Hi guys,

 

What's the best (and cheapest but still legal & safe) way to fit a towbar to my 02 Fabia Combi? Is it a simple job to do oneself?

I literally need it for moving a caravan all of about 4 miles and then back again 2 weeks later.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

 

Have you checked that you can legally tow the caravan with your car? All sorts of rules regarding weights/MAM etc. 

 

Unless its a very small one I don't think you'll be able to tow it with the Fabia legally regardless of your towbar fitment.

From the research I've done, as long as the combined weight of car & caravan is less than 3000kg I'm alright? Which it would be, the van weighs between 800 - 1100 depending on whose stats you read...

It confuses the hell out of me to be honest and depends on what licence you hold.

 

There are a couple of good threads that have come up about this if you search the general chat area.

 

You need to look at the plate on the caravan and not rely on web information as its the plate the plod will point too if you're over your limits.

 

Edit: try this one for size http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/236353-trailer-towing-b-and-be-licence-rules-explained/?hl=%2Btowing+%2Bweights#entry2787026

Yeah it is dead confusing. I think what I meant was that the unladen is 800 and MAM is 1100? I can't check the plate at the moment as it's stored 50 miles away so just trying to get a vague assumption. How do I find out how much the SDI can tow?

Google the make and model of the caravan, ie "CI Sprite 2 Berth specs" and you should find the MAM of the caravan.... ditto the tow car if you don,t have a manual.

Alan

UKtow.com says 800kg

 

So looking at this post: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/236353-trailer-towing-b-and-be-licence-rules-explained/?p=2787026 I think you'd be ok, just don't put anything in the caravan put it in the boot of the car instead.

Oh and on the original question fitting the bar its self shouldn't be too hard, they bolt on to existing mounting points. You'd then need to wire in the electronics, depending on whether you get a used or new kit it should come with instructions and if you can use a multi meter and a soldering iron you should be able to do it.

I got a wiring set up from deutsche-parts.Co.Uk. Second hand tow bar. Easy to fit. Does ground out at times as drops down below the bumper by a few inches. To cut the bumper used an oscillating multi tool. The electrics just plug and play as before the can bus system. You are meant to get the car recoded so the dash warning indicates when the trailer is indicating. Will work though but needs doing for mot.