Towbar revisited

[Nyyyko]

Correct smart1, the factory tow bar prep includes a rear bumper with cut out, wiring to the rear, and a larger radiator with 2 fans for efficient cooling.

[Smart1]

For those who haven't seen it, this is what the factory towbar looks like... Check posts 113 and 119.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f149/skodas-tow-bars-12005-12.html

[woofy]

I have a feeling all Octavia's came prepped. Oirs has the double fan radiator, I think they all did and is a mk2.

[zei20t]

Both mine and my wife's have the cutout, i believe it is part of the towbar prep. The factory (Prof Svar) removable towbar fits into the foam in the spare, whereas the Westfalia doesn't.

i received the westfalia yesterday. looks great!

i hope the gooseneck fits in the boot. but not a huge deal if it doesnt, it came with a bag to put it into.

great piece of kit! i think its missing the mount for the plug.......... have to chase it up

[zei20t]

installed the wiring and tow module tonight. fairly easy to be honest. VERY glad my car had tow prep.

coded fine and passed diagnostics with the westfalia branded module

ill post photos after the towbar is installed on saturday.

[LunchboxVRS]

installed the wiring and tow module tonight. fairly easy to be honest. VERY glad my car had tow prep.

coded fine and passed diagnostics with the westfalia branded module

ill post photos after the towbar is installed on saturday.

Did you have to run wiring to the front. Or is it plug and play at the rear?

[zei20t]

Did you have to run wiring to the front. Or is it plug and play at the rear?

for my car with tow prep, the red plug was already in the boot. i plugged in the module and coded the car. quite easy

towbar goes on tomorrow. i think the hardest part of that will be removing the rear bumper

[zei20t]

towbar install was fairly straight forward. removing the crash bar was fun. didnt see the bolts until some of the panel sealer was removed.

had to trim about 40mm extra from the bumper to get it to fit. but as i already had tow prep, it wasnt a huge job.

getting the bumper off and on was probably the most difficult part.

will post pics later

[Nyyyko]

i received the westfalia yesterday. looks great!

i hope the gooseneck fits in the boot. but not a huge deal if it doesnt, it came with a bag to put it into.

great piece of kit! i think its missing the mount for the plug.......... have to chase it up

Neck won't fit in the styro form, only the genuine Skoda ones does. No biggie.

My bar didn't come with the plug mount either. Chase that up with Tammy.bugeja@evt-automotive.com.au. Should send it at no charge.

[Nyyyko]

towbar install was fairly straight forward. removing the crash bar was fun. didnt see the bolts until some of the panel sealer was removed.

had to trim about 40mm extra from the bumper to get it to fit. but as i already had tow prep, it wasnt a huge job.

getting the bumper off and on was probably the most difficult part.

will post pics later

You should not have needed to remove any more bumper for the bar. The key is to install the bar as far forward as possible within the long bolt on slot. Went to put bumper back on and found this out. Slid it in as far as I could and presto. I did need to cut off one of the rear lower bumper screw mounts to make way for the plug to swing up and out of the way. Quick and easy

[Nyyyko]

installed the wiring and tow module tonight. fairly easy to be honest. VERY glad my car had tow prep.

coded fine and passed diagnostics with the westfalia branded module

ill post photos after the towbar is installed on saturday.

Of note is that the newer CANBUS modules accept LED lights without needing to install load resistors... No pesky bulb failure warning!

[zei20t]

Neck won't fit in the styro form, only the genuine Skoda ones does. No biggie.

My bar didn't come with the plug mount either. Chase that up with Tammy.bugeja@evt-automotive.com.au. Should send it at no charge.

Martin cc'd her in on our email conversation and she sent one down!

i think i was attempting to install the bracket on the wrong side of the hitch frame.

i have seen a pic online, i think ill try again tonight, but it may mean removing the bumper again. which i really dont want to have to do...........

[zei20t]

You should not have needed to remove any more bumper for the bar. The key is to install the bar as far forward as possible within the long bolt on slot. Went to put bumper back on and found this out. Slid it in as far as I could and presto. I did need to cut off one of the rear lower bumper screw mounts to make way for the plug to swing up and out of the way. Quick and easy

i thought about that, but i had to trim maybe 30mm off the bumper. and i dont think the bar could move more than 5mm forwards.

anyway, no big deal, its not going to move - i hope!

Of note is that the newer CANBUS modules accept LED lights without needing to install load resistors... No pesky bulb failure warning!

my trailer didnt give any bulb out warnings

i also converted my trailer to 13 pin plug so i dont have an adaptor

[arriba]

towbar install was fairly straight forward. removing the crash bar was fun. didnt see the bolts until some of the panel sealer was removed.

had to trim about 40mm extra from the bumper to get it to fit. but as i already had tow prep, it wasnt a huge job.

getting the bumper off and on was probably the most difficult part.

will post pics later

Hi, Please put some photos of the install up when you get a chance.

Thanks!

[zei20t]

yeah photos dont want to upload. ill have to put them on my one drive and link to them