DON'T buy a 2017/18 150PS, 4WD, MAN, 7 Seat if you tow....

[Ootohere]

More likely a 'WLTP Type Approval'  test results and vehicles being tested as well as Kerb Weight & Max Gross Tow Weights.

 

A Karoq 1.6 TDI Manual which now has SCR can not tow anything.    I hope anyone buying the particular model is told be salespeople after learning from previous errors mis-selling.

[Ryeman]

Like snow chains; read the manual...........after you’ve bought it.

The salespeople are simply tin pushers now.  There was a time when it was possible to know almost everything about a vehicle, but that’s long gone.

[Platlet]

Having just taken delivery of a18 plate 2.0 DSG 190 Scout complete with FF towbar I was surprised and unaware of the tow bar issues. This may backfire on drivers who have unwittingly fitted aftermarket bars and are involved in an accident. This may also raise its ugly head when the Kodiacs are due for a MOT as these (plus electrics?) will be part of it. If it’s a detachable one, it has to be fitted as well.

Edited 14 January, 2019 by Platlet

[silver1011]

Is whether the car is homologated to tow checked during an MOT?

 

Body, Structure and General Items - 6.6 Towbars

 

Information:

 

This inspection applies to: all types of towbar fitted to the rear of a vehicle. It does not include emergency towing eyes.
Tow ball covers must not be removed to facilitate inspection of the tow ball. Some tow bars are hidden behind an access panel in the bumper or bodywork. Unless requiring the use of tools or specialist equipment, these panels must be removed to facilitate the inspection of towbar components, as well as checking inside the luggage compartment, including lifting of loose fitting mats or carpet.

Retractable towbars should be tested in their inuse position unless this requires the use of tools or specialist equipment. If a tow ball or pin is not fitted at the time of test, e.g. because it is detachable, has been unbolted or otherwise removed, but the attachment brackets are still in place, these brackets should still be assessed unless they have been deliberately rendered unfit for further use. There may be play in some detachable tow balls between the receiver socket and the tapered swan neck fitting, with up to 3mm movement measured at the ball end. Reason for Rejection 4a should only be used where play is greater than this. Quick release mechanisms must not be operated, only visually assessed.

Wear in a pin, jaw or hook should be regarded as excessive if the thickness of the metal at any point is reduced by more than 25% of the original thickness. Pin locating holes should be rejected if they are worn or elongated by more than 25% of their original diameter. These criteria also apply to pins and brackets for any height adjustment or swivel devices. For tow balls the amount of acceptable wear is considerably less. However, a tow ball should only be rejected if a visual assessment indicates that the tow ball is obviously excessively worn. Many bolt-on type tow balls have accessory devices sandwiched between the tow ball and its mounting flange. These are not to be considered as inappropriate modifications unless their fitment is clearly likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer combination. Trailer electrical couplings are tested under Section 1.9.

 

Method of Inspection:

 

1. Visually assess the towbar for wear and pull on the towbar and/or its mountings to check for security, corrosion, fractures or damage.

2. Check the towbar assembly is attached to the vehicle structure using mountings, supports and fixings of an appropriate size and type.

3. Check the presence and security of:
a. retaining devices e.g. nuts bolts b. locking devices e.g. split pins, R pins.

Note: It is not always possible to determine the presence and effectiveness of certain types of locking devices eg locking fluid or nyloc nuts.

4. On detachable tow balls:
a. check for play between the tow ball arm and its receiver socket
b. visually assess the condition of any quick release mechanism.

5. On height adjustable or swivelling towbars, check:
a. for presence, and security of locating or swivel pins
b. locating or swivel pins and brackets for excessive play or wear
c. locating or swivel pin retaining devices for presence and security.

6. Check the condition of the body and chassis in the vicinity of the towbar mountings.

7. Check the towbar assembly for any inappropriate repair or modification.

 

Reason for Rejection:

 

1. A towbar component insecure, fractured or excessively: 

• worn 
• corroded, or 
• damaged.

2. Towbar assembly is attached to the vehicle structure using a mounting, support or fixing which is obviously of an inappropriate size or type.

3.
a. Retaining device missing or insecure
b. locking device missing, insecure, inadequate or damaged to the extent that its operation is impaired.

4.
a. Excessive play between a detachable tow ball and its receiver socket
b. a quick release mechanism that does not secure the tow ball arm as intended. 

5.
a. A locating or swivel pin missing or insecure
b. excessive play or wear in a locating or swivel pin or bracket
c. a locating or swivel pin retaining device missing or insecure.

6. Any deliberate modification, excessive corrosion, damage, fracture or inadequate repair of a load bearing structure or supporting panelling within 30cm of the towbar mountings, which affects its strength to the extent that the security of attachment of the towbar is significantly reduced.

