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Superb II Detachable Tow Bar recommendations


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What tow bars are people using on their superbs? I didn't have any intention of letting Skoda fit one but I asked for a price today out of curiosity and I'm gad I was sitting down. £750????????

 

I can remember shopping around for ages when I was looking for one for the golf and managed to get a Westfalia one that didn't require any bumper cuts but looking at the Superb bumper it seems this won't be possible but I would like to keep the cutting to a minimum.

 

Also regarding the electrics, can you get a plug and play kit that will integrate with can bus or is it a case of splicing into wiring and using a bypass relay? (I have VCDS if any coding is required)

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I have the Skoda detachable swan neck thing - it was on the car when I got it. It makes the car ground out in car parks sometimes when fitted (my car is lower though). I use it as a means to stop folk tapping me in car parks :)

I believe you can buy electric fitting kits (Superskoda.com has them at 20% off I think). Worth a look, they might have the actual tow hook cheaply.

Edited by Wile7
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I have the OEM detachable towbar and I'm very pleased with it. It stays on the car most of the time for parking reasons but there's a space for it in the styrofoam in the middle of the spare tyre when it's removed - the electrics fold in under the bumper, so there's no sign a towbar has been fitted once it's removed. The electrics are a little messy to install from third parties as the OEM install needs a new control module in order that the CANbus knows the trailer is attached. When the towbar was installed initially, on selecting reverse, the parking sensors on the back did not shut off, nor did the parking sensor picture on the Columbus show a trailer behind the car as it was supposed to. The electronic stability control has a trailer mode that activates when the car detects that a trailer is connected, presumably to react to jacknifing or snaking in the trailer. You probably won't get this with non-OEM electrics.

 

In my case the dealer installed the missing (€200+) module for free (Fitting the towbar was part of the deal for me to buy). The electric socket changes to a 13 pin EU standard with this change too (It is a much better standard than the 7 pin - or two 7 pins for the caravanners), but it came with an adaptor to convert it to 7 pin. A quick multimeter check says the caravan charge circuit isn't connected even though I have the pins for it on the 13 pin socket, but I don't need this anyway.

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Thanks guys, I have had a look around and found you can get the wiring for about £125 which they say includes a module to communicate with the cars existing electrics which is presume is the same that skoda fit. You can also opt for the normal 7 pin setup.

 

The thing is, i'm not sure i want to start ripping into my newish car just yet, interior trim never goes back together right. 

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I have the genuine Skoda bar, not the easiest to fit the detachable part but really solid. Use standard bypass relay electrics with no issues. Saves a lot of hassle.

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As far as I am aware Westfalia make VAG cars towbars, I know they did for my MK1 Superb and also my Octavia before that, I found a Westfalia towbar on the net for a lot less than a Skoda branded Westfalia towbar! I'm not sure if its still the case for the MK2 Superb as my car came with a already fitted fixed towbar so I have never looked in to it!

But I highly recommend the Westfalia removable towbar from my experience! The locking mechanism is click in and go, which is lockable and removal is just turning a knob and its drops out! I beleive many have copied this idea since!

I also found that as Westfalia is a VAG supplier that the Octavia bumper had a cut out already to suit and the Superbs had an outline moulded into it that was the correct cut for that specific towbar!

If I had to buy one for my car I wouldn't hesitate to buy Westfalia even if VAG didn't use them anymore!

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As far as I am aware Westfalia make VAG cars towbars, I know they did for my MK1 Superb and also my Octavia before that, I found a Westfalia towbar on the net for a lot less than a Skoda branded Westfalia towbar! I'm not sure if its still the case for the MK2 Superb as my car came with a already fitted fixed towbar so I have never looked in to it!

But I highly recommend the Westfalia removable towbar from my experience! The locking mechanism is click in and go, which is lockable and removal is just turning a knob and its drops out! I beleive many have copied this idea since!

I also found that as Westfalia is a VAG supplier that the Octavia bumper had a cut out already to suit and the Superbs had an outline moulded into it that was the correct cut for that specific towbar!

If I had to buy one for my car I wouldn't hesitate to buy Westfalia even if VAG didn't use them anymore!

That is what I have fitted, and can't fault it in anyway, was quite reasonable price too. As per my post above.

