T5 fitting a tow bar

[Zaskar]

I'm in a 2012 T5 crewvan. at present, it doesn't have any provisions for a tower. Just a stock standard van.

If someone could post a few photos of how a tow-bar assembly attaches into the chassis bar.

Any advice on the wiring harness requirements.

I don't have the tow bar assembly so I need to get hold of the entire kit. Preferably second hand or from a wreck.

I'm in Melbourne and ideally would like to have it on and ready by Friday for a weekend away.

[Umai Naa!!]

From memory, the cab chassis towbars slip inside the chassis rails, and bolted in through the inside.

If you're chasing a genuine wiring kit, it'll need to be off a current model face-lifted T5, as the earlier models used a different electrics setup. I can't recall for certain if the cab chassis was available pre-wired either, and further more, they're not exactly plug-and-play.

[Tornado T5]

Zaskar, are you referring to a Crewvan, ie. Transporter van with factory second row seat or a Cab/double cab chassis T5GP?

[Umai Naa!!]

Good point.

I miss-read that part.

[Sunny43.5]

I swapped the tow bar from our early T5 into our latest one no problem just bolted straight in . The wiring as Umai says is not so easy but their is an alternative , the VW part which just plugs in will set you back around the $600 plus mark . But then you have to have the towing electrics turned on through the computer another extra cost , now as I said there is an alternative if you go to a towbar company they will probably have a Hayman Reece developed kit made especially for the upgrade T5 . It consists of a small box with several relays built in all you need to do is to earth the kit and attach one wire to an Accessory circuit I found one under the passengers seat . Then you connect one wire to each of the lights tail / brake / indicators/ and then the remaining wires to the tow plug. NO programming is required and it will work with LED lighting , you see the relays are powered by the accessory feed and they are triggered by each light so the cars electrics do not see the load of the extra lights . When I purchased the kit for our van it was around $120 for the whole thing .

[Zaskar]

was that 120 for the tow bar and wiring harness?

[Sunny43.5]

No the wiring kit we already owned the tow bar from our early T5 .

[ajvx01]

Got a tow bar for my swb t5 in the shed and for the life if me I don't see how it can be fitted without removing the rear bumper!?

[Umai Naa!!]

Yes, that's correct.

Tail lights out, trim covers below them, and then bumper off. You also need to do away with the reenforcement bar.

[lynnos]

Hello Sunny, I'm wondering what happens with the short cut kit you mention if you have proximity sensors in the rear bumper. If the kit does not integrate as per the genuine parts, does the prox system keep on bleating at the trailer when attached? I have a 2011 model Crewvan,ie Transporter van with back seat, and I have to go through a towbar fitting exercise in the not too distant future. About a year ago, Bryan Byrts at Capalaba quoted me $2000 which I recoiled a bit from. Still, it's a shame they have a problem there now with receivers etc.