Hi guys

Just a heads-up to warn off potential buyers : you might want to steer clear of Westfalia/SIARR fixed flange towbars, part number 317083.

Details:

My wife's new Roomie arrives in <2 weeks, so I thought it was time to order a towbar. I ordered a Westfalia 317083 flange towbar as I need the flange to mount towbar carrier.

Westfalia is an obvious choice because bumper cutout is almost invisible at 60mm x 55mm.

After 7 days, towbar arrived in relatively undamaged box, with padding. But the quality of workmanship is extremely disappointing, main beam looks bent without rig, lots of paint damage, and most importantly bent flange attachment, probably because some brilliant soul messed up the welding. Either very inexperienced or very disgruntled employees made this one, it's not really possible to get this kind of damage in transit. Towbar says it's made by SIARR France, which is Westfalia's 2006 acquisition and no doubt cost cutting centre, and this might explain the (lack of) quality.

Flange photo:

This photo shows that flange is twisted about 4-5deg to car axis. For my towbar box it would mean one edge of the box 40mm closer to the car than the opposite edge.

Towbar is to be picked up on Monday, I am getting a full refund, and I think I will go for PCT one with 60mm by 90mm cutout but guaranteed decent flange at right angle to the road.

Unless someone can advise me of another flange towbar maker that requires smaller bumper cutout? In any case, I'd recommend avoiding Westfalia for this one.

I think I'd be sticking that towbar up a Westfalia dealers flange!

Just received the PCT SK4371 flange towbar. What a difference! Flange at 90 deg sharp, main beam bent in a jig and welded to the sides, and everything reasonably protected against corossion.

But so that I do not fell too happy, I paid GBP7.95 extra to dealer to supply two electrics brackets instead of one (I need one for my Superb's towbar and it has to be same/similar shape as the one coming with Roomster towbar), and of course only one bracket has arrived. I sense another Ebay dispute coming up...

Edit: spare bracket arrived 3 days later

Edited 31 August, 201213 yr by dieselV6