Questions on the Towbar

[BJ75]

Does the sat/nav screen show a trailer fitted when you connect one ?
(I believe it usually does)

Do the rear fog lights and rear parking sensor get disconnected when the trailer is connected ?

Don't know if this helps, but on the factory fitted BestBar units, both these questions are a yes.

If I had my time over, I would have waited several months for Hayman Reece to come out with a Yeti compatible unit along with electrics. Sure, the BestBar vertical titan hitch is partially hidden away (although nowhere near the degree that the UK/Euro Westfalia unit is hidden away), but if you want to hook up any of the popular/decent bike carriers, they all require a horizontal hitch.

I got a right angle adapter made up that does the job. But it probably doesn't look as neat.


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[Blue103TDIDSG]

. Sure, the BestBar vertical titan hitch is partially hidden away (although nowhere near the degree that the UK/Euro Westfalia unit is hidden away),

Thanks BJ75

Ok re the bike carrier - won't be a prob for me as all I ever tow is a box trailer - and only occasionally
That's why I would like the towbar to be "hidden"
Does your comment above mean that the original cover that is in the bumper needs a cutout to allow some of the towbar to poke through ?

[BJ75]

Does your comment above mean that the original cover that is in the bumper needs a cutout to allow some of the towbar to poke through ?

Yes, it does. Being factory fitted this was already done for me. I am almost certain the hole is cut to the exact dimensions required for the Westfalia unit. They (the dealer) nicely provided the cover plate that goes over said hole - which is completely useless with the BestBar units, since there's no physical way the cover will ever go back into place with that receiver, the part the chain hooks onto, and the plug, all sitting proud of the hole profile.

Having said that - about it sitting proud - it's still far less obvious than most Hayman Reece style horizontal ones I see getting around. From behind, the most obvious thing you can see is half the plug. Not that I care that much - like I said before I'd happily have the ugliness of a visible horizontal receiver for the reduction of hassle it causes me for bike carriers.

Oh, speaking of the plug ... another gripe: it's some euro style round pattern that doesn't match anything in Australia. It comes with an adaptor (to turn it into the flat rectangle plug) but it'd be nice if it went straight in. If you've got your own trailer I guess you could modify the cable on it to suit. Maybe helpful to those who don't like lending their trailer to people?

I'm going to build a light/indicator unit for my bike carrier at some point - both to increase rear visibility of my lights etc, but mainly so as to have something to plug into the electrics while it's on there and full of bikes, so that my reversing sensor doesn't constantly beep while reversing with bikes in place. When I make said unit, I'm going to get the male part of this euro plug for sure.

-- EDIT ... sorry, I got sidetracked and over-answered your question. A simple 'Yes' would've sufficed.

[Blue103TDIDSG]

I'm going to build a light/indicator unit for my bike carrier at some point - both to increase rear visibility of my lights etc, but mainly so as to have something to plug into the electrics while it's on there and full of bikes, so that my reversing sensor doesn't constantly beep while reversing with bikes in place. When I make said unit, I'm going to get the male part of this euro plug for sure.

-- EDIT ... sorry, I got sidetracked and over-answered your question. A simple 'Yes' would've sufficed.

No, quite the opposite
Thanks BJ75 for "over-answering" much appreciated the detail.
Helped me make decision that the Bestbars unit is "out" - definitely want that cover in place when not in use

Jeff from Ironbull Towbars is looking for some other import similar to the Westfalia that will be "legal" here in Oz.
Turns out that his shed is 5 mins up the road from where I live, so went and spoke to him yesterday - very helpful.

In passing, he mentioned that the reason we have to get the dealer to tweak the electrics on the car is so that the stability program(s) will know that a trailer is being towed by the connection of the trailer lights - apparently it changes the way the stability program(s) work as well as shutting off the rear sensors and fog lights.

What started out as (I mistakenly thought) would be a fairly simple exercise in finding a towbar has turned into a saga as big as Ben Hur.

Will post the results if and when I finally find something that will work

[edit]
update here Fitting tow bar and wiring to a Yeti with tow prep.

the legalities of using an imported tow bar here, post #15 Fitting tow bar and wiring to a Yeti with tow prep.