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I have a removable flange type.  proper electrics. Got from PF Jones and the electrics fold up so it is invisible when not on the car.  It is a Witter.

Witter as above. Not cuts visible. Great piece of kit. Had mine fitted by local fellah for £375 after quotes of £550 plus.

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  • 1 month later...

I have the witter detachable swan neck towbar with a dedicated wiring kit from a company called Right Connections. The loom is coded to the car and the ecu knows when something is connected. I tow a caravan and the electronic stability control is changed to trailer stability control thus taking into account the extra weight for braking, reverse sensors are disabled etc.

 

Total cost was £530 but worth every penny. I wouldn't use a relay but each to his own.

 

Ray

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I got the Westfalia fitted when I got my car just over 12 months ago, very happy with it. Bumper is cut but its underneath and not visible, with the tow ball off and socket folded up you wouldn't know it had a tow bar fitted

The swan neck will not fit in the spare wheel area. So likely not the same as the standard skoda one.

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+1 for the Westfalia. Great bit of kit, easy to fit and remove and cost £470 from a specialist to fit. In fact Skoda use the same specialist to fit their 'dealer' supplied tow bars, so it's fully coded and identical - but much cheaper! It's totally invisible when not fitted.

Have towed an 1800kg boat trailer with it to South of France twice in the past two miles (over 5000 miles in total) and it's as steady as a rock. Swan neck lives in the boot side compartment when it's not protecting my rear bumper in car parks.

Hope this helps.

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The swan neck will not fit in the spare wheel area. So likely not the same as the standard skoda one.

Surprising, as the swan neck on the Westfalia towbar I have fitted to mine fits snuggly into the spare wheel space.

Edited by JamboDave
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Strongly recommend OEM or the one, that could be implemented into car`s control systems. Specially trailer stabilisation control, once towing heavy trailer. Saved my arse couple of times, towing 1,5 tons trailer which decided to live it`s own life.

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I got the Westfalia fitted when I got my car just over 12 months ago, very happy with it. Bumper is cut but its underneath and not visible, with the tow ball off and socket folded up you wouldn't know it had a tow bar fitted

The swan neck will not fit in the spare wheel area. So likely not the same as the standard skoda one.

My Westfalia fits with a bit of a shove (going to get the stanley knife out and reshape for ease)

DSC_0477_zpsd0eni2he.jpg

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DEL80Y,

Great photo - when my Westfalia's removed from West London parking protection duties I'll follow your lead and wedge into the spare wheel.

lInni,

The Skoda (Murrays) dealer in Plymouth uses the Tamar Towing Centre to fit their 'dealer' supplied (Westfalia) tow bars - fully coded, stability control and park assist/ sensor safe fitted or removed - why not go direct and pay less for better service?

Matt

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  • 2 weeks later...

For those that might be interested in fitting the OE split charging kit, the part number is 3C0055204B. Costs about €50 from what I've seen on eBay. IMO it'd make sense to fit it if you're doing a full towbar install but if you already have the towbar and electrics fitted, it might be more work than it's worth.

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  • 3 months later...

I have the genuine Skoda bar, not the easiest to fit the detachable part but really solid. Use standard bypass relay electrics with no issues. Saves a lot of hassle.

Just bought a 2015 Skoda Superb Outdoor Plus and looking to fit a detachable tow bar as fixed may set off reversing sensors and is in any event my preferred option. Have been quoted £737 + VAT for Westfalia Tow bar with Skoda dedicated electrics. Alternatively £495 + VAT without Skoda dedicated electrics. Concerned that if I go for cheaper alternative this may affect my warranty. Any comments/views would be appreciated.

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That is extremely expensive.

 

Have a look here, I've already filtered to your model...

 

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars/tow-bars-for-skoda/skoda-superb-towbars/skoda-superb-estate-towbars/skoda-superb-estate-tow-bars-2009-2015.html

 

You can select the proper CANBUS electrics and avoid any warranty issues, all fitted for a lot less than £885!

 

The picture of the Westfalia detachable is even shown fitted to an Outdoor...

 

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/superb-estate-dec-2009-detachable-tow-bar.html

Edited by silver1011
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