Any problems with the Hayman Reese hitch for a T5?

[Ivo]

Turns out I do have ESP as there is a button on the dash!

[dct]

Hi Tornado

Nice looking van! I think the cow horn bumper protection was included in the price i've been quoted, but not sure about the step - which would be very useful.

I'll have to ask the installer.

David

[MultiplexMan]

I was told that "pork pie" when I was shopping for a hitch receiver for my T5.

Logic Question
- if I attach a bike carrier to the hitch, and engage the secondary lights on the carrier - how does the ECU know what I have attached? How does it differentiate between an empty trailer, a caravan, a bike carrier?

Answer
- it cannot.

I went through the installation instructions included with the VAG harness and there were no hard "data" connections. The only thing that gets "adjusted" is a load value so the second set of lights is not reported as a bulb failure (resistance increase) when the hitch is engaged.

Cheers, MM

[Tornado T5]

Hi Tornado

Nice looking van! I think the cow horn bumper protection was included in the price i've been quoted, but not sure about the step - which would be very useful.

I'll have to ask the installer.

David

The hitch is modified by Vehquip, Ferntree Gully Vic, who add the horns and step to a H-R supplied unit. Burwin's VW use this supplier for many dealer fitted options to T5's and in fact I ordered about $6K of options directly with Vehquip and had the dealer settle with them so that I had one pick-up and inclusive finance deal. Their quote for the tow bar back in '07 was under $800 fitted.

[Tornado T5]

I was told that "pork pie" when I was shopping for a hitch receiver for my T5.

Logic Question
- if I attach a bike carrier to the hitch, and engage the secondary lights on the carrier - how does the ECU know what I have attached? How does it differentiate between an empty trailer, a caravan, a bike carrier?

Answer
- it cannot.

I went through the installation instructions included with the VAG harness and there were no hard "data" connections. The only thing that gets "adjusted" is a load value so the second set of lights is not reported as a bulb failure (resistance increase) when the hitch is engaged.

Cheers, MM

Would this be the same for T5's/Multivans with factory installed reverse parking sensor's?

[MultiplexMan]

Tornado,

If you have factory park sensors, they are disabled when the hitch (supplementary harness) is active. Park sensors obviously would not work properly if something was attached to the hitch carrier.

A "bare" tow ball can return a false postive from the park sensors...so just pull it out of the hitch and stow it.

[Tornado T5]

Tornado,

If you have factory park sensors, they are disabled when the hitch (supplementary harness) is active. Park sensors obviously would not work properly if something was attached to the hitch carrier.

A "bare" tow ball can return a false postive from the park sensors...so just pull it out of the hitch and stow it.

Actually the tow ball doesn't cause any problems in my case, the recently fitted plastic tow ball cover does, only occasionally however. I tow at least twice a week and can't be bothered removing it everytime. And if I stop at the moment the reversing buzzer changes to a constant note I am approx. 5cm from whatever is behind to the end of the hitch...sure scares anyone parked behind me. My unit uses a round trailer socket and I have been lead to believe that to have worked as intended I should have been given a rectangular one as this has a switch inside it to register a trailer loom is attached. Who knows if this is true, however come replacement time, and the new salesman at the selling dealer is already planning to see me allowing for a 16 week delivery (lol) by the end of this year I'm going to make sure this option is exactly as I want it. As mentioned in other posts the dealer fitted a switch under my dash to turn off the parking sensors manually when I'm towing to avoid the warning buzzer when reversing while towing...not perfect and offered to me when I explained what I had paid for and what actually was supplied ex factory and dealer were two different things.

PS. as a matter of interest MultiplexMan is that VAG harness instruction available online?