I'm looking at fitting a towbar on my 04 plate mk2 Octy and am wondering if there are any fixed towbars which are less likely to cause issues with the reversing sensors. I have been doing some searches on the forums but other than a few comments I haven't found an answer.

Ultimately I just need a bar that is functional, it doesnt have to be stylish or removable (unless having a fixed bar with reversing sensors is no good).

I assume that for the best chance for the bar to be ignored a swan-neck bar would be best?

Does anyone have any experience of the fixed bars with sensors and have any useful advice?

The fixed towbar supplied by Skoda should be okay. My Scout has rear parking sensors and they are not triggered by the towbar fitted by the dealer.

The fixed towbar supplied by Skoda should be okay. My Scout has rear parking sensors and they are not triggered by the towbar fitted by the dealer.

Still waiting for 'em you know......

Have fixed towbar by Witter and on our 55 plate A5 Elegance it causes problems such as continouse to bleeping when nothing is there. Solution , get Skoda detachable or Witter etc detachable.

Have fixed towbar by Witter and on our 55 plate A5 Elegance it causes problems such as continouse to bleeping when nothing is there. Solution , get Skoda detachable or Witter etc detachable.

I've been led to believe that the solution is to use Skoda's CAN compliant loom and have the car recoded so that it "knows" that a towbar is there? I might be wrong. It certainly isn't cheap as a bypass relay by quite some way. (Though I would like to know what, apart from £13, the difference is between the ZGB and EEA looms)

A Skoda dealer "local" to me has quoted £550 inc fitting to fit a detachable bar to my Scout with the official loom and single electrics. As I'll have the car for a while I'm prepared to stump up so that it all works at it's best. Still one problem though - still need to find £550..............

Niall

I have a detachable brink fitted to mine, but causes no problems when its fitted at all. Hope this helps.

I have a detachable brink fitted to mine, but causes no problems when its fitted at all. Hope this helps.

Is that with the towbar electrics being looked after by a Skoda CAN Loom or a bypass relay setup?

Niall

A colleague has an Octavia Elegance with permanant Brink towbar and has no problems whatsoever. Looks quite tidy for an always there install too.

A colleague has an Octavia Elegance with permanant Brink towbar and has no problems whatsoever. Looks quite tidy for an always there install too.

But what electrics did he have fitted?

Niall

trying not to sound like a broken (but inquisitive) record!

I had a fixed towbar to start with but it caused intermittent problems. I now have a removable but bizarrely enough it doesn't set the sensors off when fitted.

I had a fixed towbar to start with but it caused intermittent problems. I now have a removable but bizarrely enough it doesn't set the sensors off when fitted.

I have a question.....................

Thanks for the replies so far

I second Nialls question though, for those saying that you had a detachable bar that caused no issues when it was in place, do you know which wiring loom you were using? Was it a full Skoda one or a bypass relay?

I have been searching on the VAGCOM forum and can't see how to tell the car that you have a towbar fitted, anyone have any advice on this?

Might be a bit different on a Scout as the bar sits lower than the sensors, due to the ride height.

Hi all,

I have a Brink Fixed Towbar fitted to my 56 Reg Octavia Estate. I have had a look and the electrics are brink, and I had the swan neck bar fitted.

When I booked it in for a fitting, I was concerned about the reverse sensors, which they couldn't guarantee, and I had to sign to say I knew this and abou the Bumper cut (not visible unless you are under the car). The sensors do still work as before with no interference, the only thing to remember when needing them in close moves is that the bar is about an inch away on solid bleep.

The only other downside is when you are reversing the trailor the beep is very annoying, so no long reverses for me!

Pictures below, I paid for reference £175 inc Vat for everything fitted and took about 2 hours from drop off to collection. Using Indespension (if I can mention them?)

Hope this helps

Ian

I had a tow trust detachable flange towbar fitted to my 06 Elegance. Left in place it has caused no trouble at all. The advantage of this system is that if the fixed ball did cause trouble to your car, the detachable flange is a straight swap. All fitting and electrics are not affected.

Interestingly, it was fitted by a local mobile fitter who I’ve used many times over the last 20 years. He always fits all VAG cars WITHOUT any bypass. – Just a straight clip-in. The piece of kit he had was much more than the old scot locks clips (or however they’re spelt)

Since fitting, the car has been serviced and I specifically asked for the electrics to be vag com tested and they told be everything was fine.

Even thought the following firm didn’t fit the bar, they were most helpful in providing advice. Cheap too!

http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk/homepage.htm

and

http://www.towbarsdirect.co.uk/products/towbarmakes.htm#TT

I've just had a fixed Witter towbar with twin electrics, Alko towball and protective plate fitted by Fast Fit to my new Octavia Elegance 1.9TDi Hatchback.

At first I thought there was a problem - sensor would bleep every time the car went into reverse. Took it back to Fast Fit - first removed the tow ball cover (no change) and then after a brief discussion tried moving the "wings" of the protective plate back each side and, hey presto, no problem any more.

Regards

John R

I'm trying to order a bar for my Octy.

Dealer in Leeds needs some assistance about this.

What does he need to fit/do so the reversing sensors turn off when a trailer is connected?

Is it VAGCOM or CANBUS or both?

I've a dealer fitted Brink & the sensors are fine with no caravan attached.

But; that bloody bleeping when reversing the van is very, very annoying. There seems to be no way of silencing it.

We had that aswell, fixed it by getting a motor mover for the now departed 'van. best invention for a 'van ever. And yes i can reverse a car and 'van with no trouble.

I think the sensors can be turned off with vag-com when the electrics are plugged in.

Yes sensors can be switched off via VAG COM. I also got the dealer to disable the rear foglight when connected to the van to reduce the red glare when towing in the dark or in foggy conditions.