Tow bar options when factory fit not available

[H1UBS]

I note that the folding tow bar factory fit option isn't available on certain 7 seat 4x4 models due to limited space:

 

"On the bottom line of the Option PK0 for Electrically Folding Towbar it says ‘ Not available on the SE L and Edition 2.0 TDi 150 4x4’,"

 

Does anyone know of any tow bar fitting options post delivery either fixed or removable. I'm hoping the likes of Westfalia will come up with a solution as the Kodiaq comes on stream, but haven't seen anything yet.

 

[djordje48]

The same problem bothers me also. I think it is not due to limited space, bacause only 2.0 TDI 150 4x4 manual cannot go with tow bar. 2.0 TDI 4x4 DSG can go with tow bar. I think they are favourising DSG...

[PirateSyrett]

I don't think they're thinking at all! Skoda have made some very odd towing choices for the Kodiaq especially given that the higher powered/ higher spec cars all come with 7 seats and a towing limit lower than my current Yeti!

 

Simply weird....

[RickTT]

Dont forget if the Vehicle Not Homologated for towing,  you cant simply just fit a towbar on post 1998 cars.. 

 

Think insurance / warranty void plus points if you do tow, plus MOT failure in future... (if they checked!)

 

You need to see the vin plate on the car to check if its rated or not for towing rather than relying on paperwork and online configuration tools.

 

Some early models or cars come uprated and then as production increases further approvals granted.  If you intend to tow, dont purchase until you see the metal plate on the car or it could be a very expensive mistake

 

Take a read here.. plus loads of info online..

 

http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk/typeapproval.htm

Edited 7 April, 2017 by RickTT

[H1UBS]

7 hours ago, RickTT said:

Dont forget if the Vehicle Not Homologated for towing,  you cant simply just fit a towbar on post 1998 cars.. 

 

Think insurance / warranty void plus points if you do tow, plus MOT failure in future... (if they checked!)

 

You need to see the vin plate on the car to check if its rated or not for towing rather than relying on paperwork and online configuration tools.

 

Some early models or cars come uprated and then as production increases further approvals granted.  If you intend to tow, dont purchase until you see the metal plate on the car or it could be a very expensive mistake

 

Take a read here.. plus loads of info online..

 

http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk/typeapproval.htm

 

 

Thanks for that, very useful information and rather concerning.

 

I have just checked the Skoda configurator for the SEL 150 4x4 manual and the max towing weight is blank also not showing a gross train weight. I have sent a rather urgent email to my dealer for some reassurance from Skoda UK. I certainly won't be parting with anything until I see evidence of the plated weights.

 

It does seem a little ridiculous as the SEL & Edition 150 manual 4x4 will no doubt be a popular choice for towing.

 

 

[RickTT]

30 minutes ago, H1UBS said:

 

 

Thanks for that, very useful information and rather concerning.

 

I have just checked the Skoda configurator for the SEL 150 4x4 manual and the max towing weight is blank also not showing a gross train weight. I have sent a rather urgent email to my dealer for some reassurance from Skoda UK. I certainly won't be parting with anything until I see evidence of the plated weights.

 

It does seem a little ridiculous as the SEL & Edition 150 manual 4x4 will no doubt be a popular choice for towing.

 

 

 

Hopefully it will be the paper work / online tools at fault.

 

The key thing is the data on the metal plate which will answer the question for UK cars..

 

I have not looked... but can you spec that engine, spec (or as close as), gearbox on another EU site and spec a towbar?

[H1UBS]

Hopefully I've found someone on FB who's taken delivery of an SEL 150tdi 4x4 manual, 7 seater. Awaiting info on the plated weights ! And dealer seeking clarification from Skoda.

[bigboss]

I test drove the 1.4 TSi 150 manual 4X4 Edition model that had a towbar.

[Bignij]

I ordered the 2.0 SEL 150 TDI 4x4 manual. I was told if I want the tow bar I had to have an automatic. 

 

[bigboss]

Short video of the towbar release:

 

 

[skogis]

in sweden you can order 150hk tdi 6 speed manual with towbar

[djordje48]

But is it 4x4? I asked every skoda representative in almost all eu countries, and from Sweden they answered 2.0 TDI 150 4x4 manual cannot go with tow bar nor preparation. Maybe I am too stupid, but what has a tow bar instalation to do with manual or automatic gearbox? Every other engine/gearbox/4x4 combination-option accepts tow bar. Does someone know what happends with Ateca and Tiguan? For me, it is DSG favourising...

[bigboss]

I can't understand why the petrol 1.4 TSi 150 4X4 can be had in manual with a towbar but the diesel counterpart cannot? The engine is at the front, so there shouldn't be any difference at the rear.

Edited 11 April, 2017 by bigboss

[Rooted]

Is the difference to do with the Ad-blue tank?

[bigboss]

Hmmm...maybe, although Adblue tank will also be present in DSG version.

[H1UBS]

Reluctantly I've cancelled my order for the SEL 4x4 150dti manual. Skoda have confirmed they do not currently have a post sale retailer fit tow bar and the likes of Witter don't have one even in development. a. I don't want to be forced into paying more for a DSG and b. I wanted a detachable towbar. Disappointed but I think I may have dodged the bullet that Skoda have shot themselves in the foot with.

