Hi all.

 

Firstly thanks to those of you that took time out to reply to an earlier post about towing a horse box -  which helped in our decision to buy a Yeti. So after a bit of searching we have just purchased a Yeti Elegance 170 from a Skoda dealer - pick up sometime this week.

 

Only thing missing is a towbar.

 

The Dealer has said that they can get one fitted and are recommending a Thule towbar "rather than the 'official Skoda one' as it will be cheaper" and implied that they contracted the job out. So far so good (I think). However, when I asked about recoding the electrics for towing, his replies were less than reassuring! So is it possible to tell if the electrics have been recoded without hitching up a trailer? Would like to be sure that all is correct when picking the car up, since the dealer is a good 2 1/2 hours drive away!

 

Thanks

Geoff

 

PS - assuming that it's best to ask for a 13 pin plug even though we will only be towing a horse box?   

Geoff

I have just gone down the tow bar route and bought everything to do the job for £387, 

All dealer parts 

 

 Westfalia  detachable tow bar 

13 pin electrics

13 to 7 pin converter

Cover and frame for cut out

all dealer parts so you know the wiring is compatible 

Edited 14 October, 201312 yr by Rensyeti

The Westphalia is Skoda approved, and I'm very surprised the Thule one is cheaper.

 

Most dealers seem to sub the fitting work out. People may be able to give you better advice about a suitable company to fit if you stated where your location was in your details below your Forum name.

 

No, you cannot check whether the car has been recoded correctly without plugging the trailer or a trailer board in, simply because the "system" needs to sense the trailer being there. It "might" work if you used a specific tester, but I cannot confirm that.

 

13pin is far better than the old 7 pin plugs! More secure, better connections, better protection.

Thanks Graham / Rensyeti

 

I'm based in the North East near Durham.

must admit I figured best to go the dealer route since I don't have the time to sort it myself, plus I didn't want to affect the warranty (It's pre registered, so comes with the full Skoda warranty - minus a few months). Guess I will have to trust them regarding the re coding (thought I's read somewhere on here that you could tell by the 'traction control' light or similar - in that it takes longer to go out!)

 

Will ask about Westphalia versus Thule when the dealer returns my call.

 

Thanks

Geoff

Are you dealing with the dealer in Darlo or Durham? Ours is coming from Darlington & I've had pretty much the same conversation.

Nope, struggled to find a decent 170 in the north east - ended up buying from Warrington !

Chester Tow Bars seem to have received several good reports from other members in that area, so it could be worth getting in touch with them.

 

And no, there is nothing on how quickly the TC light or any other light reacts on start-up.

 

EDIT

Somewhere here is a good video of the fitting and recoding of a tow bar, by one of the fitters.

Hi all.

 

Firstly thanks to those of you that took time out to reply to an earlier post about towing a horse box -  which helped in our decision to buy a Yeti. So after a bit of searching we have just purchased a Yeti Elegance 170 from a Skoda dealer - pick up sometime this week.

 

Only thing missing is a towbar.

 

The Dealer has said that they can get one fitted and are recommending a Thule towbar "rather than the 'official Skoda one' as it will be cheaper" and implied that they contracted the job out. So far so good (I think). However, when I asked about recoding the electrics for towing, his replies were less than reassuring! So is it possible to tell if the electrics have been recoded without hitching up a trailer? Would like to be sure that all is correct when picking the car up, since the dealer is a good 2 1/2 hours drive away!

 

Thanks

Geoff

 

PS - assuming that it's best to ask for a 13 pin plug even though we will only be towing a horse box?   

Can't you find out who the dealer contracts the work to and approach them independently?

I've never of a Thule towbar, I'd stick with Westfalia as it's the same as the Skoda one. Definitely go for 13pin electrics for all the reasons Graham states.

 

Fred

Thanks Graham / Fred,

 

trouble is the car is on the opposite coast to where I live. May just pick it up without and sort it out once I've got it back - in which case I'll be posting another query about fitters in the North East.

 

Thanks all

 

Geoff

It might be worth a tentative enquiry to one of the local dealers asking if they use a subbie to fit their tow bars?

 

You could also look on the Witter website to see who their local agents are, and perhaps ask them whether they have the recoding equipment. Witter are a reputable make.