Having read and researched on here about Towbars I'm sold on the benefits of using the dedicated wiring loom that works with the car (Trailer ESP, reverse sensors temporarily disabled, etc) over a bypass relay system. Only after single electrics for towing trailers and towbar mounted bike carriers.

I've found two (well I think they both work the same) - the prices are both off the manufacturers web pages.

Skoda's own - ZGB1Z0055204 (13 pin) - £192.50 once you've bought the converter to 7 pin

and Witters own brand one - ZEKSK0002 (7 pin) - £108

An £80 saving is not to be sniffed at so I wondered if anyone has experience of the Witter Kit and have there been any problems?

My biggest concern is that I spoke to the local towar place to get a quote and found out that they were the subbie for the local dealer - the dealer didn't seem to know anything about CAN-BUS wiring looms so I'm not convinced they'd know how to code the car and I'm not sure that the towbar place will know how to fit the wiring.............

Niall

The factory fit electrics also offer added security and will sound the alarm if the trailler is unplugged - don't know if the aftermarket kit will do this or not...

It's a lot of money but the OEM kit should be reliable. I don't know if the Witter kit is plug and play or what it contains.

You may find this of interest - Octavia-vRS.com - Octavia II Estate Towbar Install

Ihave the Witter electrics/towbar and have no problem on that side of it but as we have the Elegance the reversing sensors pick up the towball and maybe the two sockets. When i asked Skoda about it i found out they only do the detachable ball and also with Skoda loom there is available a gizzmo thatstops the sensor working when towing. The whole lot came to £250 with the Witter and at the time the Skoda i believe was at £ 396 thats with their detachable ball.Whilst it was a big saving i wish i had gone for the Skoda.

Ihave the Witter electrics/towbar and have no problem on that side of it but as we have the Elegance the reversing sensors pick up the towball and maybe the two sockets.

Thanks. Did you use the "dedicated" Witter loom (£100 quid odd) or the generic one which is about £14 (see below)?

From my limited understanding the "dedicated" loom would still have required a visit to the dealer or someone with VAG-COM to code the car for the trailer functions (see the link in Stu's post)

Niall

I have a fixed, witter flange type towball, and the wiring is witter as well.

I also have problems with the reversing sensors picking up the towball. Sometimes they are fine, but more often than not it randomly bleeps.

I think I was nearly £300 to get it fitted by the dealer, the proper detachable skoda kit was going to be around double the price.

My reversing sensors pick up anything that you are towing when you reverse, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't sound the car alarm if you unplug the trailer.

I did have a problem where they didn't fit a tell-tale for the indicators, but they did fit a buzzer after convincing them it was needed to make it legal.

If I knew the problems I was going to have with the reversing sensors (when not towing), I'd probably have gone for a detachable one of some sort, even if it did cost more.

My towbar (fixed swan neck) was fitted by an outside firm at the dealers request.

The electrics I would guess are not Skoda's own.

No problems so far, was worried that the grey socket would be wired correctly to pick up the new Alko ATC electronic stability system fitted on my new caravan but it was fine.

Have a buzzer fitted for the indicators, slight problem is that it is quieter than in previous towcars so you do need to listen out for it.

Approximately 2000 towed miles since September 2007, no problems so far. But the vRS doesn't have reverse sensors nor does it have an ESP.

It's been a while but I am fairly sure you can code the parking sensors to tell them you have a towbar fitted.

It's been a while but I am fairly sure you can code the parking sensors to tell them you have a towbar fitted.

Yes. The dealer said they had done this, but it didn't help, or they haven't actually done it/done it properly. I wouldn't be surprised......

I wouldn't be without my Skoda supplied and fitted tow bar but at a price of over £600 it's not too cute.

In answer to Nial, as it was a Witter agent who fitted ours i could not say if it was one or the other you mentioned. As i said earlier, when i went to my Skoda dealer he said only the Skoda loom for towing has the function for sensor type cars