Tow-bar for RS wagon

[Sush]

Hi all,

Just wondering what other peoples experiences were with getting a tow-bar fitted?

I got my car from Mentone Skoda in Vic and paid $1500+ for the tow-bar and a cord put together with electrical tape and pull ties. Every time I use it I need to pull out from the spare tyre compartment, removing the items in my boot first.

Now I am in Tasmania and Mentone say I need to externally mount it at my own expense (the car is two months old).

I feel that as it's a "genuine" Skoda part external fitting should be covered, your thoughts?

[SKODA vRS147]

Think it is a bit of a cheek when you paid that sort of money for it to be fitted.
Based on what i have read about towbars in this forum (Superb) i was very inpressed with the look of the install.
Do a search on the forum for towbars as if i remember rightly it had pictures and detailed the install process etc.

I'd get it confirmed that you had a genuine part fitted to the car first and then give them hell over a shoddy install if that is the case.


Edit

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f150/superb-towbar-fitting-presentation-52365.html

I know it is for the superb - but will give you an idea for comparison purposes.

[K1W1]

T
I'd get it confirmed that you had a genuine part fitted to the car first and then give them hell over a shoddy install if that is the case.

Check the wording of your sales contract and if it's clear that you paid for a genuine bar give them one chance to rectify the situation and if they don't go straight to consumer affairs and complain in writing to Skoda Australia.
Unfortunately there is one dealership in Melbourne that is constantly of this source of complaint.

[MarksVRS]

I would definitely follow this one up if I were you, and contact Skoda Australia if the dealer gives you any grief. A factory fitted bar for a wagon should have the plug fixed to the rear bumper, alongside the towbar as per the photo.

It would have been minimal effort to bring the cable and plug through to where it should be so I don't know why they didn't do it in the first place, other than to avoid drilling a couple og holes in the bumper.

[JP-009]

Mine was fitted by the dealer before delivery.

[Sush]

Thanks for the info guys, looks like I got dooshed...

A email from Mentone...

"Unfortunately I would think the Tasmanian dealer will charge for changing over to externally fited. It is not a warranty issue. Unfortunately cost would now be down to you now if you wish to change.

Sorry but not willing to pick up the cost for this."

[dazag]

Did they ask if you wanted the wiring loom/plug internally fitted when you had the tow bar installed? I thought standard configuration is fitted as per the pictures the guys have posted. I know mine is externally mounted.

If you did not request to have it fitted internally I would put pressure on them stating they failed to fit your tow bar system in the correct configuration & that complaints will be submitted to Skoda Aust, and to the ACCC if they continue to wipe their hands of the problem.

I know what they will say though - bring it back to the dealership and we will look after it, they wont pay another dealership to fix their stuff up, but hopefully they do in this case

[wfdTamar]

Very miserly of Mentone not to do it properly when they fitted it. However it shouldn't be that hard to do it yourself. Disconnect the battery. Unwire the end plug, drill a hole for the wire to go outside (paint the hole edges and use a rubber grommet). Screw or bolt the plug to the body and rewire it (or vica versa). Reconnect battery.

Anyone know what a tow bar costs if you buy it later? I'm looking at a car that doesn't have one.

Also xenon headlights (probably can't buy them separately). Also wondering if anyone has compared standard to xenon lights.

I'm looking at these two cars:

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?Cr=0&R=10330297&keywords=&trecs=8&__sid=121EF20021A5&__Ns=pCar_PriceSort_Decimal%7C0%7C%7CpCar_RankSort_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Make_String%7C0%7C%7CpCar_Model_String%7C0&__Qpb=true&__Nne=15&SearchAction=N&seot=1&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294963047%204294963053%201562%204294776569&silo=1011

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=10284831&__Qpb=true&Cr=2&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&__N=1216%201282%204294963053%204294963047%201562&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&seot=1&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=4&__sid=121EF20021A5

[wfdTamar]

Loads cheaper to get a tow bar from the UK.

Witter Skoda Octavia Estate 2004 > Detachable Towbar | eBay UK

Also need the bypass relay they sell = 15 odd pounds and shipping = 100, even at 200 pounds shipping it's only $450-600 total.


Found this advice on Briskoda:

'If you do for the detachable towbar then a decent mechanic should be able to fit no problem though the bumper will need removing and may need a bit cutting out of it. The tricky bit is the electrics, you can go for a universal kit with the bypass relay but my advice to you would be to go for the full monty vehicle specific wiring kit with coding to match. It costs quite a bit extra but for that you will get the trailer stability control, fog light disablement, trailer bulb failure warnings and reverse parking sensor disablement. The latter I find invaluable as if you have the sensors and the basic bypass relay kit whenever you engage reverse with the caravan attached, all you will hear is the damn sensor bleeper giving you a continuous, annoying tone. I would say do some digging on the internet and if you go for the vehicle specific kit, find a fitting company who have the computer to reset the coding as part of the job as otherwise you will have to go to your friendly Skoda dealership who will make you part with more of your hard earned cash to do the coding.'.

[Sush]

How do I upload a photograph?

Mine was fitted by the dealer before delivery.

[wfdTamar]

Use advanced reply and click on the 'Insert Image' button (to the right of the envelope icon).

[JP-009]

I upload the photos to Photobucket, and then copy the link from there into the text of the message.

[IBN]

It's a shame. Overseas there are a host of elegant towing solutions available for VAG cars, but because of ADRs, we're stuck with the Best Bars offer if we don't want any red tape or insurance hassles. It was a bit ugly on my A3, looks appalling on Mk5 Golfs and but is quite OK on my Scout.
I had to do the same rerouting job on the A3. It was quite easy. There were removable rubber bungs in the boot area large enough to pass the loom and plug through and a rubber grommet on the loom to seal the whole deal. Easy.
The installers obviously took the easy route and the dealer dropped the ball on this one.
Cheers,
Ivars

[MarksVRS]

Almost every second day I will scrape the towbar coming out of driveways etc. Not much you can do about it when it is bolted it to the bottom of a relatively low profile bumper. At least it protects the bumper from scraping!!

[Ocy_RS_TDi_Kombi]

You can get a towbar for Octavia's/Scout's from Hayman Reese now - approx $800 fitted. Checkout the specs on their website Hayman Reese

Cheers