Hi, just a quick question.

 

I am looking to get a tow bar fitted to a 63 plate elegance hatch. All the fitters I've contacted have been trying to push me into a detachable ball, claiming that anything other than removing it will get picked up by the reversing sensors when not towing. I don't really want a detachable ball, because frankly I've had them before and have never been bothered to take them off, so don't imagine that I'll start now. Also, the detachable ones are quite a bit pricier and I would rather spend the money getting the electrics and coding right!

 

I suspect that the fitters are trying to cover their backs (which I kind of understand!) so to help me to decide, can anyone who has a towbar fitted (especially an after market one) let me know whether the reversing sensors really do pick up the ball when the ball's in place and you're not towing anything? Also, whether you have a flange, or a swan-neck as some people have suggested that I might be more likely to get away with the thinner profile of a swan-neck...

 

Thanking you in advance,

 

Kevin

I had a fixed (flange) tow ball on mine which wasn't an issue (Dealer fitted - this was before they were factory options) but they must have cocked up somewhere because when the caravan was attached it didn't disable the reversing sensors (as it should have done).  My caravan has a 7-pin plug though and I was using a generic 7-13pin adaptor which could have had something to do with it from what I read later on.

Ive been driving with the towbar attached for a few days now, and the sensors havent picked it up once.

No difference in driving with or without it.

I had a fixed (flange) tow ball on mine which wasn't an issue (Dealer fitted - this was before they were factory options) but they must have cocked up somewhere because when the caravan was attached it didn't disable the reversing sensors (as it should have done).  My caravan has a 7-pin plug though and I was using a generic 7-13pin adaptor which could have had something to do with it from what I read later on.

At a guess they haven't coded the car correctly, or you have a generic towbar wiring kit rather than a vehicle specific one.

 

Is Eco mode disabled when you connect a trailer?

If you connect a trailer and then lock the car, does your alarm go off if you disconnect the trailer connector?

We had a similar problem with our Yeti, despite having the factory prep for a tow bar, the actual metalwork and final fit electrics fitter were not OEM.

This meant that we did not get the pretty trailer display in the Bolero unit nor did all the other ECU updates get done.

Most important of these are the changes to the brake bias when a trailer / caravan is attached and the deactivation of the rear parking sensors..

 

I had a local VCDS guy make the relevant changes - but he couldn't get the Bolero display to do the correct thing

I've got a dealer fitted towbar with all the correct coding and the reversing sensors don't pickup the towbar.

 

I also get the disabaled Eco Mode, repeater indicators and alarm going off if you disconnect the electrics.

 

The O3 is awesome for towing and I've pushed the boundaries more than most with a 22' twin axle car trailer and Mk2 Astra, I did take it very gentle though.

 

The O3 is awesome for towing and I've pushed the boundaries more than most with a 22' twin axle car trailer and Mk2 Astra, I did take it very gentle though.

 

+2  I've only got a 1.6 diesel, but it is a really good tow car.  Mine is a company car, and have an aftermarket witter removable tow bar.  I often leave mine on in between tows and the sensors don't get triggered.  They do if the tow ball cap isn't on straight though i've found on my estate.

Hi

I have detachable tow bars fitted to both our Roomster and my vRS. My vRS sensors do not have a problem with the tow bar attached. But the Roomster sometimes plays up!

Steve

I have a Westfalia detachable swan neck tow ball. It doesn't interfere with the rear parking sensors when left in place.

Sorry to hijack, collecting my vRS next week, is it only the dealer who can sort the towing electrics with correct coding?

Nope, anyone with VCDS can. Dealers are still getting it wrong.

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Cool, I'll have a hunt around for a reputable installer. Don't fancy the best part of £700 from the dealer

I also get the disabaled Eco Mode, repeater indicators and alarm going off if you disconnect the electrics.

What alarm is that? Theft or something else?

Yep, the car alarm. Trailers are protected from being disconnected.

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At a guess they haven't coded the car correctly, or you have a generic towbar wiring kit rather than a vehicle specific one.

 

Is Eco mode disabled when you connect a trailer?

If you connect a trailer and then lock the car, does your alarm go off if you disconnect the trailer connector?

I'd be a bit annoyed it they used a generic one - it was a Westfalia towbar and fitted by the supplying dealer!  Towbar prep was specified on the order form.

 

Can't say about Eco mode - I set it to Individual mode on day 2 and left it there (only had the car a month or so).  Likewise, didn't try and disconnect the caravan with it locked.