I am finding it almost impossible to source a towbar for my 2024 kodiak mk2.  The dealer pointed me to a towbar specialist who advised me that a towbar was still under development yet the dealer said they had fitted one for them.

 

Some towbar suppliers say that any kodiaq towbar will fit, others say they don't do one or the car doesn't have the capacity to tow.

 

The prices I am being quoted for a one size fits all towbar means that I might have to come out of retirement to pay for one, if a proper one becomes available!

 

Has anyone had one fitted and able to help me with some contact details.

 

Mike

Edited 17 January, 20251 yr by emberto1946

?

Does the plate on the car have the weight that it can tow? 

16 hours ago, emberto1946 said:

I am finding it almost impossible to source a towbar for my 2024 kodiak mk2.  The dealer pointed me to a towbar specialist who advised me that a towbar was still under development yet the dealer said they had fitted one for them.

 

Some towbar suppliers say that any kodiaq towbar will fit, others say they don't do one or the car doesn't have the capacity to tow.

 

The prices I am being quoted for a one size fits all towbar means that I might have to come out of retirement to pay for one, if a proper one becomes available!

 

Has anyone had one fitted and able to help me with some contact details.

 

Mike

 

If you fit a towbar, you must inform your insurance company. Recent story in Daily Mail reported driver refused insurance claim, as he had not informed insurance company of this modification to his vehicle.  Anything not on vehicle or modification when it left the factory will invalidate the insurance. Before you buy any mods check if ok with insurance.

The towbar apparently requires an additional radiator/cooler and some software changes. Mine got bent in a crash. The parts price is 1800 euros to just replace it. 

1 hour ago, Vak said:

If you fit a towbar, you must inform your insurance company. Recent story in Daily Mail reported driver refused insurance claim

 

Must be true then

In this instance there is a post / thread in the Insurance Section of Briskoda where you can read what the paper published.  Just to see not just a Fig Box of sound journalist imagination. 

12 hours ago, MikeyMan said:

The towbar apparently requires an additional radiator/cooler and some software changes. Mine got bent in a crash. The parts price is 1800 euros to just replace it. 

I thought all the Mk2s came with tow bar prep as standard…?

 

In any case, I still don’t understand why people who want tow bars don’t just order them in the first place - so much easier than trying to get on retrofitted. Yes, I get that some buy from stock, but in that case, wouldn’t you check about getting a tow bar fitted before buying the car if it was a requirement for you?

@Yogi-Beardont know, that's what the mechanic told me at the dealer. Think the wiring is prepped. 

 

But have to agree, I always order a tow bar. Even for the two times a year I use it.

Ive had my mk2 since the end of August. I had my detachable towbar fitted the first week I owned it. ALL mk2 come with towbar prep as standard.

I was told by the fitter that they wouldn't be able to fully code the bar before they started.  I was ok with this as I needed the bar fitted. Only problem day to day is rear sensors active when towing so if you reverse they go off. Not a problem as I try my best not to reverse when towing as I can't do it. 🤫

I think it cost around £650ish fitted by North West Towbars. 3rd one i've had done there and I wouldn't go anywhere else.

I've had factory fit on my first Kodiaq but wouldn't spec one again. Twice the price and I don't like the way the ball sits in all the 💩 kicked up at the back.

However, either me or my car are odd because apart from squeeky folding mirrors my car has been great and even shows satnav maps on the cockpit display.

 

16 hours ago, GreenlineIIEstate said:

I was told by the fitter that they wouldn't be able to fully code the bar before they started

 

16 hours ago, GreenlineIIEstate said:

I've had factory fit on my first Kodiaq but wouldn't spec one again. Twice the price

 

A factory fitted tow bar might be more expensive (not twice the price) - but at least it is properly coded, doesn’t have issues with the reversing sensors, is covered under the car’s warranty, etc, etc. To some, the extra cost is worth it for the peace of mind and simplicity.

On 20/01/2025 at 10:27, Yogi-Bear said:

 

 

A factory fitted tow bar might be more expensive (not twice the price) - but at least it is properly coded, doesn’t have issues with the reversing sensors, is covered under the car’s warranty, etc, etc. To some, the extra cost is worth it for the peace of mind and simplicity.

Maybe not quite twice the price but close, I think my bar was £700 and factory fit is a snip at £1370!!!!

Bar has warranty and it's unlikely to cause any problems anywhere else.

I can put up with reverse sensor issues for £700 oops sorry £670.

It will also get coded when they crack the software.

1370 pounds???

 

In NL its 890 euros

Edited 24 January, 20251 yr by MikeyMan

8 hours ago, MikeyMan said:

1370 pounds???

