Tow Bar info please - What changes are there to the cars electronic system on Alltrak

[mtbboy41]

Hi All,
I am tossing up between the vw towbar and electrics package and the Hayman reese setup. I was wondering what the difference is between the original electronics ecu and the aftermarket ecu kits. I read the manual and there isn't any real indication of what changes when a trailer is attached. Does the reverse camera show a trailer graphic?, Can you open the tailgate remotely?, are the reversing sensors disabled? Are there any changes made to the stability programs?

The VW agent in Hobart was a bit unsure of what happened to the systems when you plugged a trailer into the VW wiring. Can anyone who has the VW equipment installed help me out. Also if you have an aftermarket setup I would love to hear how the electrics work for you.

My local vw dealer will have get either bar for me but will only use the VW wiring kit. They want to charge about $1500 where as the local Hayman Reese dealer wants $940 but they aren't clear if that includes a genuine wiring kit or an aftermarket one.

All your comments a re greatly appreciated.
Thanks in Advance
David

[Umai Naa!!]

The genuine module will integrate with the rest of the elctrics in the car. To what extent, I'm not 100% sure.

The Hayman Reece electrics only prevent the bulb error from coming on when you hook a trailer up.

Hopefully someone here who has a similar car can comment.

[Hillbilly]

As far as I know the auto tailgate wont work in a wagon with a trailer and neither will the parking sensors or the rear view camera.

Says so in the manual anyway There is a German towbar which is pretty neat and seems to cost about $1000 fitted There is one for sale in the Passat forum in Melbourne

ww.westfalia-automotive.com/landingpage_aus/

[JB's Dub]

With the genuine electronic module and required coding, the vehicle stability program is modified when a trailer is hooked up, the reverse sensors are disabled and the PDC display shows a trailer on the screen. You also get bulb monitoring for the trailer. The remote tailgate will not lift remotely with a trailer connected (to prevent the tailgate hiting the towbar). When the towbar is fitted, there is a dealer action code that is used and ODIS does an onlne programming of the car to bring adapt all the required modules to towbar spec.

[mtbboy41]

Thanks for the info so far. I have seen lots of examples of the standard vw towbar installed and would be placed with that but I would appreciate if anyone has some close up pics of their Hayman reese install. especially where the plug is located and how they deal with the pin that holds the tongue in. Can anyone help?

[Hillbilly]

There was thread sometime ago about someone who got one done and wasnt at all happy with the amount cut out of the under tray

This one

Alltrack genuine towbar install - why the big hole in the rear bumper?


And the followup

Towbar - Poor workmanship