Hi, 

 

I am looking to get a tow bar fitted to our 2017 combi and I am just evaluating the options. I have a few quotes from local supplier/fitters but there seems to be a variation in what they are saying. Two are are quoting for a fixed tow bar or detachable while another supplier says that the detachable is a requirement due to having rear sensors. Now the supplier who says detachable is a requirement and one of the other suppliers detachable quote are coming in at the same cost as each other while the fixed is less than 50 cheaper so I would go for the detachable anyway. The 3rd suppler is far more expensive for both.

 

My real question is is what the the guy saying true? I have seen other superb's with fixed tow bars? He is sort of my preferred supplier as while he is independent he does work for the dealers in the area fitting tow bars etc and has fitted to a lot of new and high end cars etc.

Hi

From my recent experience: a month ago I have fitted with local independent supplier Witter towbar, obviously programmed, with dedicated electrics; detachable with folding out socket. Paid £597.00 (North East of UK). Exactly the same towbar priced by Skoda garage 1/4 mile down the road £970.00 - obviously I have passed this "opportunity". Quoted also in Skoda for foldable one but this was in excess of £1200.00 - out of my reach.

Local fitter did excellent job. Car dropped off for "half a day" was available for collection in about 90 minutes. They did my other cars in the past, each time excellent service. Personally I wouldn't go for fixed for aesthetical and practical reasons. Saving on fixed vs detachable very modest as the towbar itself varies from £150 to £250 -ish. Electrics/installation make majority of the cost. 

FYI my car came without towbar preparation.

PS

Sensors may "see" the towbar so may report falsely. Depending on the design. The car I have just sold couldn't see the towbar, so sometimes I had it attached without towing anything (or carrying my bikes). Funny enough - when bar was bare sensors didn't see it, when I put the plastic cap on it sensors would spot it. Just few mm difference, different material added.

Thanks, I also prefer the idea of the detachable also when the price difference is so small. My quotes are around 500 euro fitted for a detachable from two suppliers and 700 from the 3rd so. Manufacturer of tow bar not specified and all wiring etc included but I dont have any detail on exactly what that entails (from googling about it it appears there can be two ways its wired either into the system or bypass and Im not sure which I am being quoted for though I presume both are ok).

If I may suggest - go for dedicated electrics. Obviously  more expensive but give you piece of mind.

Brag when done  

Reversing sensors will not see the towball.

Just had a chat with one of the installers. They don't do dedicated electronics and said I would need to turn off the sensors when towing I would assume the other reasonable quote is the same. To be honest 500 is already on the edge of what I want to be spending on this and he said dedicated electronics mean I need to go to skoda and pay a lot more. What are the pitfalls of not having dedicated electronics other than the mild annoyance of needing to turn off the sensors when towing? I have a particular need for towing that at 500 getting my own tow bar will cost more but not considerably more than hiring a van but will give me more flexibility and obviously the advantage of always having the tow bar. However I will not be towing very often.

I had a Westfalia detachable with 7pin and dedicated electrics fitted to mine for around £600

1 hour ago, Subcom17 said:

Just had a chat with one of the installers. They don't do dedicated electronics and said I would need to turn off the sensors when towing I would assume the other reasonable quote is the same. To be honest 500 is already on the edge of what I want to be spending on this and he said dedicated electronics mean I need to go to skoda and pay a lot more. What are the pitfalls of not having dedicated electronics other than the mild annoyance of needing to turn off the sensors when towing? I have a particular need for towing that at 500 getting my own tow bar will cost more but not considerably more than hiring a van but will give me more flexibility and obviously the advantage of always having the tow bar. However I will not be towing very often.

You don't need to go to Skoda for dedicated electrics, any reputable fitter should be able to install them.

I had mine installed 3 years ago by PF Jones and the cost for the detachable towbar and dedicated electrics was £518.

If you do not have dedicated electrics get a guarantee from the installer that all the lights, indicators, reversing lights will work correctly without faults showing up on the dashboard.

 

 

Thanks for the feedback all, I am based in Ireland so the suggested installers aren't an option but the ones I have spoken to do not do dedicated electronics. The more expensive quote I received which was 200 euro more than the other options I did not ask actually so I could confirm but 700 euro is too much for me.

On 30/03/2021 at 16:23, UndertheRadar said:

I had a Westfalia detachable with 7pin and dedicated electrics fitted to mine for around £600

Mine was supplied and fitted through Witter.

On 30/03/2021 at 17:49, Hozz said:

You don't need to go to Skoda for dedicated electrics, any reputable fitter should be able to install them.

I had mine installed 3 years ago by PF Jones and the cost for the detachable towbar and dedicated electrics was £518.

If you do not have dedicated electrics get a guarantee from the installer that all the lights, indicators, reversing lights will work correctly without faults showing up on the dashboard.

 

 

 

I'd also check what they mean by "not dedicated electronics". One of the options for the MkIII was "towbar prep" which (correct me if I'm wrong someone) meant that they extended the necessary wiring loom to the boot area to simplify electrical connections. Without that I believe it was a case of having to fish wires from front to back. I'd be suspicious that they may be planning to just splice into the existing tail light wiring (so connecting reverse to the reverse lamp, brake to brake etc.) which is generally frowned upon in modern cars.

 

If they do intend to use a proper harness (rather than splicing wires) then as well as turning off the sensors when towing you'd also probably need to turn off rear collision detection and the door mirror warning light (forget the name of it at the moment) as they use additional sensors in the bumper that won't be disabled automatically. I have a factory fit towbar and when I tow the first thing the car does when I start to move is flash up a warning that it's turned those features off. If the car doesn't detect you're hitched up then it might see the trailer/caravan as a collision hazard.

I used PF Jones (https://www.pfjones.co.uk/towbar-fitting-mobile-services.html) for the fitting of a detachable Westfalia tow bar to my previous Superb Tdi estate 4x4.  The mobile service was very efficient and I chose the vehicle specific 7 pin wiring (the Thule tow bar bike rack uses 7 pin electrics.).  When going into reverse with the tow bar fitted and the electrics connected the infotainment screen recognised the tow bar and the display changed to indicate a trailer was attached with various warning messages.  The reversing sensors were deactivated.  I can recommend them and much cheaper than Skoda.  Apparently Skoda use Westfalia.