Has anyone fitted a tow bar to their Mk2 hatch themselves?

Are the holes already in the chassis to bolt it to?

Is it a DIY job or safer to leave to an expert?

I'd even fit it myself if possible then leave the wiring to an expert.

Has anyone fitted a tow bar to their Mk2 hatch themselves?

Are the holes already in the chassis to bolt it to?

Is it a DIY job or safer to leave to an expert?

I'd even fit it myself if possible then leave the wiring to an expert.

All holes are there and is just a simple bolt on job. The bumper cutout is even there on the facelift (not sure about pre facelift). Wiring is more involved these days due to canbus.

It's all possible DIY. Fitted mine a couple of months ago, and used a 7 way smart bypass relay as I was on a budget and couldn't stretch to a wiring kit, plus didn't fancy pulling off the amount of trim needed to fit it. Didn't need to cut th bumper either, mines pre facelift.

Sweet, mine is pre facelift too.

Did you follow a guide to the wiring?

Very easy DIY. I suggest you take a tour of any of the makers' websites. There you will get a download of the instructions.

OEM electrics might be difficult but a bypass relay is a simple job too.

Go for it

Oem electrics are pretty easy to fit tbh and gives you all the frills with parking sensors, trailer stabilisation (if applicable) etc.

It's just a case of running two sets of wires up the o/s of the car to the fusebox, a couple of live wires and two can wires to connect it, all done by plug in loops, no cutting or soldering required.

I like the sound of that. Can the OEM wiring be purchased as a kit from the dealer, or where? Any idea on cost?

I like the sound of that. Can the OEM wiring be purchased as a kit from the dealer, or where? Any idea on cost?

Yes you can get it from dealers its around £100 + and will be a 13 pin plug , if you need extras for a caravan fridge bat charge you will need a supplementary kit.

Holy smokes, I was expecting it to be about a third of that!

My bar was a witter bar, £110 including the smart bypass relay including delivery. The amount of times I reverse with the van on, doesn't justify a kit that will kill the beeping of the reversing sensors for 30 seconds or so. Have a look at PF Jones on th web..

Also look at this http://octavia-vrs.com/cms/content/towbar-install

Gives you am idea of the amount of trim you need to remove for a proper wiring kit. Another reason I went for the bypass relay.

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by rustyGT

My bar was a witter bar, £110 including the smart bypass relay including delivery. The amount of times I reverse with the van on, doesn't justify a kit that will kill the beeping of the reversing sensors for 30 seconds or so. Have a look at PF Jones on th web..

is that pfjones.co.uk? Or what ,,,,,

If it is, which is the exact wiring kit you got?

pfJones.co.uk. the website is really easy to.get the right set up. If you have any trouble give them a ring, very helpful on th phone, and you.can order over the phone too.

It's just a 7 way smart bypass relay you would need. Nothing specific to the octavia.

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by rustyGT

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/12n-7-pin-electrics-kit-inc-bypass-relay.html

This 1?

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by Lyonzo

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/12n-7-pin-electrics-kit-inc-bypass-relay.html

This 1?

Looks like mine. Didn't buy mine separately as it was in with the bar in a deal. But pic is the same. Took me about 4 hours in total to fit the bar and wire the relay.

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by rustyGT

How simple is the wiring? As per Stu's DIY guide did you have to tap into the fuse box etc too?

How simple is the wiring? As per Stu's DIY guide did you have to tap into the fuse box etc too?

Nothing like that..! You need a permanent live, the kit says from th battery, but after calling them they said any live would be ok. I ran one from the front of th fuse box, tucked under the trim into the boot. All the rest is done in the boot. You just need to loosen the sides of the boot carpet to ease access to the lights. I have.never done anything.like it before either, and I followed.it quite easily.

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by rustyGT

Woh, love the sound of that!!

How did you know where to take it from at the fuse box?

I borrowed a multi meter.. voltage tester thing..!! ... took the cover off at the right side of the dash, and there are lots of blank fuses. I found one that was permanent live, and used a spade connector to push into it. Placed the fuse holder for the cable in the space in there, then fed it down behind the footrest trim and under the sill trim back into the boot. That bit of cable isn't with the kit, But its a spade connector and some cable.

This site was useful.. http://towsure.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-fit-7-way-bypass-relay.html

As was this..

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by rustyGT

That's what I did when I fitted a Parrot to my last Golf.

Fancy taking a photo of the fuse box and showing me which space you used!?

That's what I did when I fitted a Parrot to my last Golf.

Fancy taking a photo of the fuse box and showing me which space you used!?

No problem.. will post one up shortly.

It's the bottom right spade connector. The other is for my Bluetooth kit. This link was useful too..

http://uk-trailer-parts.co.uk/7-way-universal-bypass-relay-wiring-diagram

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by rustyGT

Brilliant mate, thanks. Just need to get it now!

A really tidy way to do it is to use the correct terminal in the back of the fusebox and install a fuse for an OE look.

I know this was posted in 2011 but I'm currently researching how to do this. 

 

I have the towbar and and all the kit but just finalising before I start. 

 

Im fine with the majority of it thus far but at the moment I'm trying to find out;

 

1. If all the wires from the front of the car go up one side? Or, do the spilt and run up both sides of the car for the respective left and right?

 

2. Does anyone have pictures/diagrams/list of colours of cable for what cable runs to which light?

 

3. As well as the 7 way bypass I had a 30amp Combi Switch relay which says it will "switch to the leisure battery in the caravan if the voltage from the car isn't enough to power it". Has anyone fitted this as im

unsure on how and where to install this.