Multivan T5 Towbar

**Bug_racer** · 01-07-2008, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by MultiplexMan

Bugger! I just noted the date of the original post - 2006.

Maybe its all changed now , but when they were doing the original units the control units did get changed

**95vr6** · 04-07-2008, 07:33 PM

I have a original vga tow bar fitted to my 04 T5, removed it when i sold the van & refitted it to my new 08 T5 , no difference in the wiring harness. It plugs into factory loom at the tail lights .There is a micro switch in the 7 pin trailer connector to identify extra load for rear lights

**coastie** · 06-07-2008, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by MultiplexMan

Bugger! I just noted the date of the original post - 2006.

It's interesting that this is still going around as I baulked at buying the towbar in 2006 and am still interested in getting one now two years later. Only the price has changed.

**BobD** · 06-07-2008, 11:28 AM

I have Hayman Reese on my Multivan, organised by the dealer when I bought the vehicle and carried out by the local towbar installer. I tow a caravan and needed the full 2500kg capacity of the vehicle, which you get with the HR towbar. I bought mine 12 months ago and it cost $690 fitted.

They supply a small box in the rear side panel that interfaces with the Canbus system. They run a wire direct from the battery to power the stuff and it must just get a control signal from the existing wiring to operate micro switches of some sort in the black box.

The standard ball holder is way too low and useless for a caravan. Wesbar swapped it for the highest ball holder available but even this is a bit low. I just upgraded my caravan to a Geist and I had to get the ball even higher to get it level. I now have the adjustable hitch from the full HR load levelling system and it is just high enough on the highest adjustment holes. I will post a photo of the German combo sometime when I get a chance. Even without the levelling bars this ball holder cost around $450 so that makes the tow bar much more expensive.

By the way, Geist uses a 12 pin plug with several differences to normal caravans. For example, one wire only runs the fridge on 12 volts when the engine is running and there is another wire that powers the interior lights all the time regardless of whether the engine is on or off. This cost about $450 to setup and I now have a 7 pin socket and a 12 pin socket on the car.

For those interested, the auto diesel Multivan pulls the 18 foot Geist AK 560 very well. I get around 13.5l/100km at 100kph on the GPS (106kph on the Multivan speedo), probably as good as any car can get with such a load. There is plenty of power available with the 400Nm torque.

**lwulf1960** · 23-02-2009, 07:51 PM

I realise this is an old thread, but I'm hoping someone may pick it up. We're wanting to buy a 2005 T5 4-Motion to carry a mid-size motorbike PLUS tow a caravan. But the rated towball down weight is listed as 100kg, which seems really low for it's 2500kg towing capacity. Does anyone know why such a low towball rating? Is there some structural weakness in the vehicle that we need to be aware of? Can the vehicle be up-rated in any way e.g. strengthened chassis? Any advice much appreciated.

**Tornado T5** · 23-02-2009, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by lwulf1960

I realise this is an old thread, but I'm hoping someone may pick it up. We're wanting to buy a 2005 T5 4-Motion to carry a mid-size motorbike PLUS tow a caravan. But the rated towball down weight is listed as 100kg, which seems really low for it's 2500kg towing capacity. Does anyone know why such a low towball rating? Is there some structural weakness in the vehicle that we need to be aware of? Can the vehicle be up-rated in any way e.g. strengthened chassis? Any advice much appreciated.

I have a Hayman Reese hitch installed (ordered through VW dealer at time of purchase) on my T5 and there's a drivers door sticker stating a tow ball load of 250kg max so I'd say it's the towbar limitation.

**gregozedobe** · 23-02-2009, 10:34 PM

I had an idea that the low ball weight was a VW vehicle spec limitation, not a particular towbar thing (but I haven't really looked into it since I was told everyone wanted an arm, a leg and my right testicle to install a towbar on my T5 transporter).

**Tornado T5** · 24-02-2009, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by gregozedobe

I had an idea that the low ball weight was a VW vehicle spec limitation, not a particular towbar thing (but I haven't really looked into it since I was told everyone wanted an arm, a leg and my right testicle to install a towbar on my T5 transporter).

...so you got offered a discount...lol.

**lwulf1960** · 25-02-2009, 09:07 AM

Local VW dealer has told me it's a VW spec limit, but can't / won't say if it's because of a specific issue with the vehicle structure or some other reason. I had thought it might simply be that in Europe most towed caravans/trailers are very lightweight (under 1 tonne) and so 100kg is totally workable there. However in AUstralia, very few caravans are that lightweight...... problem remains unsolved.....
Linda

**BobD** · 25-02-2009, 11:03 PM

My Multivan has a tow ball limit of 250kg according to the manual, the HR tow bar and everything I have read on the VW web page. This is why the HR tow bar is also rated at 2500kg and 250kg ball weight.

If it is now 100kg it must have changed in the last year or so as I haven't looked into it in that time.

Doesn't matter to me as the Geist caravan has a maximum of 100kg allowed on its tow ball. Must be a good number for the Germans. Certainly nothing wrong with the T5 as a tow vehicle. As I said earlier it is the best tow vehicle I have ever had.