Tow bar recommendation and rough prices? Bike rack set up only.

[ScottyNS]

Hey everyone,

 

I'm delving into the murky world of tow bars for my 2018 hatchback VRS, doing online stuff only I am looking at around £800 - £900 just for the tow bar in fitting with so called dedicated electrics - does that sound like I am in the right ball park? I've yet to factor in a bike rack! Oh and one had a generic warning that they may need to cut my bumper!

 

It feels like I am looking at circa £1200 just to move some bikes around! Surely not?!

 

Many thanks,

 

Scotty

[john999boy]

No recommendations from me regarding the tow bar but have you considered a rack that 'hooks' on to the boot and diffuser as I'm sure they won't be anywhere near £1200?

[ScottyNS]

Yeah, everyone that I have spoken has said to avoid them as you simply end up scratching the boot etc. Also don't want to go the roof rack route as I really don't feel like lifting heavy bikes on to the roof. Thank you though - I am not sure I will end up forking out £1200 if that's a realistic cost.

[GreenMachine1.6]

I had a Westfalia with dedicated electronics and removable swan neck ball fitted on my drive for £550. I commented in an earlier post (03/01/20022) in this forum with some details. It was fitted a couple of years ago so prices may have gone up a bit. 

[Swirly182]

Another £550 detachable Westfalia here. £1200 seems expensive!

[ScottyNS]

Thank you, I will look up Westfalia and see what comes up. It did seem very expensive! Hopefully I can find a decent installer around these parts. If I can can an install for around what you've paid, then that should be doable plus the cost of a bike rack for it.

 

Thank you.

[GreenMachine1.6]

Do you know if your quote includes a cooling system upgrade? There are posts and and information online that suggests some cars in some countries need an upgrade for "proper" towing. Obviously if you are only carrying bikes it would be overkill.

[grldtnr]

Way too much,I had a bar supplied and fitted for about £400, including the electrics and coding,this was from a towbar specialist, for my more basic SE estate.

Depends on what you want, but a lot of towbars are detachable or swan neck to accommodate reversing sensors.

I have managed for most of my motoring career without them, so I don't miss the lack of one,

By the way the reverse sensor still works, most of the time, even if the hitch is not the recommended Swan neck / detachable type , for what you need the bolt on will work just fine, I didn't need to have the bumper cut either, but your VRS might.

For occasional use I have a Maypole bike rack that fitsto the hitch, using a adapter plate to fit it, as I tow trailers, it's suits my needs best, I can carry a bike ,and tow my boat trailer the same time.

Perhaps that's why the bumper didn't need to be cut.

[ScottyNS]

1 hour ago, GreenMachine1.6 said:

Do you know if your quote includes a cooling system upgrade? There are posts and and information online that suggests some cars in some countries need an upgrade for "proper" towing. Obviously if you are only carrying bikes it would be overkill.

 

It wasn't mentioned on any on the online quotes/prices I went through -  had no idea such a thing could be needed. I can see in the future that I will borrow a small/medium trailer but that would be all. I can't see that I will get into anything more than that to justify that level of change. 

 

I'm going to look into the Westfalia (detachable) ones and see where I end up.

 

I really hope I won't need the bumper cutting @grldtnr, that may stop any thoughts of getting a tow bar installed!

[NikTheGeek]

Don't forget to tell your insurance.

 

Not only is it a mod, but your premium will come down! Mine dropped by £20 and I pay less than £200 to start with!!

[ScottyNS]

Starting to get some better prices, but not near what you guys have paid...£605 for detachable, dedicated wiring from Go Tow Ltd and then for a laugh I asked my local dealer and they're weren't too bad at £725 ish (awaiting price for a minor part). I guess they've gone up like a lot of things these days! Even Westfalia we just over £400 for just the kit without fitting when I did a price on their website. I just need to fine tune my understanding and pricing on bike racks now! 

 

@NikTheGeek - thank you, I never even thought about that!

[GreenMachine1.6]

I did need a bumper cut on mine but you need to lay on your back and look up to see it😁 

[grmtylr]

I think it was PF jones that I used to fit my tow bar, it was about £400 with none dedicated electrics, if I remember correctly. 
For the bike carrier, take advantage of your company cycle to work scheme to buy it, I bought mine using the scheme and paid something like £200 for a 3 bike Thule carrier. 
 

I’ve tried roof bars and a tow bar carrier and the tow bar one wins every time. 
 

We took four bikes n the roof to Flanders a couple of years ago and the car averaged about 45mpg on the trip. A few weeks later we went back but with a tow bar carrier fitted instead and the fuel consumption was about 57 mpg. Not a huge difference on a short 300 mile trip but it was considerable when we drive to The Alps and the Pyrenees with the bikes loaded up. 

[ScottyNS]

Ah, I didn't think about using my cycle to work scheme, great idea! I'll google PF Jones to see where they are and if they're local enough. 

[gumdrop]

My last towbar for a Fabia was well over £1k, never again.

Why not look into the roof rack options.

[ScottyNS]

Alas I am on the shorter side of life and I really don't like the thought of lifting heavy bikes up there - we're not enthusiasts etc. so our bikes are not the lightest  

[Swirly182]

Mine needed a cut out underneath the bumper on the fake diffuser. It can't be seen from behind, so no need to worry. 

[7ncj]

On 17/01/2022 at 14:40, ScottyNS said:

Starting to get some better prices, but not near what you guys have paid...£605 for detachable, dedicated wiring from Go Tow Ltd and then for a laugh I asked my local dealer and they're weren't too bad at £725 ish (awaiting price for a minor part). I guess they've gone up like a lot of things these days! Even Westfalia we just over £400 for just the kit without fitting when I did a price on their website. I just need to fine tune my understanding and pricing on bike racks now! 

 

@NikTheGeek - thank you, I never even thought about that!

If you were considering going with a Skoda dealer, check with them where the work is going to be done. My one just drives them around to the well regarded independent towbar specialist around the corner and adds a mark up! 

Edited 27 January, 2022 by 7ncj

[ScottyNS]

Thank you @7ncj, I'll make sure I check that out! 

[J.R.]

Why would a cycle to work scheme pay for people to drive their car carrying the bike instead of riding the bike?

 

People are getting paid to stay at home and ride Peleton bikes, maybe also being paid to carry bikes on their car it's a crazy world that we live in.

[grmtylr]

5 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Why would a cycle to work scheme pay for people to drive their car carrying the bike instead of riding the bike?

 

People are getting paid to stay at home and ride Peleton bikes, maybe also being paid to carry bikes on their car it's a crazy world that we live in.

 

It's classed as a cycling accessory.

 

Some people don't cycle the full distance to work, I didn't when I was working in Central London. I'd drive part way, park on the outskirts and cycle in from there, hence a bike carrier would be of use.