I ordered Towbar Prep with my new Mk IV Skoda Octavia 1.5 SE Technology Hatchback as I was concerned that without it the Gross Train Weight my not have been stamped on the VIN plate which would mean I could not legally fit a towbar.  The vehicle has just arrived and I can see evidence of extra wires in the boot so it looks like Towbar prep has been done.  The problem is I cant seem to get a definitive answer as to just what 'Towbar Prep' gives you.  I understand that some cables will have been run back to the fuse box. But does this include the heavy duty cable for changing the caravan battery and running the fridge?  Also does Towbar Prep mean the vehicle is coded for a towbar?  or do you still have to get that done one you've fitted the towbar?  If anyone knows i'd be very grateful 🙂

11 minutes ago, PaulBrighton said:

 Also does Towbar Prep mean the vehicle is coded for a towbar?  or do you still have to get that done one you've fitted the towbar?  If anyone knows i'd be very grateful 🙂

Towbar prep includes the wiring (can't answer about the gauge of the wire for the fridge) but doesn't include coding - it can't because towbar prep does not include the trailer module so something that isn't there can't be coded and other modules that need to know the trailer module is there (ABS, BCM, etc.) can't be coded as it's there when it's not present without them throwing lots of error codes.

No coding until you have the bits that need coding, the fridge wiring feed should be there, but it is down to the towball fitter to connect it up - some don't, so make sure you ask for 13 pin fully wired (or 7S fully wired).

Prep for towbar also includes stronger alternator and better cooling. 

Thanks to everyone who replied.  I decided to book a towbar fitting with a professional fitter who will fit a detachable towbar using the towbar prep if it's suitable.  Unfortunately I've had to cancel the fitting for now as after only 5 days of ownership of the new Octavia and less than 100 miles driven the car has broken down, the handbrake won't release and the VAG engineer who came to look at it suspects catastrophic controller failure.  Waiting for car to be carried back to Skoda! But that's another story!

UPDATE

I have now had the towbar fitted so I can confirm exactly what Towbar Prep gives you on the Octavia 4.  Firstly it guarantees you will get the MAX Train Weight stamped on the VIN plate so you can legally get a towbar fitted.  You get a full wiring loom that is pre-wired into the fuse box and the CAN bus.  The loom terminates behind the trim panel on the left hand side of the boot and has multi plugs that you plug your dedicated wiring kit straight into.  It is the full wiring so includes the cables for caravan battery charging and fridge.  So there is no need to do any cableing in the front of the car, its all done for you. The only thing you need specialist equipment for is the coding that needs to be done once the wiring kit is plugged in to integrate the new towing control box with the rest of the car systems.

Another thing to note is that if your car is deisel you'll have to remove the add blue tank to get to the bolts to tighten up the tow bar. Not an issue with petrol cars.