Skodas and tow bars

Yep, gone are the days of bolting a piece of angle iron to the rear bumper of the HQ with a towball on it ....

Now we have reverse sensors, ABS, ESP, CANBUS, maybe even the deceleration sensors for airbags, etc are affected by towing, not to mention the super lightweight wiring that can't be tapped into.

These electronics are getting so sophisticated, it probably won't be long before the weight, no. of axles, and whether the trailer has brakes, will have to be programmed into the ABS/ESP ECU so it knows how to attempt to correct a swerve or a jack-knife.

My Elegance wagon was ordered (new) with the tow bar option, but this was dealer fitted.

The actual tow bar says "Best Bars". From memory, I think it was an extra 1200 supplied and fitted.

Cheers,

JP

'08 Scout with a Best Bars hitch. All good except for a bulb failure warning when the trailer attached due to the fact that we don't run separate feeds to the taillights. I had EXACTLY the same deal with my Audi A3. Both cars had the sockets and connections to access the CANBUS so that the loom and relays could be fitted. A bit of VAG-COM magic and all is done. Simple. Shame that we are taken for such a ride as far as the prices are concerned.
Cheers,
Ivars

Just watch, all VAG cars seem to have a very low deadweight on the towballs due to the chassis design...so they can pull the weight, but the towball etc itself is not as strong as usual....

Thread revival!!

Looking at getting a towbar for my Octavia vRS wagon. Anyone got the european style towbar installed? I like the fact you can take the swanneck off and practically not see the towbar.

Anyone got any recommendations for towbar installers in brisbane? Thinking of Speedy Towbars in Everton Hills?

Just got a supply and install quote from Speedy for their Euro towbar.........wait for it........$1850!!!! Geezus!!!

Looking at ironbull now, but have not heard (read) good reports about them?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by donweather

Just got a supply and install quote from Speedy for their Euro towbar.........wait for it........$1850!!!! Geezus!!!

Looking at ironbull now, but have not heard (read) good reports about them?

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Just make sure whatever you get it is ADR compliant and has the correct sticker welded to it.

I recently got a Hayman Reese bar installed. I looked into Ironbull but the timing wasn't right and I wasn't convinced that I wanted the connector hanging below the bar - backing out of my driveway is borderline for scraping at the best of times so I didn't want to make this worse. The place I went to (Hayman Reese approved place in Prahran, VIC) gave me the option of the HR and the "official" Skoda one, which is from Bestbars - also has a connector that hangs below the bar (no cutting required but sits lower).

External view of my car now - some cutting of the bumper was needed but it looks neat:
Attachment 6808

Internal - flat wiring that can be stored in the spare wheel
Attachment 6809

I haven't used it yet but I tested the lighting board on my bike rack and it all works. Note - I didn't test in reverse and I don't have rear parking sensors.

Bestbars connector looks like this (can't find a picture, but it looks like the Ironbull one when the tongue is not attached):
Attachment 6807

Edit: there are some pics of the Bestbars one here:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/foru...tml#post489701

Edit 2: this might be the Bestbars one as well:
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/foru...tml#post489701

I have just had a Hayman Reese toe bar fitted to my vRS hatchback it cost a $1160 supplied & fitted was done my the local trailer place in Charmhaven [Central Coast NSW] but was also quoted about $1500 from 2 places in Gosford. Also Hatman Reese only make from 2010 onwards, will post pics later. They did a great job fitting it

Attachment 6811Attachment 6812

Yeh I got an actual HR tow bar fitted to my Mk5 GTI around 5 years ago for $1000, so im guessing around $1200-$1500 is an accurate price.

I want a tow bar on my VRS badly... so helpful...