Towbar fitment

[Mayor of Newark]

Actually other makes of vehicle where my fitter has hit clearance problems with the Westfalia kit. So he always warns people that it can be an issue, having had to change at shared expense Westfalia bars in the past (his labour, customer buying new parts). He is well aware that the same kit fits Superbs, Octavias and the 5 door Audi A3. The Towtrust detachable works really well, easy to fit and remove, invisible when removed. And it has more than 6mm clearance - probably 25mm - making it less likely that I'll **** the rear bumper manoeuvring the car onto the 'van. Yet to see if the Columbus shows the 'van. The Westfalia wiring harness certainly turns the rear sensors off, puts the headlights on if set to 'auto' and disables the car's rear foglights. Might do other stuff - who knows?

[smf1007]

I reckon you need to test every function and then take it back and report findings as I'm sure it shouldn't turn the headlights on. I've never heard of that and can't think of a single reason why anyone would want it that way.

[Mayor of Newark]

I've asked Westfalia - no response as yet (3 days). SFAIK, and IIRC, in some European countries, the headlights must be on if towing. And Westfalia is a German company, so alles must be in ordnung without user input.

[nczernus]

Hi,

Thought i would throw this one in.

On Friday i am having a detachable twin electrics towbar fitted to MY2012 Superb by an independent specialist who will do it on my doorstep.

Yes i am a bit nervous, but.....

He fitted the towbar to my Zafira and did an EXCELLANT job.

When i had my old Octavia II Vrs and had a twin electrics towbar fitted, it was done by Tameside Caravans and towbars.

When i got the car back (bearing in mind it was a year old) it had screwdriver marks all around the rear bumper...

This was a company car and i went back there having had a SEVERE SENSE OF HUMOR FAILURE..

They fixed it and had to respray parts of the bumper, but it was as good as new.

Google them, they are a reputable dealer, the guy that is comming to do mine on Friday is an independant and i had his number from when i got my Zafira done 4 years ago and he is still going strong.

He is charging me £395 for a detachable hidden twin electrics towbar.

If you want PM me and i will gladly drop you his number as he does travel.

[smf1007]

It's a good price but what about the electrics...if you don't have a dedicated electrics kit and the relevant recoding then some bits will not work as designed by Skoda. Things like reversing sensors turning off, car fogs not lighting, alarm sounding if electrics unhooked whilst car alarm set (still haven't tested this on mine though), trailer stability assist (TSA).

I've not seen a 12N/S twin electrics kit that's hidden. Not sure the standard bumper cut-out would accomodate it. Might be better to have a standard 13 pin (the new standard) with an adapter.

PS. The Superb is a bit different to a Zafira. I had a 2002 Zafira which didn't have canbus electrics so probably just had a universal 12N/S twin electrics kit. You don't mention whether your Zafira was A or B.

[nczernus]

Zafira was 2008,

Thanks for the warning.

I will ensure everything works on the car before i let the guy go.

But he did advise he has done SUperb IIs before and said they were a "Bit fiddly" but can be done,.

[nczernus]

Thew rear bumper sensors can be manually silenced on the Columbus, so that should negate reversing the van and going deaf.

[smf1007]

Zafira was 2008,

Thanks for the warning.

I will ensure everything works on the car before i let the guy go.

But he did advise he has done SUperb IIs before and said they were a "Bit fiddly" but can be done,.

A Zafira B then which I think did have canbus electrics.

The 'bit fiddly' comment is worrying though. Before he starts I'd ask if he's going to cut into any wiring. The dedicated kit is simply plug in although a new loom has to be fitted under the sill trims from the rear quarter to run up to the dashboard fuse box.

[nczernus]

Hi Guys,

Just thought i would report back that the towbar has been fitted with no issues affecting the vehicle electrics.

All the sensors still work!!!

I havent tried it on the van yet (going this weekend to York) but i am sure it will be fine.

You can actually manually turn off the sound for the sensors when reversing (whch is a lot cheaper than the extra £600 Skoda are charging for their towbar).

So as an old Indesit advert with a man that resembled "PorkPie" from Desmonds said, "Why Pay more?"

Edited 12 September, 2012 by nczernus

[GaSelle]

Hi Guys,

Just thought i would report back that the towbar has been fitted with no issues affecting the vehicle electrics.

All the sensors still work!!!

I havent tried it on the van yet (going this weekend to York) but i am sure it will be fine.

You can actually manually turn off the sound for the sensors when reversing (whch is a lot cheaper than the extra £600 Skoda are charging for their towbar).

So as an old Indesit advert with a man that resembled "PorkPie" from Desmonds said, "Why Pay more?"

Because original is better. Af mentioned many times in here, the original "kit" including the electronics is a real steal at Skodateile.cz. And most garages should be able to fit it. With the original electronics fitted (and coded), the car will turn off the rear sensors when towing, show a trailer on the display if you have rear parking sensors and tell the ESP system you´re towing. If the car has an alarm, the alarm will go off if "whatever´s on the hook" is removed with the alarm engaged. But of course, if you don´t care about this, I´m sure you´re towbar is okay. I just don´t understand why people are buying such an expensive car, and then want to save peanuts on the towbar

[smf1007]

Agree with your last sentence but...you don't have to buy Skoda's exensive equipment to benefit from all the bells and whistles that Skoda designed into the system. The electronic modules will not be made by Skoda themselves anyway (they will be made by a 3rd party supplier) so you just need a dedicated kit made to the same specification. As mentioned before the towbar itself is covered by EU type approval regs so should not be any probs there from 3rd party supplier.

