Kodiak towbar without prep

[Seanbont]

I apologise as this has probably been asked a lot but would really appreciate advice. 

 

I've bought a pre reg kodiak 4x4 dsg. It does not have tow prep. 

I've been given lots of different advice by dealers. 

 

They have said no dealer can fit a skoda towbar. 

 

One said that a 3rd party supplier cannot fit a towbar. Two said it can. 

 

One said I need a coolant upgrade. One said I didn't. 

 

Just wanted to know what the reality is please. I want to tow a caravan and just assumed the caravan club tow car of the year would be a bit more straightforward than this. 

 

Thanks 

Sean

 

 

[Paws4Thot]

5 hours ago, Seanbont said:

It does not have tow prep.

OK. Does the type approval plate for your car have a non-zero train weight?

[Kenny R]

The above plate is mounted at the bottom of the B pillar drivers door.

If the towing weight is shown as 0 then no one can legally fit a towbar.

[Seanbont]

Thanks for the replies. The car hasn't arrived yet. We were clear to the dealer that we intended to use it as a caravan tow car so I'll go back and ask what the specific tow capacity is of that car. 

It's a 2.0 tdi se 4x4 dsg 7 seat. I googled and believe the manual version has zero towing capacity but I'm hoping the dsg version is OK. Otherwise we'll have to cancel the order and carry on looking. 

[J.R.]

It is not illegal to fit a towbar to a vehicle irrespective of what weight limits are specified in the CoC.

 

If I am incorrect and you know of such a law then please post it.

[GreenlineIIEstate]

5 hours ago, J.R. said:

It is not illegal to fit a towbar to a vehicle irrespective of what weight limits are specified in the CoC.

 

If I am incorrect and you know of such a law then please post it.

Indeed, but if it's rated as zero towing capacity it will most definately be illegal to tow with it. EVER.

 

If it's rated to tow get a towbar fitted but not by the dealer as they'll just farm the job out.

 

I've had towbars fitted to 2 Kodiaq, neither had prep, neither had any problems.

[silver1011]

For a while now Skoda have been threatening to remove all towing weights from the VIN plates on vehicles that are not factory ordered with either the towbar preparation option or the full factory towbar, but as yet I don’t believe anyone with a Kodiaq has seen this.

 

Assuming there are towing weights on the VIN then you’re perfectly fine to fit an aftermarket towbar or retrofit the factory towbar.

 

If specifying the factory towbar, then Skoda fit a slightly different grill (larger openings) and a different cooling fan. It’s belt and braces, unless you’re towing right at the top end of the permissible weights up a continued steep incline in high ambient temperatures you’ll be fine.

 

Unless Skoda can attribute any failures directly to the non-standard towbar then you shouldn’t have any warranty issues either. Just be sure to choose your fitter carefully and ask plenty of questions on how key features are integrated via the dedicated electrics they fit (changes to the stability control, deactivation of blind assist, rear fog light and rear parking sensors, additional functionality of the navigation, activation of the alarm if the lighting socket is removed, additional reverse camera views etc.)

[Avocet]

22 hours ago, J.R. said:

It is not illegal to fit a towbar to a vehicle irrespective of what weight limits are specified in the CoC.

 

If I am incorrect and you know of such a law then please post it.

You won't find a law that says you "can't" fit one, because laws are not written that way.  They usually tell you what you MUST do, and then if you're not doing those things, you're breaking the law.  You will, however, find the Construction and Use regulation on braking, which will say something along the lines of the vehicle "having to comply with the relevant provisions of ECE Regulation 13 or 13H or..."  (it will give various alternatives, depending on when the vehicle was type approved).

If the vehicle was never homologated for towing in the first place, then as soon as you attach a trailer to it, you will be in breach of the relevant C&U regulation (because you will not be able to provide evidence that the vehicle satisfied the requirements of those regulations with a trailer attached).  In a serious enough accident to get the Plod involved and go to court, that's what the prosecuting expert witness would pull out of the hat.

Of course, none of this means that the vehicle wouldn't meet the requirements (it probably would, with most trailers), but what you wouldn't have, is firm evidence of compliance to show a court.

[Avocet]

On 24/07/2023 at 23:28, Seanbont said:

I apologise as this has probably been asked a lot but would really appreciate advice. 

 

I've bought a pre reg kodiak 4x4 dsg. It does not have tow prep. 

I've been given lots of different advice by dealers. 

 

They have said no dealer can fit a skoda towbar. 

 

One said that a 3rd party supplier cannot fit a towbar. Two said it can. 

 

One said I need a coolant upgrade. One said I didn't. 

 

Just wanted to know what the reality is please. I want to tow a caravan and just assumed the caravan club tow car of the year would be a bit more straightforward than this. 

 

Thanks 

Sean

 

 

You could try asking Skoda UK for a "specimen" Certificate of Conformity.  They MIGHT e-mail you one.  The actual "proper" Certificate of Conformity is a very unassuming bit of A4, printed on both sides, but is actually the definitive legal document that nobody can argue with.  It is unique to your particular vehicle and will quote what it can and can't tow, braked and unbraked.  The manufacturer is obliged to issue ONE original, free of charge, to the first owner, but if the first owner has lost it, they can charge for a duplicate.  The "specimen", however, is just a scan of it, and has no legal standing, but does actually give you the data you need.