7. A towbar assembly inappropriately repaired or modified such that it is likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer combination.

[silver1011]

The actual physical changes that Skoda make to the car when either the factory fitted tow bar, or the tow bar preparation option is specified are detailed here...

 

 

Bigger openings in the radiator grill...

 

 

And a more powerful fan...

 

 

 

[newstuk]

Staggering!

[Ryeman]

What exactly was the problem?.

[CWARD]

Not EU type approved

[DonkeyKong]

Since 1998 all UK towbars now fitted & sold have to be EU type approved, and fit onto the same manufacturer's mounting points. So I'm confused...the issue as far as I understand it, and certainly as far as my own issue is concerned, is that the standard car (without any towbar prep) is not fully ready to accept a towbar (whether Skoda's own brand  or not) without significant additional modifications. Therefore, it doesn't conform to what is suggested in the standard brochure, as it won't tow the weights (or tow at all in some cases) without extra fans, grills, etc which rubbishes the data, and is misleading.

 

This is unusual, especially since many SUV's (and more still of the larger ones such as the Kodiaq) will be used for towing. Certainly mine is. 

 

If this argument is taken to its extreme, in theory you could claim in the brochure the car could be used for space travel (but only if encapsulated within a space rocket) which would be clearly ridiculous and misleading. Which is my (and others) point about the data in the brochure and handbook - it simply is not correct.

 

 

 

 

Edited 18 May, 2019 by DonkeyKong
Spelling errors and additional justification

[Stu_Magoo]

On 18/05/2019 at 11:14, DonkeyKong said:

Since 1998 all UK towbars now fitted & sold have to be EU type approved, and fit onto the same manufacturer's mounting points. So I'm confused...the issue as far as I understand it, and certainly as far as my own issue is concerned, is that the standard car (without any towbar prep) is not fully ready to accept a towbar (whether Skoda's own brand  or not) without significant additional modifications. Therefore, it doesn't conform to what is suggested in the standard brochure, as it won't tow the weights (or tow at all in some cases) without extra fans, grills, etc which rubbishes the data, and is misleading.

 

This is unusual, especially since many SUV's (and more still of the larger ones such as the Kodiaq) will be used for towing. Certainly mine is. 

 

If this argument is taken to its extreme, in theory you could claim in the brochure the car could be used for space travel (but only if encapsulated within a space rocket) which would be clearly ridiculous and misleading. Which is my (and others) point about the data in the brochure and handbook - it simply is not correct.

 

 

 

 

As with any owner manual, the information in it is only for any official parts that can be installed on the vehicle.  If you you were to install you own non-Skoda rear view camera on your car, the instructions on the operation of that in the manual will obviously not apply.  Same with towbar fitting, as will a retro fit have the same attachment mechanism as the Skoda one, so therefore have the same strength?

[Ootohere]

The OP starting this thread was about vehicles that do not have Type Approval for a Tow Bar to tow with.

So the Point being EU Approved Tow Bars should not be getting fitted, and Tow Bar fitters know this or should.

They are not EU Approved to be fitted to vehicles not EU Approved to be towing.

(Towbar for a bike rack being a Grey Area, and these can be fitted, just the car has no 'Tow Weights' from the manufacturer so can tow on the public highway.)

 

The 'Factory preparation', or Factory equipment on vehicles with Type Approval and official tow weights is a separate subject.

Edited 20 May, 2019 by Skoffski

[26DIPP]

So, has anybody on this site owning a Kodiaq 2L TDI 150 HP manual 4x4 fitted a tow bar him or herself yet as you can by them on their own AND been for an MOT - still too soon for them to have an MOT ??? -  or maybe had any dealing with a dealer where it was said that the tow bar might be illegal?

I would probably fit it myself and do the coding.

[CWARD]

I don’t think having the tow bar on a car that isn’t type approved would be picked up on an MOT. Insurance maybe the biggest problem or if you sold the car on with the tow vat fitted. 

[Ootohere]

If you have a tow bar or are fitting one you should tell your insurers, 

but then telling your insurers you fitted a towbar to a car not Type Approved to tow, & even fitting to be able to fit a bike rack too means you are telling someone what you are doing, and if it invalidates your insurance other than to 3rd parties you need to be thinking about that.

It can cost lots...

 

 

 

Edited 10 August, 2019 by Roottootemoot

[Dr_Pepper]

I fitted one to my 4x4 150d manual 5 door 7 seat before I heard about all this. I fitted it myself as documented on here at the time

 

Although I never got as far as an MOT, it went to skoda several times for various things and then back to skoda when I sold it and at no point did anyone raise any issue with it.

 

Contrary to what other posters have stated, due to regulations in force for years and reinforced by the Insurance Act 2016, fitting an "illegal/unapproved" towbar to your car will NOT "invalidate your warranty" , unless your warranty claim is directly related to, or could conceivably be caused by, the towbar itself.