[TheRobinK]

46 minutes ago, H1UBS said:

Skoda have confirmed they do not currently have a post sale retailer fit tow bar and the likes of Witter don't have one even in development. a. I don't want to be forced into paying more for a DSG and b. I wanted a detachable towbar. Disappointed but I think I may have dodged the bullet that Skoda have shot themselves in the foot with.

 

See the product bulletin issued by Skoda Ireland below - I saw it in a thread here: Kodiaq Tow Bar Product Bulletin for 150PS Manual

 

 

 

[Warrior193]

That sounds pretty ridiculous to me, I would just love to see the reason for that restriction. I once had a Isuzu Trooper 4WD, petrol 2.6, 9-seater with 4 wheel discs - which had a lower max. permissible  towing weight than the earlier model with rear drum brakes, but I struggle to understand how the Kodiaq DSG can tow whereas the same model with a manual box cannot. 

[Llanigraham]

2 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

That sounds pretty ridiculous to me, I would just love to see the reason for that restriction. I once had a Isuzu Trooper 4WD, petrol 2.6, 9-seater with 4 wheel discs - which had a lower max. permissible  towing weight than the earlier model with rear drum brakes, but I struggle to understand how the Kodiaq DSG can tow whereas the same model with a manual box cannot. 

 

1/Because they haven't Type Approved it. See the other "pinned" thread.

2/Because I suspect that having both the extra rear seats and the tow bar could exceed the stated permitted rear axle weight limit.

[H1UBS]

For those variants that do have type approval for towing .. I heard this from Westfalia:

 

Westfalia estimate release of the A40V detachable towbar for the Kodiaq at the beginning of June.

[Warrior193]

On 4/15/2017 at 14:30, Llanigraham said:

 

1/Because they haven't Type Approved it. See the other "pinned" thread.

2/Because I suspect that having both the extra rear seats and the tow bar could exceed the stated permitted rear axle weight limit.

Except the 7-seater DSG apparently IS type approved for towing, whereas the manual 7-seater IS NOT - I remain unconvinced that there is any significant difference in weight between these two models. 

[JACK77]

On 16.03.2017 at 15:51, H1UBS said:

I note that the folding tow bar factory fit option isn't available on certain 7 seat 4x4 models due to limited space:

 

"On the bottom line of the Option PK0 for Electrically Folding Towbar it says ‘ Not available on the SE L and Edition 2.0 TDi 150 4x4’,"

 

Does anyone know of any tow bar fitting options post delivery either fixed or removable. I'm hoping the likes of Westfalia will come up with a solution as the Kodiaq comes on stream, but haven't seen anything yet.

 

 

It seems aftermarket Kodiaq towbars are now available.  These guys have stock of detachable and fixed towbars details Euro Towbars etowbars>>

 

Of course, if you drive the 150 HP AWD Diesel "Manual" 7 seater you are out of luck, as it is not certified to tow at all.

[willcrick]

Beware - i bought the Kodiaq SE 1.4 125ps 7 Seater from Winchester Motor Group: http://www.winchestermotorgroup.co.uk/ without the tow bar on the assurance (from the sales person and from the specification sheet) that i could add a tow bar later. A month later i went back to get a quote, and they said it was going to be £4000 !!! Apparently on this model (and maybe some others?) you have to upgrade the entire cooling system for it to be able to tow to the spec (on the spec sheet its listed as having a capacity of 1600Kg). To me that means the spec sheet is incorrect and that Skoda are liable for this extra cost (just adding a tow bar without a cooling system upgrade was around £1000 which is more what i expected (but still expensive!)).
 

 

Edited 20 February, 2018 by john999boy

[silver1011]

Don't take it to a Skoda franchised main dealer.

 

A fixed swan neck tow bar with 13 pin single electrics can be fitted for around £400 using a reputable tow bar specialist.

 

If the £860 electrically retractable tow bar is factory fitted Skoda may well upgrade the cooling system at the same time but this doesn't mean it is necessarily needed.

 

You should still pursue Skoda UK, their marketing material is very misleading if they're actually prepared to stand by their dealers claim that you can't fit an aftermarket tow bar without also upgrading the cooling system.

[willcrick]

On 20/02/2018 at 20:46, silver1011 said:

Don't take it to a Skoda franchised main dealer.

 

A fixed swan neck tow bar with 13 pin single electrics can be fitted for around £400 using a reputable tow bar specialist.

 

If the £860 electrically retractable tow bar is factory fitted Skoda may well upgrade the cooling system at the same time but this doesn't mean it is necessarily needed.

 

You should still pursue Skoda UK, their marketing material is very misleading if they're actually prepared to stand by their dealers claim that you can't fit an aftermarket tow bar without also upgrading the cooling system.!

Thanks @silver1011, i agree. But the warranty is void if i dont get Skoda to fit it. So if there was a problem with the cooling system and i had a non-skoda tow bar fitted, then i would not be covered (or if anything else went wrong they could probably use the same excuse, and given how shady they are being about this issue, i dont trust them to be honest about the warranty!).