I saw my sisters removable tow bar today .It looked very neat.

It was fitted by Hortons Skoda themselves.(first one apparently.)

The electrics tuck underneath the bumper in the slot removed to fit the Bar.

Nothing is visible from the rear.Cost just over £600 inclusive.

Over £600 for a tow bar !  Is it gold plated????

Thats quite a good price when you consider that it's the same as if you were to order it from the factory. £5 cheaper in fact! That's he surprise surely?

Edited 8 August, 201312 yr by Kenny.j

My husband always gets a tow bar fitted to his cars, he has never ever had to pay anything like £600  (think a quater of that).  Official manufacturer to bars are a complete rip off.  I am not surprised this was the first one they had fitted at this price!!!!  Quick search of the internet reveals detachable tow bars for the Rapid for around £190.  TBH I have never fancied the idea of detachable tow bars, they have to be weaker than a proper one.

Edited 8 August, 201312 yr by CitigoAli

When it comes to tow bars etc, I'd never consider anything other than a manufacturers one. They spend millions developing the bars to fit the cars exactly and are design for each and every model individually. There is a reason the aftermarket one are cheaper. Yes they still have to satisfy certain standards but are have basic designs that are the adapted to fit a variety of different models?

Yes the manufactures one are a bit over priced (take into account that they are manufactured and sold to the main central warehouse in Europe who then sell it on to the UK distributes who then sell it on to the retailer you buy it from. But I'd never take a chance on safety related items.

Just my thoughts on it.

The Tow bar I priced is made by a highly reputable tow bar manufacturer.  These must fully meet the specifications needed for any car they are fitted to or they are illegal and an MOT failure. While the actual tow hook will be standard on these 3rd party tow bars, the bit that is attached to each vehicle is model specific. No tow bar is worth £600 and a 'Manufactures tow bar' is probably not made by Skoda etc, but most likely by one of the tow bar specialist manufacturers.  . We are in the Caravan Club and it's advice is not to get the official tow bar and to avoid detachable ones unless absolutely necessary.

Edited 8 August, 201312 yr by CitigoAli

Sorry but this is one we will never agree on. Each to their own I say.

Having never needed to fit a towbar I've honestly never given it much thought, I'd want to know what the *real* difference is between the factory and non-factory bars though, and I don't mean marketing blurb, I mean the mechanical differences, before deciding. Stress points on the chassis, integration in to the electrics for the rear light cluster, etc etc. I would never just look at the price (although my preference would immediately veer towards the non factory given it's less than 50% of the factory cost).

 

I have a similar view as Ali when it comes to factory fit satnavs though, I honestly can't justify the cost of them, sure turn by turn direction integration on the maxidot seems like it would be a nice thing to have, but is it worth the price premium? For me, probably not.

I'd agree with the sat nav argument. The fact they cost much and are generally out of date before you get them. It's not worth it. I'd buy a TomTom for a fraction of the price and have many years of map updates and indeed replacement units before you even get close to the cost of factory fit satnavs.

That said they usuall come with other additions too, not just satnav. DAB radio, Bluetooth music steaming etc.

 We are in the Caravan Club and it's advice is not to get the official tow bar and to avoid detachable ones unless absolutely necessary.

So am I, and I have NEVER seen that advice from the CC. Please can you provide evidence? 

So am I, and I have NEVER seen that advice from the CC. Please can you provide evidence?

Read their technical guides and general advice on their web site.

Read their technical guides and general advice on their web site.

I have just read through their Technical Guides and looked in the General Advice section and can find NO such advice, either about manufacturers towbars or detachable ones. In fact they show detachable ones in several photos and also state they, like swan-neck ones, are suitable unmodified for use with Alko hitches. 

The use of detatchable systems is also included in their Training Courses, so are obviously "approved" by them, otherwise they wouldn't allow them.

All tow bar systems are tested and must pass a stringent EU standard, actually set to a level by the German Testing system, and to say that any system does not reach that level is patently untrue.

I have the Skoda approved fitment on my car and have no qualms about it's capabilities.

Sorry, but this sounds like another of your inflamatory comments.

