2013 Multivan Towbar

[Freo Boy]

Hello all,

It's my first time on the forum and I'm still penning my experience on my adventures of fitting a tow bar to my 2013 Multivan.

Please be patient for the story that can hopefully save some of you money and the run around i got from VW garages and aftermarket outfits.

[Freo Boy]

Here is the story that may, I hope save you some time and money.
I went to my local dealer from whom I bought the Multivan 2013 to get a price on a factory compliant tow bar. I had read all the posts re non standard ones such as the Hyman Reese system and others not talking to the vans on board computer CAN bus system and the usual things like effect on stability control and parking sensors when hitched to a trailer.
They quoted me 8 hours labor at $160 per hour and $850 plus GST forth parts inclusive of the wiring loom and tow bar, do the math!!
I then tossed up if it was worth it to go for an aftermarket set up and risk the curse of blowing the computer if it wasn't set up properly.
This was the line I was fed from the dealer!!!
Luckily all dealers aren't the same and after some ringing around to get different opinions I found an honest one in Mandurah WA.
He asked for my vans vin no. and subsequently told me where and when the van was made and also that a factory fitted wiring harness had already been pre installed and that fitting would take 2 hours at $150 per hour and the full VW kit would cost $705 inclusive of GST.
Far be it from me to suggest that there is a wrought going on with some dealers, it looks that either one on 2 things is happening.
1. Some dealers have no idea that this sometimes is happening in the factory and have no idea how to look this up on the vehicle build history.
or
2. Some are just downright dishonest and don't tell you when this has happened and pass on the full cost as if it hadn't been done.

Subsequently I have booked it in with the garage in Mandurah and not the dealership where I purchased my van.

Hope this helps

[petelford]

Hi as a newbie myself and a Multivan owner who wants to fit a tow bar, I'll be keeping an eye out for your report.

[Freo Boy]

Hi Petelford,
Try giving the dealer your vin no.
You never know your luck although only post 2012 models are pre fitted with the wiring harness as standard with most models some earlier ones apparently have it too.
If you are doing a lot of towing or have particularly heavy loads it is worth it to have the computer on board work out the different tolerances. I know the argument from some is that we have been towing trailers forever with out the aid of a computer, but if your car has one surely its better to use it's capacity. One mechanic I spoke to who had no vested interest as he doesn't fit tow bars or do electronics suggested the extra $220 (if you have an existing loom fitted) you spend on the VW specs will be made up in fuel efficiency in the first 6 months.

[Transporter]

Welcome to the forum guys! I've moved your thread to this section where it can be useful. To others, please keep it free of unnecessary chat, so it remains useful. I will clean the thread from time to time by deleting unnecessary posts, leaving only useful and related info.

Thanks for posting your story Freo Boy and the feedback on the dealer in WA.

[Freo Boy]

This is my final report on my tow bar experience.
I got my bar fitted yesterday at Barbagallo in Mandurah WA at a total cost of $928 including fitting for a genuine VW kit!!
The quality of the bar compared to aftermarket is exceptional, had Hyman Reece ones in the past but they don't compare.
Little things like foam to stop the bar rattling and more sturdy pin mechanism to lock the detachable unit into place are all part of the deal.
Comes with a euro to 7in converter adapter as well as a cover for the ball!!!
My van had a harness already fitted as all new model Multivans have and also some past models.
On a side note the fitting technician told me he had been in contact with other garages who said the build sheet had said that a harness had been fitted to the back but when they started to fit the bar it wasn't there!!
Turns out they hadn't been looking hard enough and went on to spend 8 hours labour to fit a new harness back to the front of the car at the customers expense.
The clip on harness is located behind the facia panel in the left hand side of the van as you look at it from the back.
The panel is the one that runs up the side of the car adjacent to the back row of seats.
To gat acces you have to push the front seats hop as far as they will go and then push the back 3 seat module up tight behind them.
Once you have removed the facia the harness end sits behind another black plastic panel.
2 hours work max including coding when you know where it is!
Hope my story helps
By the way towed the trailer today and its a dream that you are not bothered by the parking sensors going off when you reverse!!!

[simon_wa]

Hi Freo Boy,

I assume your factory towbar is the removable square hitch type from your reference to the securing pin? I'm trying to confirm which style (removable or fixed) is the genuine fit.

Do you have any photo's available?

[Wardy]

Just to reinforce what Freo Boy has said I provided my local dealer ( the one I purchased my late 2012 van from ) with the VIN and they informed me that it had the harness preinstalled and quoted me $928 to install a factory tow bar with a removable square hitch. This would seem to fit in with the final cost that Freo Boy quoted.

[Sunny43.5]

We transferred our VW fitted towbar originally fitted to our 2004 T5 onto our 2012 T5 , I think anyone will find that yes its "prewired " but that means that it you buy the original VW harness around $600 from memory , you remove the tail lights and it adapts into the original plugs at the back then down to the towbar , I circumvented that with a Hayman wiring kit $120 and no coding and works with LED lights . There are alternatives if you do some research , in fact the original tow bar was made and supplied to VW Australia by a New Zealand company . I contacted them for a new one when we first got the new van but was told it was only available through VW [not paying their prices] so I did the swap instead .Ours also has the rubber insulator and two safety chain attachments I bypassed the plug adaptor thing as I only tow one trailer .