Hi folks,

Sorry for the 'new' version of this discussion but the existing Towbar thread seems a bit stale.

I've just received my new Sportline 1.5 TSI DSG and I'm really happy with it.

I was originally going to spec the car with the factory fit towbar but seeing that added about 4 months to the wait, I thought I'd take a car (with tow hitch prep) and get one fitted. My original plan was to go to the dealer and have them fit the Skoda electric folding towbar that I could have ordered from the factory but my friend in the service department checked and it's not available to them to fit.

Following a link from elsewhere in this forum, I enquired with Richter Automotive in Milton Keynes that had previously fitted one to an earlier model year but they replied and said that Skoda had withdrawn the kit so they couldn't help either 😢

So I thought I would resort to an after market removeable towbar from Westfalia. I've got a local specialist and they said they could fit it. I asked them if they could code it (like they did with the one they fitted to my Yeti) and they originally said yes... I've just had a call from one of their techs who said they are unable to code anything newer than MY23 as Skoda haven't (won't?) release the codes.

So I'm back with the dealer to ask them if they can code it. The Tow Bar specialist is someone they use regularly. If they can't / won't code an after market towbar I don't feel comfortable starting the install process.

I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience? It all sounds a bit anti competitive 🤔

If there is no aftermarket towbar available what is the point of Skoda fitting towbar prep to all their Karoqs?

Try Hazzy Days in Markyate, near J9 of the M1. I have used them in the past and they also do retro fit work for Richter Sport and Audi dealers. In May 2024 I contacted Richter to fit a removeable swan-neck Westfalia towbar to my Karoq, (same as they'd fitted to my Touran.) They discovered that the only towbar that was available for my Sept 23 reg Karoq was the Skoda electric swiveling one. I did contact Hazzy Dayz and they said they could fit a Westfalia - in the end I had Richter fit the Skoda factory fit electric one. As my original post said it wasn't straight forward; firstly it took nearly 3 months for all the parts to arrive as one item was on back order to Skoda, and then there was the issue with the coding.

I think there has been a change to the security of the CANBUS configuration somewhere towards the end of the 2023 models, such that its no longer possible for 3rd parties and even Skoda Dealers to 'code' in new features. For example in Sept 24 I asked Richter if they could code Traffic Sign Recognition as my Karoq has all the right hardware already, but Skoda wouldn't release the code to them. I spoke to Hazzy Dayz and took my car over them. They attempted to do it and were blocked and could not access the necessary modules. Hazzy Dayz have some very good techies who were surprised as they'd done this same change to an Audi of the same age the previous week.

Hope your are able to find a resolution.

Thank you. It was your post I was referring to. Richter were very helpful but are currently unable to source the kit. We didn't even get as far as the coding conversation (although I suspect they would consider coding as a core part of the folding unit).

I've written to Skoda UK making the same points. I'll share any reply I get from them.

I thought having towbar prep removed the need for coding? Just plug in the electric kit and go?

That was supposedly the reason Skoda UK made it factory fit on MY24 cars where the coding is locked down?

Edited 4 June, 20254 Jun by logiclee

I had a removable tow bar fitted to my 2021 Karoq which has tow bar prep.

I used a vehicle specific electrics kit but still needed coding (without it gives an error on front assist).

The same question has been asked on the Facebook Karoq Group. An owner of a 24 Karoq had had a removable towbar fitted without problems, So i asked for more details - this was his reply:Hi, it was an Aragon detachable, vertically engaging, towbar and dedicated 13 pin electrics.

It recognises the trailer when connected and disables the rear sensors ( but not the rear fog light, which I thought a little odd).

Had it done at Telford towbars on the recommendation of my local dealer.

OK. So good news. Skoda Customer Services responded to my enquiry and then spoke to my local dealer providing them with all the details they needed in terms of parts and coding.

It's not cheap (I didn't expect it to be). £1500 incl parts, labour & VAT.

It's being fitted on Thursday so I'll let you know how I get on 🤞

Fingers crossed then. Thats a good price too Richter Sport charged £1450 +VAT just over £1700.

Fitted, working and very pleased. £1600 in total (I missed that they hadn't included the VAT on the labour charge 🤦‍♂️)

I've attached the parts list in case it helps anyone else.

On 20/06/2025 at 15:20, NigelL said:

Fitted, working and very pleased. £1600 in total (I missed that they hadn't included the VAT on the labour charge 🤦‍♂️)

I've attached the parts list in case it helps anyone else.

Great to hear this is possible.

I am thinking of buy a used recent (2024 or 26) Karoq 1.5TSI and wish to tow a small caravan, I understand that There is no longer any requirement to have had a Towbar prep fitted. I have contacted a local independent towbar fitter who said that he can no longer recode any VW cars, but that the problems which arise when the caravan is connected can be disabled manually via the control screen.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Hello, welcome to the forum.

I'd suggest extreme caution - from other posts I've seen, you will run into issues if the aftermarket bar isn't coded into the vehicle.

The problem seems to be that Skoda have not released to dealers the information on software changes/settings needed when a towbar is fitted, even if the vehicle has factory towbar preparation. The effects can be stability control not working when a caravan is hitched, emergency braking happening when reversing with the caravan, etc.

I'm looking at buying either a 4x4 Karoq or a Superb to tow a 1600kg caravan and have been advised in several posts on several sites (often by people I know and trust) to only get a vehicle with a factory fitted towbar - even if that means buying new and waiting.

Edited 9 April9 Apr by PetrolDave

Does anyone know exactly what the problems are if the car is not recoded?

I've just been talking to a towbar fitter who I trust and have used in the past to fit a bar and electrics to my current Superb (admittedly over 10 years ago). He said that no one (Not even dealers) can recode any recent VW group car, hence there is no advantage to using a special wiring kit. Therefore he just uses relays to connect the electrics . The only problem he has had is with the parking sensors and they can be turned off manually at the start of every run. If this is true I'm willing to live with that.

Is anyone aware of any other problem that can occur when an after market bar has been added and the car not coded?

Towbar prep in all Karoqs is the cable that runs from front to back, AND in some smaller engined Karoqs included increased cooling mods eg different grill and extra fan or bigger fans.

Irrespective of actual brand of towbar the Towing Module is required and this requires coding to make the towbar electric socket work correctly with the CANBUS. This coding affects ABS and ESC configuration, dashboard repeaters for indicators, rear parking sensors and rear emergency braking, without this disabled when towing it won’t be possible to reverse.

Yes the rear parking sensors can be switched off, most cars it’s a button, every time the car is started. Maybe there are on screen options on latest models.

The coding has been released for 2024, 2025 models, there are owners who have had it done, BUT not all dealers are willing to do it. There are no coding issues with 2023 and earlier models.

Edited 9 April9 Apr by thamestrader