Hi all, just purchased a 2012 Yeti 2.0tdi elegance. Very impressed with it so far. I've been casting around for a quote to fit a tow bar. Nothing exotic just something to tow an unbraked boat trailer. I've had 3 quotes - as you do. Skoda dealership - £1,100, national company - £760 and finally a local guy - £260! The local guy tells me that a software update is not required as he wont be fitting a "dedicated system".  I'm not even sure what that means. From lurking on this forum I thought a software update was essential?

I would go for dedicated electrics not just for the stability program, reverse sensors off and alarm extension with the trailer connected but the can bus can be a pain in the backside when it throws a wobbly. 

My choice would be a Westfalia removable toe bar and dedicated electrics, these make the OEM for VAG.  This £333 from P F Jones and if you call them they will put in touch with a fitter local to yourself 

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/skoda-yeti-2009-onwards-westfalia-detachable-towbar.html

I have had tow bars with electrics fitted to two Yetis by Phil Taylor Towbars near Portsmouth philtaylortowbars.co.uk

No problems encounter with rear parking sensors or car computer.

Phil owns a Yeti and has fitted many Yetis.

So reasonably priced compared with local fitters that it has been worth a 250-mile round trip (and still save money).

Tows my boat beautifully.

 

On 06/08/2019 at 07:10, boatpuller said:

Hi all, just purchased a 2012 Yeti 2.0tdi elegance. Very impressed with it so far. I've been casting around for a quote to fit a tow bar. Nothing exotic just something to tow an unbraked boat trailer. I've had 3 quotes - as you do. Skoda dealership - £1,100, national company - £760 and finally a local guy - £260! The local guy tells me that a software update is not required as he wont be fitting a "dedicated system".  I'm not even sure what that means. From lurking on this forum I thought a software update was essential?

 

If those are what the local fitter is suggesting I would suggest you find a better and more knowledgeable fitter!! 

He is proposing using a by-pass system and that has been known to cause expensive problems with VAG systems, plus it does not allow the modification of the Stability Control System or any of the other systems in the car.

I gave up with my unbraked trailer when I got my first Yeti in 2010. Most I had ever paid for towbar and electrics up to then was £150. Yeti quote was nearing £1k, and it must have the electrics properly changed so that the car knows a trailer is present as it affects so many things such as bulb failure warning, stability control etc.

 

Just not worth that amount of money to tow a rarely used goods trailer.

 

This cost has to be factored in when buying an older used car. Ideally you should look for one with a towbar already fitted, with the first owner having met the huge cost, which at the time was relatively small compared to the new car cost.

I have a 2012 2.0 Elegance 4x4 and had a Westfalia removable towbar fitted with full electrical integration, (rear parking sensor deactivation, trailer stability, bulb failure monitoring, etc.), about 18 months ago by an independent specialist in Haverfordwest.  The cost was about £400, whereas the quote from the local Skoda dealer in the same town was about £750.  Guess who fits the towbars for the dealer?  They just take your keys, drive the car to the specialist and double what it costs them when they charge you.

Even £400 seems a lot to me......

On 06/08/2019 at 07:46, CWARD said:

I would go for dedicated electrics not just for the stability program, reverse sensors off and alarm extension with the trailer connected but the can bus can be a pain in the backside when it throws a wobbly. 

My choice would be a Westfalia removable toe bar and dedicated electrics, these make the OEM for VAG.  This £333 from P F Jones and if you call them they will put in touch with a fitter local to yourself 

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/skoda-yeti-2009-onwards-westfalia-detachable-towbar.html

 

I need to fit a tow bar to my Yeti, I'm glad I looked on here before ordering one.

Does the PFJones vehicle specific kit still require the car to be reprogramed ? I have a 66 plate L&K (so LED lights etc.

32 minutes ago, Mark2LTDI said:

Does the PFJones vehicle specific kit still require the car to be reprogramed ? I have a 66 plate L&K (so LED lights etc

 

Yes.

47 minutes ago, Mark2LTDI said:

 

I need to fit a tow bar to my Yeti, I'm glad I looked on here before ordering one.

Does the PFJones vehicle specific kit still require the car to be reprogramed ? I have a 66 plate L&K (so LED lights etc.

The lights etc will still work but you won’t benefit from the extras such as extended alarm, modified stability program and reverse sensor switched off with a trailer connected. 
Have a look in the VCDS section for someone local to code the towbar along with any other extras you may want. 

11 minutes ago, CWARD said:

The lights etc will still work but you won’t benefit from the extras such as extended alarm, modified stability program and reverse sensor switched off with a trailer connected. 
Have a look in the VCDS section for someone local to code the towbar along with any other extras you may want. 

 

That's very useful info, thank you.

In essence it means I can fit the tow bar and electrics myself (not the first one I've done) and get it plugged in later.

I have VCDS light, but not the full version so I'll still need help with that. 

Wire it all up, plug in the modules and the electrics will work. When you get it coded up it will recognise the module and unlock the extra features.