[skomaz]

17 hours ago, GreenlineIIEstate said:

I've had towbars fitted to 2 Kodiaq, neither had prep, neither had any problems.

 

Do you mind if I ask who by and rough cost?  I'm in a similar situation with respect to no towbar and am getting to the stage where I probably need to remedy this so I can start using my bike rack again...

 

[Seanbont]

Thanks for all the advice.

Just checked with the dealer and they confirmed it is rated to tow 2000kg so no issues with homologation. 

 

Would really appreciate if anyone has a few tips on installers. We're in South Wales but could get to Bristol, Chester etc. 

 

Has anyone had a towbar fitted on a non-prepped car at a main dealer and any idea of costs please?  That would be my preference but I'm assuming it will be a case of open wallet surgery if they'll even do it. 

 

 

 

[J.R.]

2 hours ago, Avocet said:

You won't find a law that says you "can't" fit one, because laws are not written that way.  They usually tell you what you MUST do, and then if you're not doing those things, you're breaking the law.  You will, however, find the Construction and Use regulation on braking, which will say something along the lines of the vehicle "having to comply with the relevant provisions of ECE Regulation 13 or 13H or..."  (it will give various alternatives, depending on when the vehicle was type approved).

If the vehicle was never homologated for towing in the first place, then as soon as you attach a trailer to it, you will be in breach of the relevant C&U regulation (because you will not be able to provide evidence that the vehicle satisfied the requirements of those regulations with a trailer attached).  In a serious enough accident to get the Plod involved and go to court, that's what the prosecuting expert witness would pull out of the hat.

Of course, none of this means that the vehicle wouldn't meet the requirements (it probably would, with most trailers), but what you wouldn't have, is firm evidence of compliance to show a court.

Thanks for that.

 

I was taking issue with the assertion that anyone "fitting" said towbar would be breaking the law.

 

The secondary issue is the use of it to tow and I agree completely with your analysis, the only risk of a prosecution would be in the case of a serious accident but I think unlikely, I would be more concerned about my liability were my insurers not to pay out to the 3rd party.

 

I have in the past fabricated my own towbars for newer vehicles when none has been available that carried a similar hypothetical risk but unless they were made of loo rolls and sticky back plastic, were they to fail or Plod see them wobbling around there was no practical risk.

 

I even had Towsure make a one off towbar for my Suzuki SJ410 jeep FOC in return for them using the vehicle as a template, they even bless them did it to my design (stronger and no underhang) as I used it for offroad competitions and needed to snatch tow.

 

I cant recall if they ever put a conformity plate on it, it was 1988ish so perhaps before the requirement, in any case the manufacturers self certify their equipment.

 

Its all protection and paperasse for the benefit of the manufacturers.

 

 

[Yogi-Bear]

2 hours ago, Seanbont said:

Would really appreciate if anyone has a few tips on installers. We're in South Wales but could get to Bristol, Chester etc. 

 

I get Bristol, but Chester!? That seems a little out of the way...

 

Anyway, to your question - no personal experience, but both my dad and brother have had towbars fitted to Kodiaqs here: https://www.sgmtowing.co.uk

[Seanbont]

Thanks for the link. 

 

I travel a lot around wales with my work and am often in north east wales hence Chester. 

However, Cardiff is as good as it gets for me so I'll definitely be speaking with them.

Cheers

Sean

 

[silver1011]

On 26/07/2023 at 10:17, Seanbont said:

Has anyone had a towbar fitted on a non-prepped car at a main dealer and any idea of costs please?  That would be my preference but I'm assuming it will be a case of open wallet surgery if they'll even do it. 

Most (if not all) franchised main dealers will sub contract out the fitting of an aftermarket towbar to their local / preferred independent fitter. You may as well bypass the middle man and go to the fitter directly.

 

Unless of course you’re looking to have the genuine Skoda retractable towbar fitted. Main dealer pricing for these varies from £1,000 to £2,000, if you can find a dealer willing to do it.

[AlecM]

I have twice had a towbar fitted to a Skoda. I had a Westfalia removable towbar fitted to my Superb estate in 2018 by Professional Retrofits, in Nuneaton.  http://poollretrofits.com/  They are VW aftermarket specialists and do all sorts of things to all VW group cars. It was excellent. Cost was about £800, with dedicated electrics.

When I bought my (2018) Kodiaq in August last year Professional Retrofits couldn't source the towbars. So I obtained other quotes. I had a detachable Tow-Trust towbar fitted by Mota-bars in Leamington. https://motabars.co.uk/ . Interestingly they are across the road from a Skoda main dealer. This installation also had dedicated electrics. The cost was a pleasing £659 (August 2022). The two towbars each have minor plusses and minuses but are both fine. Integration is excellent, as regards reversing camera, recognition of a trailer etc. But it does not include setting off the alarm if you unplug the 13-pin trailer socket, which would be nice. I can recommend both installers.

BTW I'm not in the midlands ... it's a coincidence that both these installers are in the same area!

Alec