Hi i was just wondring has anyone fitted a towbar to an octavia iii vrs estate and if so how hard a job is it? I have been quoted between 280 and 300 quid for one to be fitted but i can buy a kit for just over 100 quid so if i can do a diy job i will.

Yep got fitted including the factory tow bar prep. I think it was about £500 in total

Thats alot of cash. I was wondering if anyone has done a self install. I can get the electrics wired up pretty cheap by a local auto spark.

Edited 9 February, 20179 yr by donny1972
spelling

I've fitted a number of Towbars to cars over the years - not to Skodas, but the idea is the same.....

 

Fitting the bar is often the easy bit. e.g. for the last one I fitted (Vectra C estate, 13 pin pug with full 'caravan' wiring and Cambus):

• Get trim out of inside boot - prob 1.5 hours.
• drill 6 holes, paint protect cut edges, offer up bar, drop exhaust off rubbers, fit bolts and plates and torque up - about 1 hour.
• fit electrics inc cables from front of car, charge relay, canbus relay etc - approximately 8 billion hours (thats what it felt like :))

Took me nearly 2 days overall. Part of this is me being a perfectionist but the electrics were a looooong job.

 

Top tip - if you have to drill large-ish holes in the sheet metal buy a step-drill. Nice clean round hole every time.

I fitted a Towbar to my MK2, I bought the official kit (I think it was Westfalia) which comes with the correct fitting and wiring.

 

It wasn't difficult, just time consuming. I also did it over 2 days.

 

Don't scrimp on a cheap kit or you'll have no end of electrical gremlins. I believe Skoda charged in the region of £800 inc parts and fitting.

Fitted a Westfalia swan neck to my newOctavia Scout in December ( Yes, on the drive and it was freezing ) Parts cost just over the 200. Bought dedicated electrics, there were a pain in the arse, would be easier now I've done one. A fellow member coded it for me and all works as should be, reversing sensors etc etc. 

You say "kit " for just over £100, I assume it's not a dedicated kit thus not giving full functionality. As it's Canbus I prefer the dedicated kit, but that's my opinion.

If I can help with advice, let us know. There is a link on here somewhere with someone who fitted a towbar to a MK3 saloon, if I find it will tag it for you. It certainly helped me.

3 hours ago, fluffy01016 said:

Yep got fitted including the factory tow bar prep. I think it was about £500 in total

 

3 hours ago, donny1972 said:

Thats alot of cash. I was wondering if anyone has done a self install. I can get the electrics wired up pretty cheap by a local auto spark.

I think the factory prep was £250 and then £250 for the kit. If you fit aftermarket then you'll not have the rear parking sensors switch off automatically and I don't know if you'll be able to run a 13pin

Thanks for the replies. I have found a local man who will fit a bosal swan neck with a 7 pin plug for 250 quid all in. Might be a good idea to go with him and save myself a lot of hassle.

19 minutes ago, fluffy01016 said:

 

I think the factory prep was £250 and then £250 for the kit. If you fit aftermarket then you'll not have the rear parking sensors switch off automatically and I don't know if you'll be able to run a 13pin

I fitted aftermarket and have full functionality, rear parking sensors off and 13 pin electronics, but for this to work it must be dedicated electrics and be coded. 

I doubt that for £250 this will include the dedicated electrics as they cost around the hundred pound alone, but if occasionally towing shouldn't be a problem

http://cjnet.info/gd/octaviamk3-towbar/

 

As promised