Aftermarket towbar

[davembk]

Hi,

I'm in a bit of a dilemma and I'm sure it's been written about here before, just can't find it.

 

Because the engine config got pulled by skoda after I'd ordered it, I've now gone for a pre reg no options Superb Estate L and K

 

I'd originally ordered a towbar though. So now I'm looking at getting it fitted as an aftermarket installation

 

The dealer that will eventually be handling service and warranty was not over the moon about this telling me that it's best to get it dealer fitted as opposed to at a commercial non skoda outlet.

This was presumably to have everything under one roof and eliminate any contentious warranty issues in the event of a failure eg electrical.  But it's almost three times the cost of an independent and also smacks of a monopoly

 

Would be grateful for any views, experience on this.

 

Thanks,

Dave

[GaSelle]

As long as you use OEM/Westfalia electrics, an aftermarket towbar can be just as good. 

[Ivan8192]

I had same experience, L&K estate ex-demo so no choices. My dealer used a 3rd party fitter anyway - “the guy they usually use”. So my invoice includes the towbar and it’ll be the dealer I approach if there’s ever a problem with it. Get it done before you take the car away, don’t let them come to you to fit it afterwards.

 

This was detachable Westfalia. Invisible when detached, the part where the swan neck fits and where the electrical connection hinges down from are up inside the plastic rear spoiler undercover (obviously a cutout was made in this undercover plastic, which I would describe as “okay”).

[millerhouse]

I've had aftermarket towbars fitted to all my cars over the years and never had a problem. My view is that specialist fitters do this kind of job all the time to all makes of cars whereas dealer technicians will fit very rarely (assuming they don't contract out - which most do).  When I bought my current car, the dealer actually advised me to go directly to the specialist they use as it would be cheaper and quicker. This car has the Westfalia A40V detachable with dedicated electrics and they work fine. When detached, there's no sign of the towbar or socket but the downside is that it's a hands and knees job to actually fit and detach through the bumper cutout. Clipping off the breakaway cable I have found particularly challenging but this would be the same whoever fitted the towbar.

John M

[alf.onso]

I have heared that using third party electrics have caused all kinda problems and odd error codes. At first everything is fine but errors would come with time. So I'm with GaSelle, as long as you use OEM electrics you are good but I would not use third party electrics.

 

Actually, when you let your dealer to install a towbar, they will also use OEM electrics but not the original Skoda towbar itself. The OEM electrics cost so much that even with third party towbar the cost is more than ordering from factory.

[Ivan8192]

12 minutes ago, alf.onso said:

I have heared that using third party electrics have caused all kinda problems and odd error codes. At first everything is fine but errors would come with time.

 

Certainly agree where spliced-in bypass relays are concerned. One would definitely want a dedicated solution with CANbus module which triggers trailer detection and disables the rear parking sensors.

 

As with John M, I’ve had Westfalia kit fitted twice in the past, no problems in seven years of ownership on last car. 

18 minutes ago, millerhouse said:

I've had aftermarket towbars fitted to all my cars over the years and never had a problem.

[daveo138]

I thought about having a tow bar fitted some time ago, as Nationwide Towbars had an offer on. It would have been about £400 with vehicle specific electrics. 

 

With my last two Passats, I fitted the towbars myself, complete with dedicated electrics. The electrics cost more than the towbar and were a nightmare to fit.  I think it cost about £200, all-in, so I would happily pay £400 to have someone else do it. 

[greym]

My dealer told me that its always the towbar fitter across the road that fits theirs. The dealer quoted me 1200 euro when ordering the car, got a Thule detachable with all the electrics and coded to the car for 550euro from the towbar fitter and not a wire cut or spliced. 

I wouldnt get a dealer to fit it after my Fathers octavia had a dealer towbar fitted and caused so much hassle later on, wiring issues galore as they scothlocked into wires instead or using the correct relays and this in a brand new car.

[Beefcake]

I had a Towtrust detachable with dedicated electrics fitted to my Superb III the week after picking it up. Was a dealer pre-reg so no option if factory fitted. Cost me £575 from local towbar fitter. All works great, invisible when removed and perfect height and bumper clearance is great. Takes all of 5s to attach/remove. Parking sensors disabled when connected, maxi dot display tells you if you have a light out on the trailer, and which one etc. Very clever. 

[Richparker]

That looks a really neat job. Can i ask the name of the fitting company and where abouts in the country are you? My car is already built so I will need to get an aftermarket tow bar fitted. 

 

[RickTT]

8 hours ago, Beefcake said:

I had a Towtrust detachable with dedicated electrics fitted to my Superb III the week after picking it up. Was a dealer pre-reg so no option if factory fitted. Cost me £575 from local towbar fitter. All works great, invisible when removed and perfect height and bumper clearance is great. Takes all of 5s to attach/remove. Parking sensors disabled when connected, maxi dot display tells you if you have a light out on the trailer, and which one etc. Very clever. 

 

Does the dedicated electrics show a picture of a caravan attached to the car if you engage the parking sensors, enable the additional inductor light on the dash cluster and disable ECO driving mode ?