If all tow bar systems are tested an must pass stringent stsndards just proves my point about the pointlessness of paying Skoda £600 for a tow bar when an equally safe one can be had for less than £200.  Why would any rignt thinking person want to waste £400?  In fact it is people being willing to pay such rip off prices that leads manufacturers to charge such prices for what is a very basic item.  It is funny how people think any opinion that is different than what they hold is imflamatory.  If you wnat to waste money on an extra expensive tow bar then that is up to you. 

 

The thing is that while a correctly fitted detachable tow bar is safe (of that I have no doubts) it brings into the equation the user having to remove and reattach a key part of the tow bar each time.  That leave room for error.

Edited 9 August, 201312 yr by CitigoAli

When it comes to tow bars etc, I'd never consider anything other than a manufacturers one. They spend millions developing the bars to fit the cars exactly and are design for each and every model individually. There is a reason the aftermarket one are cheaper. Yes they still have to satisfy certain standards but are have basic designs that are the adapted to fit a variety of different models?

Yes the manufactures one are a bit over priced (take into account that they are manufactured and sold to the main central warehouse in Europe who then sell it on to the UK distributes who then sell it on to the retailer you buy it from. But I'd never take a chance on safety related items.

Just my thoughts on it.

 

I was led to believe, but will stand corrected, that the Skoda towbar (for some models) is manufactured by Westfalia. Car manufacturers will not spend money developing towbars but will leave it to the experts such as Westfalia, Witter et al

 

Skoda merely have them branded as OEM and put their (inflated) markup on it.

I was led to believe, but will stand corrected, that the Skoda towbar (for some models) is manufactured by Westfalia. Car manufacturers will not spend money developing towbars but will leave it to the experts such as Westfalia, Witter et al

 

Skoda merely have them branded as OEM and put their (inflated) markup on it.

 

Exactly, and the detachable Rapid Towbar that I found on sale fitted at £191 is a Westfalia.  As for the pros and cons of Detachable, the detachable ones are weaker than fixed and are also less suitable for caravan towing because they seldom have a secure place for the break away cable.  Most people just loop it around the tow hook as is perfectly fine with a fixed tow bar not realising that this is actually illegal and can cause the fixed tow bar to part company with the car and not actually pull the brakes on on the caravan.  This info is in the Irish Division of the Caravan Club handbook.  Note some detachable systems do have a proper fitting point as part of the frame, but not all, and even when fitted these can be relatively hard to reach.  Now if me pointing all this out makes some members who have payed Skoda £600+ feel silly and therefore defensive, I am sorry.

Edited 9 August, 201312 yr by CitigoAli

 As for the pros and cons of Detachable, the detachable ones are weaker than fixed and are also less suitable for caravan towing because they seldom have a secure place for the break away cable.  Most people just loop it around the tow hook as is perfectly fine with a fixed tow bar not realising that this is actually illegal and can cause the fixed tow bar to part company with the car and not actually pull the brakes on on the caravan.  This info is in the Irish Division of the Caravan Club handbook.  Note some detachable systems do have a proper fitting point as part of the frame, but not all, and even when fitted these can be relatively hard to reach.  Now if me pointing all this out makes some members who have payed Skoda £600+ feel silly and therefore defensive, I am sorry

Tosh!!

Over this side of the Irish Sea the Caravan Club advise, and include in the Training Course, that the "brake" loop is hooked over the tow ball, as it is only designed to pull the brakes on, on the caravan and then break. It is only unbraked trailers of less than 750kg that require an "anti break-away" chain and Skoda sell a suitable fitting for this situation.

Tosh!!

 

Graham,

I am not going to argue with you, all I can suggest is that you google 'are detachable towbars safe'.  Also here is what a rival to the CC (Caravan and Camping Club) say about detachable towbars

 

"Detachable towbars should be treated with extra care. Make sure both the housing and bar are clean before fitting. When in place, check there is no excessive movement. If you are uncertain about your towbar, have it checked by a towbar specialist."

 

Exactly the kind of fuss that most users will neglect.