[Ryeman]

This has been an interesting, and for me at least, unresolved issue as to exactly why one was not supposed to fit one .

Does anyone know exactly what the problem is?.

Is this situation unique or is it more common than we think?.

[CWARD]

Read the thread, it’s all in there 

Edited 30 August, 2019 by CWARD

[Ootohere]

It is hardly a surprise that anyone at a Skoda Dealership would say anything if they know nothing or can not be bothered with it.

 

If they get the car in and then resell with the towbar fitted then there can be an issue for the new owner and their insurance and actually there warranty if it was a drivetrain related claim.

Skoda have a Corporate responsibility to make Dealerships aware so that staff can be made aware so that customers can be made aware.

It will arise as an issue sometime when a vehicle might be involved in an accident and an Insurance Assessor becomes involved, they are more switched on than some Salespeople in Dealerships that do not even understand the product they sell.

 

Edit,  Mid 2020.

if tempted by offers of one from stock be aware of not being able to tow with them.

 

 

Edited 20 July, 2020 by Roottoot

[Avocet]

If it helps anyone, I can give a definitive answer on this - at least for our car, which is a 2017 "Edition" 4WD 7 seat DSG with 150 bhp diesel.  They ARE homologated for towing!

Attached is a scan of the EU "Certificate of Conformity" for our car.  Every type approved car will have one.  They are unique to the vehicle, and bear the VIN of the vehicle they relate to.  (I've blanked mine out on the copy below).  They contain a summary of the main data held by the type approval authorities.  It's the single most important document you can have for any EU-approved car.  The manufacturer is obliged to deliver one, original, paper CoC to the first owner of the car, free of charge.  He can, however, make a "reasonable charge" for a duplicate if the original is lost.  You can see this one is a duplicate.

On side 2, you can see various technical data for the vehicle.  You can see that it has 2 driven axles (so it's a 4x4), it's the 150 bhp engine (the 110 figure on the CoC is in kilowatts) and it's a 7 seater.  What you can't see, is that it's an automatic (although that will be concealed in the "variant" and "Version" codes on Side 1, if anyone can get a break-down of those).  However, as you can clearly see, it IS homologated for towing - up to 2 tonnes with brakes and up to 750kg without brakes.  Anything else anyone tells you to the contrary, is "bull"!

(As an aside, I believe it's the 150 bhp diesel 4x4 DSG 5 seat version that can't tow)!  No idea why that is, but we specifically bought the 7 seater, not because we needed 7 seats, but because we wanted to tow.

If any of you wants the definitive answer for your car, check the CoC.

 

.  

[ZacDaMan72]

7 hours ago, Avocet said:

If it helps anyone, I can give a definitive answer on this - at least for our car, which is a 2017 "Edition" 4WD 7 seat DSG with 150 bhp diesel.  They ARE homologated for towing!

Not sure when anyone said the 150PS AWD DSG 7 seater couldn't tow, since the title is about the manual version and not the DSG.

[Avocet]

12 hours ago, ZacDaMan72 said:

Not sure when anyone said the 150PS AWD DSG 7 seater couldn't tow, since the title is about the manual version and not the DSG.

 

D'oh!  Quite right, apologies!  That's what you get for posting at stupid o'clock in the morning!

Oh well, if it's of any interest to anyway more generally, the CoC for the car will give the definitive answer as to whether it can tow or not.

[Ootohere]

There is an elephant in the room.

That is where Skoda have the vehicles with the weights that the vehicle can tow, they do the CoC.

 

Yet the vehicle has not the factory preparation for towing and Skoda Dealers say you can not have a towbar fitted because you need the extra under bonnet hardware.

They say if you tow you can invalidate the Manufacturers Warranty.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/490961-2017-estate-upgrades-to-fit-towbar

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/487386-skoda-kodiaq-towbar-fitted-why-is-there-a-need-for-upgrading-cooling

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/489499-octavia-mk4-aftermarket-towbar

 

Edited 21 March, 2021 by e-Roottoot

[Avocet]

Yes, that's pretty poor!  However, it's a separate issue to homologation.

[ahar]

Quick update as Skoda are at it again with homologation.

 

I was looking to swap my 2019 Kodiaq for a 2022 one the dealer had in stock with a 200 PS TDI engine.  Luckily I checked - the current models with the 200 TDI engine are not homologated for unbraked towing.  The 150 TDI engine is, as is the TSI engine.  Just not the top diesel engine.  It is homologated for braked towing, to the same weight as the other engines.  

 

Very odd. Check page 30 of the brochure on Skoda website for details...

 

https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/5782ef00-768c-43df-8faf-51cba9730287

[Kenny R]

Could be a misprint, did you check the plate on the drivers door pillar.