[Beefcake]

21 hours ago, Richparker said:

That looks a really neat job. Can i ask the name of the fitting company and where abouts in the country are you? My car is already built so I will need to get an aftermarket tow bar fitted. 

 

Sure. It was Central Towbars in Derbyshire. Any towbar fitter could get hold of the same bar from Towtrust and fit it. Lots of fitters use Towtrust as they are such good quality. 

[Beefcake]

13 hours ago, RickTT said:

 

Does the dedicated electrics show a picture of a caravan attached to the car if you engage the parking sensors, enable the additional inductor light on the dash cluster and disable ECO driving mode ?

Yes, yes and no, as I have don’t drive mode selector on mine. Fitter demonstrated with his light box plugged in how it tells you specifically if a bulb goes on the trailer. All coded into the ECU. Should activate trailer stability control too but impossible to tell if this is the case. 

[Richparker]

29 minutes ago, Beefcake said:

Sure. It was Central Towbars in Derbyshire. Any towbar fitter could get hold of the same bar from Towtrust and fit it. Lots of fitters use Towtrust as they are such good quality. 

 

Thanks very much for the info. I'm pretty close to them (Leicester) so I'll give them a shout once I've got the car - it's nice to use someone that has been recommended.

Edited 6 June, 2018 by Richparker

[Dazkim]

33 minutes ago, Richparker said:

 

Thanks very much for the info. I'm pretty close to them (Leicester) so I'll give them a shout once I've got the car - it's nice to use someone that has been recommended.

http://poollretrofits.com/

paul at professional retrofits is the guy to use he ia is higham on the hill near Nuneaton so not miles from you .

he uses westfalia towbar sand electrics which are what the genuine skoda systems are.

he is the neatest tidiest guy I have had work on my cars and the care and attention he gives is second to none.

look at his website you will see what I mean.

 

dazkim 

[Richparker]

8 hours ago, Dazkim said:

http://poollretrofits.com/

paul at professional retrofits is the guy to use he ia is higham on the hill near Nuneaton so not miles from you .

he uses westfalia towbar sand electrics which are what the genuine skoda systems are.

he is the neatest tidiest guy I have had work on my cars and the care and attention he gives is second to none.

look at his website you will see what I mean.

 

dazkim 

Thanks very much for that. Gives me another option 

[Hozz]

I had a PF Jones detachable towbar fitted last year, their towbar is the same as Witter but cheaper.

The total cost, including fitting at my house and Skoda/Westfalia electrics coded to the car, was £518.

PF Jones were excellent and the towbar is brilliant.

Edited 7 June, 2018 by Hozz

[davembk]

Thanks for all your comments.

As said I got a pre reg as the factory order had stalled due to Skoda pulling the 190 engine out of the build. 

 

So it's a retro fit towbar

 

Being a scardycat worrying about warranty etc I've booked the towbar fitting with the dealer to keep it all under one roof so to speak 

 

I hope it's done as well as what I've seen on here by independents. 

 

Hopefully it will. 

 

I'll breathe easy at end of next week. 

[NiallR]

On 20/05/2018 at 09:57, greym said:

My dealer told me that its always the towbar fitter across the road that fits theirs. The dealer quoted me 1200 euro when ordering the car, got a Thule detachable with all the electrics and coded to the car for 550euro from the towbar fitter and not a wire cut or spliced. 

I wouldnt get a dealer to fit it after my Fathers octavia had a dealer towbar fitted and caused so much hassle later on, wiring issues galore as they scothlocked into wires instead or using the correct relays and this in a brand new car.

greym just wondering where did you get the towbar fitted? I’m also in Ireland and looking to get one fitted to my 2016 sportline. Dealer quoting €1800. Want to get vehicle specific electrics if possible. Thanks 

[technics100]

On 12/03/2021 at 20:39, NiallR said:

greym just wondering where did you get the towbar fitted? I’m also in Ireland and looking to get one fitted to my 2016 sportline. Dealer quoting €1800. Want to get vehicle specific electrics if possible. Thanks 

 

I'm in Northern Ireland (Belfast) and got my detachable one fitted to my 2018 Sportline a couple of years back.. it was £450 inc vat.. might be worth your while making the trip especially with the euro.. obviously waiting till Covid restrictions end.. But they are open for business as I spoke to them on Friday about fitting one to a Kodiaq. 

[NiallR]

13 hours ago, technics100 said:

 

I'm in Northern Ireland (Belfast) and got my detachable one fitted to my 2018 Sportline a couple of years back.. it was £450 inc vat.. might be worth your while making the trip especially with the euro.. obviously waiting till Covid restrictions end.. But they are open for business as I spoke to them on Friday about fitting one to a Kodiaq. 

Thanks,  Could be worth the spin, do you mind me asking what company you got it from?

[UndertheRadar]

I had mine fitted by David Murphy towbars last year. It was about £600 for removable westfalia with dedicated electrics and 7 pin. 

[technics100]

10 hours ago, NiallR said:

Thanks,  Could be worth the spin, do you mind me asking what company you got it from?

 

It was TowbarsNI..