Edited 9 August, 201312 yr by CitigoAli

I've just had a Genuine Skoda Tow Bar fitted at Ingram Skoda Ayr. Just over £500 in total, very good price and quick install. I was quoted just over £400 by the local reputable tow bar fitters. Happy to pay the extra bit considering the tow bar is covered under the warranty and there won't be any quibbles in the future. Also had the dog guard/ trunk grill installed. Very good bit of kit and very happy with Ingram Skoda's service :-)

Tosh!!

Over this side of the Irish Sea the Caravan Club advise, and include in the Training Course, that the "brake" loop is hooked over the tow ball, as it is only designed to pull the brakes on, on the caravan and then break. It is only unbraked trailers of less than 750kg that require an "anti break-away" chain and Skoda sell a suitable fitting for this situation.

Agreed with the anti-breakaway chain for small trailers but not when it comes to the breakaway cable for a caravan. I loop mine around the towbar as it is a swan neck, that is fine but you shouldn't do that when it is a detachable bar, what happens if the lock isn't on properly and the bar comes away from the main frame? The cable goes with it and doesn't apply the brakes, that is why the breakaway cable with a detachable towbar should be attached to some other part of the main towbar frame or a separate attachment point.

Ian

When it comes to tow bars etc, I'd never consider anything other than a manufacturers one. They spend millions developing the bars to fit the cars exactly and are design for each and every model individually. There is a reason the aftermarket one are cheaper. Yes they still have to satisfy certain standards but are have basic designs that are the adapted to fit a variety of different models?

Yes the manufactures one are a bit over priced (take into account that they are manufactured and sold to the main central warehouse in Europe who then sell it on to the UK distributes who then sell it on to the retailer you buy it from. But I'd never take a chance on safety related items.

Just my thoughts on it.

 

Unfortunately your loyalty leaves the manufacturer loads of scope to rip people off. And they do.

 

I have been going to the same company for years (Ainleys in Halifax), and I've never paid any more than £250 for a detachable towbar. Thats for Witter kit too, not a cheap Chinese knock-off.

 

The manufacturer might know the car better, but if another company does nothing but make towbars, which do you think makes better towbars?

The manufacturer might know the car better, but if another company does nothing but make towbars, which do you think makes better towbars?

Spot on.

 

Most main steelers know nothing about tow hooks and get a local independant to fit but charge you main steeler prices.

 

Whitter, Towtrust, Bosal etc know your rear end better than the manufacturers.

Agreed with the anti-breakaway chain for small trailers but not when it comes to the breakaway cable for a caravan. I loop mine around the towbar as it is a swan neck, that is fine but you shouldn't do that when it is a detachable bar, what happens if the lock isn't on properly and the bar comes away from the main frame? The cable goes with it and doesn't apply the brakes, that is why the breakaway cable with a detachable towbar should be attached to some other part of the main towbar frame or a separate attachment point.

Ian

I suggest you check with both the Caravan Club and the Camping & Caravan Club as they BOTH state, and include in their training, the looping of the break-away cable around ANY swan neck hook, removable or not.

Exactly, and the detachable Rapid Towbar that I found on sale fitted at £191 is a Westfalia.

£191 fitted and coded for a Westfalia towbar? Can you link please because I need one.

Seriously, even if the £191 doesn't include the electrics it's a seriously low price for the towbar. I've been quoted £535 to have one fitted at our offices by a PF Jones mobile fitter. That price includes 13-pin electrics to UK spec and all the coding so the car doesn't continually think the driver is reversing into the trailer. Apparently even if you don't have parking sensors if you don't have the right coding the car starts throwing bulb errors all over the place.

I suggest you check with both the Caravan Club and the Camping & Caravan Club as they BOTH state, and include in their training, the looping of the break-away cable around ANY swan neck hook, removable or not.

Now come on Graham, I'm not going into what any club may say, I'm talking logic and sensibility here, would you want to attach the breakaway cable to a part of the car which is not solidly attached to the car and potentially liable to become detached itself and not do the job it is designed to do? I'm just remembering a discussion on the Yeti forum, I believe though I stand to be corrected, started by Johann (900000) regarding attaching the breakaway cable and the provision of a special bracket to be bolted to the main frame for the looping of said cable when a detachable towbar is in use.