westfalia parts and electrics.

I had the factory-fit towbar preparation which made the job a good deal easier for the fitter as they're not having to mess with the trim, and all the features work OK; i.e. rear fog only activates on what you're towing, bulb warning light illuminates if one blows, etc.

Did you get the towbar prep on yours?

(If you search some of my previous posts you'll find a thread with images)

PS Enjoy your new motor

Edit: See below - it'll save your hunting around the forum...

Edited 22 March, 2011 by Rab-k

[sparky2]

:wonder: If your going to tow a caravan make sure you have the battery charge/fridge pins/cables connected as you might have to run cables to the drivers door fusebox. cheers - Stuart

[Niall]

From what I've picked up on here Tow bar prep simply means that the dedicated loom doesn't have to be run the length of the car. Sockets are run to the boot.

From experience of getting my Witter Detachable fitted I would do this if I had my time again....

1 - Fit the bar myself - see link here (but ignore all the stuff about removing trim to get wiring to the fusebox)

2 - Fit electrics socket to bar, gromet through body work and then leave the wiring coiled in the boot and leave all the removed boot trim in the garage.

3 - Drive to local independent specialist auto electrician to connect wiring and get coded

4 - Get home and refit boot trim, carpet, etc.

I've fitted bars on previous cars and it is all mecanno skills (can you tighten/untighten bolts) and a feel for prising trim.

Niall

Edited 22 March, 2011 by Niall

[pmc]

I bought and fitted my towbar and electrical gubbins about five years ago.Detachable westfalia - top towbar like the one in previous posts.

There was a post on this website that described how to remove the trim which was very useful - don't know if it's still available.

The parts weren't cheap and buying the electric loom was scorned by some who recommended just cutting into the cars existing wiring - not something I was happy with on a new car.

Fitting the towbar was easy but getting the wiring to the fuse box was a nightmare - the whole job took me two full days, much cursing and swearing and some bloodied knuckles.

I saved a fair amount of money but wouldn't do it again - I'd pay a professional but only after checking that they were going to do a proper job on the wiring. I'd worry about people quoting low prices when you see how expensive the towbar and wiring loom are by themselves - even a professional is going to take a couple of hours to do a decent job.

pmc

[Jeeves]

I bought and fitted my towbar and electrical gubbins about five years ago.Detachable westfalia - top towbar like the one in previous posts.

There was a post on this website that described how to remove the trim which was very useful - don't know if it's still available.

The parts weren't cheap and buying the electric loom was scorned by some who recommended just cutting into the cars existing wiring - not something I was happy with on a new car.

Fitting the towbar was easy but getting the wiring to the fuse box was a nightmare - the whole job took me two full days, much cursing and swearing and some bloodied knuckles.

I saved a fair amount of money but wouldn't do it again - I'd pay a professional but only after checking that they were going to do a proper job on the wiring. I'd worry about people quoting low prices when you see how expensive the towbar and wiring loom are by themselves - even a professional is going to take a couple of hours to do a decent job.

pmc

This http://www.octavia-vrs.com/technical/estate_towbar.htm was what I found in my bookmarks, but the address is showing an error.

The factory prep with corresponding electrics pack negates cabling back to the fusebox, so with the exception of removing the rear seat side pads, everything else is done in the boot or bumper.

[MarkWoodbridge]

All very useful stuff. Thanks.

I have paid for the towbar prep option so hopefully no need to undress all the interior which will be a bonus. Based on this can anyone tell me whether these are the items I need to order from Skoda as per the Octavia brochure "retailer supplied accessories list" or whether there's anything else?

Detachable towbar, 4x4 ZGB1Z3092155 which is 203.40 plus VAT

13 Pin towing electrics ZGB1Z0055204 which is £153.19 plus VAT

If its just a case of removing the rear bumper and tinkering around in the boot then I should be able to give that a go.

[Jeeves]

All very useful stuff. Thanks.

I have paid for the towbar prep option so hopefully no need to undress all the interior which will be a bonus. Based on this can anyone tell me whether these are the items I need to order from Skoda as per the Octavia brochure "retailer supplied accessories list" or whether there's anything else?

Detachable towbar, 4x4 ZGB1Z3092155 which is 203.40 plus VAT

13 Pin towing electrics ZGB1Z0055204 which is £153.19 plus VAT

If its just a case of removing the rear bumper and tinkering around in the boot then I should be able to give that a go.

Haven't checked the codes, but sounds about right. Just remember to ask for a discount and also whether the VAG surplus/excess stock item EEA092036A (Detachable Towbar Octavia Hatch 4x4 Or Estate 4x4 Suitable for 4x4 only Maximum weight 1,600kg. Requires electrics) would fit.

The Westfalia bar that is available elsewhere e.g. Towequipe will also fit a Superb if that's of any help.

Maybe add a 13 to 7-pin converter (about £10). Also a Westfalia item, but you can get them from Halfords too.

[MarkWoodbridge]

Hi all

Just collected the new car on 2.0 TDI 4x4 on Saturday from Marlborough Skoda. Wasn't able to collect the towbar and electics pack that I've ordered through Farnham Common Skoda who gave me some discount on the parts as the handover at Marlborough took a little longer than expected..

I'm going to follow Niall's advice, fit it myself and then get it coded.

Thanks again for all your advice, Mark

[marcusthehat]

Might I note that in respect of the ever-ongoing saga of Skoda factory towbar elect prep....what is included..... ....or not.

When in a local Skoda dealer on Friday past I was browsing through the Superb brochure and noted that on the option page where the factory towbar elect prep is listed there are *** and at the bottom of the page *** this does not include for/allow for split charging ....eh!!!

M

[countryboy]

Might I note that in respect of the ever-ongoing saga of Skoda factory towbar elect prep....what is included..... ....or not.

When in a local Skoda dealer on Friday past I was browsing through the Superb brochure and noted that on the option page where the factory towbar elect prep is listed there are *** and at the bottom of the page *** this does not include for/allow for split charging ....eh!!!

M

In other words the factory towbar prep only includes the wiring for the trailer lights and not your grey 12S/ 13 pin socket for caravan electric supply, that will have to be installed separately, probably necessatating trim removal.

Ian

[marcusthehat]

Well DOH!

PS

I did got the extra £40.00 Westfhalia kit for the split charging, but thats another storey, since the dealer declined to fit.

sigh!

Edited 4 April, 2011 by dieseldogg

[nuts]

I'm in the same boat here, i've ordered an Octavia VRS estate with towbar prep, I was under the impression that all I had to buy was the detachable towball, plug it in and off we go, have I been naive in assuming this? So what do I actually get for the £150 extra I payed?