Any one know how long it takes the dealership to supply and fit a tow bar with electric sockets?

I was told four hours if I remember correctly... €600 worth of parts, the same for labour.

 

 - Bret

Forget the dealership.  I have had three detachable tow bars fitted by philtaylortowbars.co.uk at Horndean, Hampshire.

 

The longest fit, including  13 pin electrics, coding, took 1 hr 20 mins.  My fits were on two Yetis and one Superb.  Very professional company - nothing is too much trouble.  They are the best of the best - trust me - I've been towing Caravans since 1972  and it will be under £600 total, which includes VAT.  POA. Give them a call - 02392 594675.   

4 hours ago, Stuart-h said:

Any one know how long it takes the dealership to supply and fit a tow bar with electric sockets?

 

It will all depend on whether your car has "Tow Bar Prep" from the factory, I.E the wiring from the front of the car to the back. It is either there or you need it fitting. Anyone saying otherwise is wrong.

 

Said it before and will say it again, electrics and coding are nothing to skimp on, "dedicated" electrics varies wildly from place to place and I have seen "dedicated" electrics that have been only fit for the skip. Electrics on the Octavia (as any modern car) are VERY easy to fry.

 

Whoever fits it, get factory wiring, (it is not expensive) and get it coded properly and test the functions change when plugged in. Use whatever ironwork you fancy.

^^ this is part of the reason that the time quoted was so long - it's a hatch with no towbar prep and I know that the loom has to go to the front and be wired in correctly. I took one look at it, went "nope!" and asked the question. 

The Swift? that's a couple of hours on the drive, max. The Octavia wiring is absolutely not trivial. Not sure just how many of the upgrades they were going to do - I suspect there's a fan difference for the tow pack amongst other things.

 

 - Bret

I’m fairly sure I don’t have the tow bar prep on mine. 

2.5 hours done on the drive. Westfalia, vehicle specific wiring, 13 pin, coding , bumper cut but hidden. Total £540. Seemed getting the wire to the dash fuses was time consuming as no towbar prep. 

How can you tell if the car has "tow bar prep"?

34 minutes ago, Irvworth said:

How can you tell if the car has "tow bar prep"?

 

On your sticker in the boot It should have 1D7 for towbar prep and I think 1D0 is no towbar prep,

 

Tow bar prep should leave you with a plug (usually covered in a foam boot under one of the carpet covers in the passenger-side rear corner

@flybynite thanks, great info. I'll have a look tomorrow. 

Seriously guys, get the coding done properly 

 

In Eco mode these cars coast, the correct coding stops Eco mode being selected when the towing electrics are hooked up.

 

Do you really want to coast with a caravan hooked up or worse still would you sell you car on to someone else whom wouldn't know ?

MIne is off to the dealer to get it done. When I get round to doing it.