Just be careful that you do use a reputable fitter (although it sounds like you are doing your research anyway).

I had all sorts of issues with my towbar electrics, despite me ordering it as an option through the Skoda dealer who supplied the car (they got a 3rd party to do the work). The outcome was Skoda had to completely refit all electrics through my local different dealer (free of charge to me), and subsequently charge this to the original dealer.

Enjoy taking delivery today!

...but I don't think the car has a "trailer stability programme". There's nothing mentioned in either the brochure or the manual other than the car's ESP system which will work with or without a trailer.

I've got an estate on order and have been quoted approx £410 for a Witter detachable by a company that do a lot of towbars for customers of Farmers Skoda in Nottingham. I asked him about coding for the sensors and he asked me if I have a mover on my caravan. Light bulb moment...of course, I won't do much reversing with the van attached and could always turn the beeping sensors off anyway.

Hi! Could I ask what that company is, please! Collecting a Superb on Friday, and live in Nottingham, though the car is coming from Doncaster.

Stuart

Hi! Could I ask what that company is, please! Collecting a Superb on Friday, and live in Nottingham, though the car is coming from Doncaster.

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

I think it was K&N Autocare. I'm not 100% certain as I can't find the notes I made. However, the chap I've used for my last 2 cars is mobile only these days. He trades as East Midlands Towbars (he used to have a shop at Chilwell) but he did my Vectra on my driveway in 2006. I'd use him again and he was within a tenner of K&N. His no. is 07791 366893.

Simon

Hi Stuart,

I think it was K&N Autocare. I'm not 100% certain as I can't find the notes I made. However, the chap I've used for my last 2 cars is mobile only these days. He trades as East Midlands Towbars (he used to have a shop at Chilwell) but he did my Vectra on my driveway in 2006. I'd use him again and he was within a tenner of K&N. His no. is 07791 366893.

Simon

Thanks! Stuart

This has been a very interesting read (all the comments re-towbars). I have been caravanning for almost 30 years and the biggest pain each time I've changed cars has been the fitting of a towbar. Cars have included Merc M Class 4x4; Volvo V50; Volvo S60; Merc C Class and at the moment a VW Tiguan (the best of the buch so far for towing). On most occasions I have had the towbar fitted by the dealer I bought the car from (or factory fitted as an option) and of course now its all 13-pin connectors.

I have just agreed to buy a Superb Elegance Saloon 2.0Tdi 170 4x4 and was quoted £1000 (from the Skoda dealers) for a retro-fitted detachable towbar (the car is a showroom purchase and therefore not factory ordered). I politely told him "no thanks" and have arranged for one to be fitted by Trident Trailers (Kent) - who I have used in the past - but with the special kit required, plus towbar and fitting it's still £650. At least thats £350 cheaper than Skoda's quote.

I can see from the above comments that prices vary ENORMOUSLY and its difficult to determine what you get for what you pay...e.g compatibility issues, warranty issues, after-sales service etc. I'd love to pay as little as £300 as has been quoted elsewhere but I do wonder??????

By the way - the pictures provided showing the Westfalia detachable towbar look great but it looks as if the bottom of the towbar is very close to the ground when no caravan attached - I wonder what it's like when the van is hooked on? As I dont yet have my Superb (picking it up first week in March) I have no idea how the suspension copes with the extra weight of the caravan.

Very helpful contributions here folks so many thanks.

John

Hi John,

Whilst I might have a factory fit towbar on a new car, I would never have a dealer-fit towbar added by a dealer as an accessory. I've been towing for 8 years only but my experience of car dealers is that they know sod-all about towbars and towing...and they charge a fortune for fitting. The chap that fitted my 2 towbars knows everything there is to know and I would use him again.

Simon

i have just taken delivery of a Superb hatch and will also be looking to fit a towbar.

With my previous car, a Mondeo, i had fitted a westfalia detachable and ford wiring kit for around £400. A detachable because i was unsure whether the parking sensors would detact the presence of a towbar and full wiring kit. In hindsight i was not sure it was worth the extra money. The towbar when fitted never set off the sensors and the dedicated wiring which was suppose to disable the sensors and foglights never worked as it should . Without a caravan, the rear fogs used to go on and off so I had to have tjem disabled.

I am looking at a Thule swan neck fixed bar, and with 13 pin socket i have been quoted £220 fitted with 7 way bypass relay.

I have carried out a number of tests putting an object where the bar will be and seeing if it sets off the sensors which it doesn't.

Has anyone fitted a thule bar to their hatch?

Would love to hear confirmation that the bar does not disturb the sensors before I book it in for fitting.

The Westfalia detachable tow bar fits nicely into the spare wheel tool insert.

I have Superb Estate 4x4 with Tow bar preparation. I've asked dealer for original Skoda tow bar, and they gave me quote for 300 EUR. I saw online that there is some kind of Electric kit, which is advertised as something needed for tow bar. Do I need that as well, or that part was included in Tow bar preparation when I have ordered car?

I still need a tow bar, any news on this guys?

I have Superb Estate 4x4 with Tow bar preparation. I've asked dealer for original Skoda tow bar, and they gave me quote for 300 EUR. I saw online that there is some kind of Electric kit, which is advertised as something needed for tow bar. Do I need that as well, or that part was included in Tow bar preparation when I have ordered car?

Towbar prep (UK spec) puts plugs into the wiring loom for the additional wiring kit to be plugged into. You will need the electric kit you refer to. I have just had a Westfalia detactchable fitted along with the westfalia 13 pin wiring kit which was coded to car to switch off sensors, fog lights and activate towing stability program.

Regards,

Kevin.

Westfalia detachable tow bar and swing down hidden electrics.

and the Skoda OEM detachable ball -

and swing-down 13pin socket-

and label (hidden on bracketry under bumper -

The Westfalia detachable tow bar fits nicely into the spare wheel tool insert.

As does the OEM Skoda unit -

and without the jack in place -

@philpix - BTW what's the blue and grey thing in your storage unit? I assumed that that cutout was for a screwdriver (as per the my other Skoda's) and the supplying dealer had lost mine, but I see you don't have one either.

I can answer that. It's a socket for the wheelnuts. The blue bit protects the alloy from the metal of the socket.