[MarkyB77]

Having a TowTrust towbar detachable swan neck fitted to my superb, dedicated electrics, vehicle specific, fitted, with 13 pin, and supplied adaptor, £380 all in! Really chuffed, and this includes the coding. It will work perfectly with ALKO stabiliser, and give enough clearance.

Really chuffed about this price, will let you know how I get on, and if I forget about the update, and anyone wants the details, let me know via private message, or on here!

[dieselV6]

Because original is better. Af mentioned many times in here, the original "kit" including the electronics is a real steal at Skodateile.cz. And most garages should be able to fit it. With the original electronics fitted (and coded), the car will turn off the rear sensors when towing, show a trailer on the display if you have rear parking sensors and tell the ESP system you´re towing. If the car has an alarm, the alarm will go off if "whatever´s on the hook" is removed with the alarm engaged.

Actually, I find the ESP response change quite annoying, and that is precisely the main reason why I fitted flange towbars myself on both Mk1 Superb and the Roomster.

VW Group seems to have overlooked that not everyone uses a towbar for towing. In fact I daresay at least 20%+ users use it for carrying stuff like bikes, towbar boxes and the like. You want your standard ESP software with these, not some wacky response that is aimed at preventing snaklng and may actually hinder recovery from oversteer.

Edited 13 February, 2013 by dieselV6

[kfdorman]

I'm keen to purchase the superb II towbar from skodateile.cz, but cannot get registered to purchase from the site or to have some queries answered. Perhaps someone on the forum can help:

Do they have a contact telephone number

Does the superb need the towbar electrics preparation factory fitted, or does the loom supplied by skodateile provide everything necessary

Is the loom suitable for a 2012 UK spec superb combi estate

Is it a standard 13pin plug/socket with split charging capability

Thanks in advance

Karl

[Coops]

Having a TowTrust towbar detachable swan neck fitted to my superb, dedicated electrics, vehicle specific, fitted, with 13 pin, and supplied adaptor, £380 all in! Really chuffed, and this includes the coding

That does sound good.

Been researching this for sometime now as the kids have just gone up to 'big boys' bikes. Previously we could just lob the little 14" wheel bikes in the boot and off we go, that is not possible anymore. So have been considering a towbar bike rack for 4 bikes, don't want to put on roof rack nor a rack on the boot itself.

Fitting of the towbar looks generally fairly simple so could manage that myself but not sure on the electrics and coding, someone would need to do that for me.

But at £380 for everything that does seem a good price - if you could let me have details it would be appreciated, I'll add to my research list.

[KBPhoto]

You'll need to email Ales direct. I don't have the right email address on me at the mo (its not the one on the website...)

You can use the Post Office online for international payments with no fee as long as it is over £250 (which it is).

Shipping will need to be added and will be their top rate (again I don't that info on me).

It is a good deal and I'd recommend Skodateile.

[RWG]

I am looking around for a towbar for my car- light trailer use, possibly my home made bike rack that needs a flange to work? Here are the quotes I received from a specialist near Edinburgh

To supply & fit a fixed type flange or swan neck towbar with 7 pin single electrics and bypass relay (required on your year of vehicle) is £260+ Vat (Witter Towbar

To supply & fit a detachable swan neck type towbar with 7 pin single electrics and bypass relay (required on your year of vehicle) is £380+ Vat (Witter Towbar) Special offer price until 28th February

To supply & fit a swan neck fixed type towbar with 7 pin single electrics and bypass relay is £225+ Vat (Thule Towbar)

To supply & fit a swan neck detachable type towbar with 7 pin single electrics and bypass relay is £395+ Vat (Thule Towbar)

[GaSelle]

I'm keen to purchase the superb II towbar from skodateile.cz, but cannot get registered to purchase from the site or to have some queries answered. You don´t need to register. Just contact Ales on the mail adress written on the frontpage ([email protected]) with your questions, and what you need. Then he returns with a price including shipping. His english is not the best, but in deed understandable :-) Sometimes you receive an error as a reply to mails, but he replies anyway. Perhaps someone on the forum can help:

Do they have a contact telephone number Not what I know.

Does the superb need the towbar electrics preparation factory fitted, or does the loom supplied by skodateile provide everything necessary No, the loom from Skodateile is all you need.

Is the loom suitable for a 2012 UK spec superb combi estate Yes!

Is it a standard 13pin plug/socket with split charging capability The socket is a standard 13 pin. There is no permanent live, you will have to run a wire yourself, while installing the rest of the loom. But that is the same case, if you had the kit fitted by Skoda. It is not a standard feature, but can be made really easy.

Thanks in advance

Karl

Answers in red

[Coops]

To supply & fit a detachable swan neck type towbar with 7 pin single electrics and bypass relay (required on your year of vehicle) is £380+ Vat (Witter Towbar) Special offer price until 28th February

Just had 2 quotes come back for the same - first @ £612.60 and the second @ £357 - both supply and fit with single electrics.