It seems complicated and costly to get a tow bar fitted.   The electric shave to disable the rear sensors and the towbar has to be detachable.   Has anyone had one fitted successfully.?

Hi Derwent,  have a look back through the forum - there are numerous posts on this. 

Edited 31 October, 20214 yr by FlyingGecko

I did look but could not see one. 

Ordered my 1.5 SE L TSI Estate on 28 Aug .

Quoted £412 .50 for removable tow bar inc fitting .

Is that from the main dealer or a tow bar fitter?  My Main dealer wanted about £1200

1 hour ago, Llwyngwernog said:

Ordered my 1.5 SE L TSI Estate on 28 Aug .

Quoted £412 .50 for removable tow bar inc fitting .

That’s a bargain price, presumably with tow far prep from factory

 

On some cars, the VIN plate doesn’t contain info required if no tow bar prep, if missing it’s illegal to fit the tow bar.

 

Also getting the electronics reprogrammed on a MY22 car can be expensive (amongst the changes, ACC needs altering as braking with trailer affects it, rear parking sensors need to be aware to avoid going off, if got auto parking needs to isolate when trailer attached etc).

 

 

Edited 31 October, 20214 yr by SurreyJohn

Main Dealer ....I have bought three new Skodas from them .....they know what they are doing...they have supplied my current Octavia and previous Yetis all with tow bars and programmed the electronics and in the case of current Octavia the rear view camera without any problems .

I have just found paperwork for current Octavia ....price of fixed towbar was £329 .17  inc fitting Programming and so on .

On 30/10/2021 at 18:54, Derwent said:

  The electric shave to disable the rear sensors and the towbar has to be detachable.   Has anyone had one fitted successfully.?

 

I tried with my Braun and it didn't work, maybe a Philishave or Gilette would?

7 minutes ago, Llwyngwernog said:

I have just found paperwork for current Octavia ....price of fixed towbar was £329 .17  inc fitting Programming and so on .

Which main dealer was that please?   my main dealer said their rate per hour was £120!

18 hours ago, Derwent said:

Is that from the main dealer or a tow bar fitter?  My Main dealer wanted about £1200

Thats a folding one, right?

Crikey! How times have changed.

 

Doesn't seem that long ago £50 - £60 for the bits and about 3 hours of grunt would see any mainstream vehicle fully fitted............

Indeed, my flange mount one cost £110 and maybe £20 for the wiring kit but the fitting is a lot quicker and cleaner these days, bumper off, unbolt crash beam & replace with towbar. Then there is the faffing about cutting the removeable plastic underbumper panel and connecting the wiring.

 

The bypass relays are much more reliable and only take a miniscule triggering current from the vehicle electrics so don't affect bulb failure warning systems, the indicator sensing for the audible buzzer works faultlessly and does not require you to be spacing out the turns of a wire coil over a reed switch and behaves the same when the lights are on or off. They do however draw current 24/7 and I fit a switch to disconnect mine when I am not towing, the downside is that I have to remember to switch it on before towing and off afterwards.

 

All in all its a more pleasant and less challenging job nowadays yet people seem more and more intimidated by it.