Octavia Scout & Towing

[Marjac]

Have a Scout. Have a towbar.
The manual doesn't necessarily tally with the bar specs.
The Best Bar sticker states that braked weight is 1300kg, unbraked 650kg and ball weight is 75kg.
If the tounge can't be removed, it might pay to check that the locking grub screw or bolt has been loosened.
Cheers,
Ivars

Thanks for the further info, was the Best Bar fitted by the dealer as the 'Factory' option or was it fitted as after market? (& if after market howmuch?) Also interesting to note the 1300kg capacity as vehicle specs state a higher weight although somewhat academic as I'm only looking at 1000-1100kg max

Certainly would prefer the factory/dealer fit as the Briskoda forums also mention about the factory wiring not only disabling the reversing sensors but also adjusting the Stability Control for when a trailer is connected.

I will be negotiating the Towbar at purchase but also appreciate your guys feedback & info in regards to price etc in order that I have a benchmark of sorts.

Whilst on negotiating accessory's etc any other suggestions that may be considered worthwhile to have (not interested in the GPS or Sunroof)

[woofy]

They had front sensors on the car I wanted and they had in stock, I didn't really care either way, but have been glad I have them ever since. If you can get them included, definitely do. I had only rears on my last car, but the fronts are awesome in my job as I quite often have to park in stange places and they pick up objects in front really well, making it easy to park closer to things.

[IBN]

Thanks for the further info, was the Best Bar fitted by the dealer as the 'Factory' option or was it fitted as after market? (& if after market howmuch?) Also interesting to note the 1300kg capacity as vehicle specs state a higher weight although somewhat academic as I'm only looking at 1000-1100kg max

Certainly would prefer the factory/dealer fit as the Briskoda forums also mention about the factory wiring not only disabling the reversing sensors but also adjusting the Stability Control for when a trailer is connected.

I will be negotiating the Towbar at purchase but also appreciate your guys feedback & info in regards to price etc in order that I have a benchmark of sorts.

Whilst on negotiating accessory's etc any other suggestions that may be considered worthwhile to have (not interested in the GPS or Sunroof)

The tow bar was "thrown in" as part of the deal by the dealer, so I couldn't give you a price, but the prices mentioned seem about right for these VAG approved and ADR'd bars (had one on a Audi A3).

Really, if you want a tow bar, I doubt there is much you can do. There appear to be all manner of bars available in Europe, but as they are not ADR'd you could end up with headaches if you were to fit one here, so the Best Bars option is the only one we have here. You could save money on the loom, but it still needs to be fitted and the car "told" about its presence.
Good luck,
Ivars

[dodgey]

As an aside, I plugged the codes into this website and found out that although I didn't order it, the trailer hitch prep is already on my car... (The codes are on the first page of the service schedule)

VW Group Option Codes Decoder

The important code is the second one.
1D7 = Trailer hitch preparation
1D0 = without towing attachment

[Inego]

I thought I'd read on Briskoda that the wiring was already in place on the cars, and the prep option was pretty much a waste of money.

Anyway, I didn't order a towbar new, so I'm looking at other bike carrying options which don't cost me a couple of thousand bucks. I'm assuming I can switch the rear parking sensors off via the Bolero?

Kent

[K1W1]

I'm assuming I can switch the rear parking sensors off via the Bolero?
Kent

Not as far as I know.
The front sensors (if fitted) can be activated by a button on the dash but the rears start working every time reverse is selected. I've never thought about disabling the rears I must try it later on this afternoon.

[dodgey]

I thought that when you hitch a trailer, it will automatically disable the rear park sensors...

[Inego]

Sure, if you've got a towbar fitted but, not having a towbar, a rear window/hatch attachment is an option, and one of the models means the bikes would project over the sensors. If this can't be switched off, I'll have to do roof mounts.

[woofy]

If you have front and rears, you can turn both off with the button, but selecting reverse will turn it on again (can always hit the button again I guess).

[Inego]

Only rears, btu thanks for the tip - I'll see what I can find. I'm going to visit a Thule dealer tomorrow anyway, as the roof bars for my Outback are too short for the Skoda (if anyone in Sydney is looking for a set of bars/feet for an 04-09 Outback (I think they fit the previous model too) let me know!

[K1W1]

Tried the rear sensors with the Bolero this evening. You can switch screens while you are in reverse (to the radio or phone for example) but the sensors still continue to be active while reverse is selected and they will still beep when you get close to something.

I tried a boot mounted bike rack that we have here on my hatch (sedan?). It works okay but as you say the sensors scream their heads off whenever you select reverse they are convinced there is something dangerously close to the rear of the car.

I'd love to know how the Thule carrier works out I priced one up on their web site and nearly had heart failure at the RRP. I don't know how much discount dealers give but I hope that it's a lot.

[Inego]

Thanks for trying things out for me K1W1 - I had a go this am and couldn't find an option either, but then thought "how often am I going be in reverse with the thing on anyway?", so decided not to worry - although I'll check the manual.

The Thule place quoted $229 for the 3 bike hatch mount carrier, plus $96.50 for the light bar, which then needs to be linked in by an auto electrician (the bikes on the carrier block the taillights, and apparently the RTA has occasional crackdowns)....so around $400 all up, which I don't think is too bad. $64 trade-in on the Outback roof bars brings the new ones for the Skoda down to around $200. BTW, the fork mount roof carriers, like they used on the RS-P at Targa T are $220 per bike.....

[K1W1]

I was looking at the roof mounts and I was up near $1000 for cross bars and attachments before my heart rate got too way to high.

The problem with the hatch mount units is that most are no good on the vRS sedan with the read mounted spoiler they can touch the edge of the spoiler and rub the paint off. Don't ask how I know. If you read the fine print on many of the manufacturers sites they say that they are not suitable for cars with boot lid spoilers.

[dsgfh]

Scout DSG in Aus by December
Skoda to launch auto Scout

[TuNeS]

I thought that when you hitch a trailer, it will automatically disable the rear park sensors...

Correct. But it appears the dealers take the shortcut and dont put in the wiring loom for this function. Dad and I both had tow bars fitted to our vRS's and took then back as the sensors are supposed to be disabled when the trailer is connected.......However they couldn't work it out and basically played dumb saying they didn't know how to make it work.

After doing some of my own research on the briskoda forums when I bought the car in October, apparently there are two wiring looms when a towbar is fitted that come from the factory. One for operation of the lights and another which connects to the ECU to enable a different engine mapping profile while towing which also disables the rear sensors. It is a lot of work to do this if the wiring loom isn't installed on build. I also get the bulb warning light on the dash while towing too......another thing I researched on briskoda which isnt anything to worry about. The specifics I cannot remember completely as I researched it ages ago, however if you go through briskoda you will find the info.

I only tow a go kart and reversing is short and sweet so am not too worried. I honestly cant be bothered for the argument with the dealership for something which doesn't bother me that much.