 

In NL its 890 euros

3 variations, from £1305 to 1370 (depending on if have trailer assist)

 

but yes nearly double as £1370 is euro 1627

On 17/01/2025 at 00:46, emberto1946 said:

I am finding it almost impossible to source a towbar for my 2024 kodiak mk2.  The dealer pointed me to a towbar specialist who advised me that a towbar was still under development yet the dealer said they had fitted one for them.

 

Some towbar suppliers say that any kodiaq towbar will fit, others say they don't do one or the car doesn't have the capacity to tow.

 

The prices I am being quoted for a one size fits all towbar means that I might have to come out of retirement to pay for one, if a proper one becomes available!

 

Has anyone had one fitted and able to help me with some contact details.

 

Mike

Aren't there just some former headmasters on this forum - do this, don't do that!  I thought forums like this one were where like minded enthusiasts shared tips and ideas, not to get lectured on the 'proper' way to do things 

 

I've now discovered that many towbar companies are fitting the mk1 Kodiaq towbar with either a universal wiring kit or a dedicated wiring kit so I bought a mk1 towbar, dedicated wiring kit and fitted it myself!  Total cost - about £300.

 

Someone who commented on my post, with a positive attitude, was quite correct in that the mk2 does come fully prepared to accept a towbar.  All the wiring is behind the n/s trim in the boot.  No need to remove rear lights. Wheel arch trims partly unclip then slide.  

 

Easy peasy for an old man like me with a young son keen to help his Dad.

 

By the way, the bits came off eBay.

Edited 3 February, 20251 yr by emberto1946

10 hours ago, emberto1946 said:

Aren't there just some former headmasters on this forum - do this, don't do that!  I thought forums like this one were where like minded enthusiasts shared tips and ideas, not to get lectured on the 'proper' way to do things 

 

Welcome to the Internet, you must be new here 😉.

 

Seriously though, if the people who want to do DIY are allowed their opinion, then so are the people who don't. I don't think anyone was lecturing anyone in this thread - merely stating their opinions.

Latest etka update had a big price reduction for the oem towbar. Now around 800 euros.

@emberto1946 Great result. 

It was you that started off with having an issue getting a towbar or the correct info. 

 

Thanks for sharing how easy it was. 

 

Commercial companies / businesses fitting Mk1 Towbars must know that they are Type Approved for using on a Mk2 Kodiaq or are just taking a risk fitting them if not type approved. 

Maybe there was no need for a change as the Mk1 Type Approval applied even though it is being fitted to a MHEV. 

Edited 5 February, 20251 yr by Ootohere

On 03/02/2025 at 22:34, emberto1946 said:

Aren't there just some former headmasters on this forum - do this, don't do that!  I thought forums like this one were where like minded enthusiasts shared tips and ideas, not to get lectured on the 'proper' way to do things 

 

I've now discovered that many towbar companies are fitting the mk1 Kodiaq towbar with either a universal wiring kit or a dedicated wiring kit so I bought a mk1 towbar, dedicated wiring kit and fitted it myself!  Total cost - about £300.

 

Someone who commented on my post, with a positive attitude, was quite correct in that the mk2 does come fully prepared to accept a towbar.  All the wiring is behind the n/s trim in the boot.  No need to remove rear lights. Wheel arch trims partly unclip then slide.  

 

Easy peasy for an old man like me with a young son keen to help his Dad.

 

By the way, the bits came off eBay.

Hi I read with interest that you fitted a mk1 Kodiaq tow bar to your mk2 Kodiaq, using a dedicated wiring kit. Did this kit fit directly into the tow bar preparation wiring, without any alteration?

If you had to do any alteration, can you confirm what you did please?

I have purchased a kit from Germany with a swivel type tow bar which came with a vehicle specific wiring kit, but doesn’t connect to the tow bar preparation in the car. So I would be very grateful if you could advise me on the fitting kit you used and any modifications that you had to make? Many thanks.

It’s really bad that Škoda don’t provide a vehicle specific wiring kit for this model yet, especially since it comes with tow bar preparation. Very poor show. There are kits for most other VW group vehicles and many crossover models. I tried a Škoda kit for a late model FABIA hoping it would work, but no success and without knowing what each specific wire is for, there is little chance of getting it working correctly.

I do of course have the option of fitting the whole kit which came with my tow bar, but I’m reluctant to do that because it would be a lot more complicated as I have the tow bar preparation already.

Secondly I have found all the trims and clips on my Škoda Kodiaq mk2 to be very difficult to remove and flimsy to, with several clip retaining brackets breaking when removing the wheel arch trims. No ware near as good quality as my Tiguan was and my other VW’s I’ve had in the past.

Also I have the squeaky driver side mirror too and for some reason the map option in the dash won’t work. Other than that the car has been great. Although I do miss the adaptive cruise control from my Tiguan.