Towbar revisited

[zei20t]

OK, photos of the work!

Firstly, after taking off the rear bumper. The crash bar is bolted on to the end of the chassis rails. its semi stuck on with body sealer. Have to be VERY careful you dont tear it off the car. Need to cut it where required to remove the crash bar:



Crash bar removed, I used an enamel paint on the exposed metal area, just to make sure nothing would easily get rusty:



Towbar in installed position. It basically replaces the crash bar location. But bolts on down the chassis rails instead of on the end of them:



Close up of some more painting exposed areas. I did several coats just for fun:



Where the gooseneck fits into place:



Completed install and bumper - slightly trimmed - back into place:



Took probably 2.5 hours with some assistance to remove and replace the bumper. it was probably the most painful part of the installation.

[LunchboxVRS]

So just tried to fit the westfalia Towbar to my mk3 vrs. It's a my 16 built 12/15. Seems the changed the tow prep wiring. It's not the red plug. Same shape but black and less wires. Also the tow bar is to far in and the bar Dosnt fit on to the lower section. Westfalia said there is new wiring kit and a new attachment for the hitch to go into but Dosnt solve the issue.

[zei20t]

hmmm mk3 is a new beast it seems!

also, i think you have the mount for the plug on the wrong side of the hitch mount. it should be bolted onto the other side, but still facing left

[LunchboxVRS]

hmmm mk3 is a new beast it seems!

also, i think you have the mount for the plug on the wrong side of the hitch mount. it should be bolted onto the other side, but still facing left

I thought that too as I had seen others but it Dosnt reach. And the cut out is bigger on the left. I tried a couple of ways to try make it fit but nothing worked

[zei20t]

I thought that too as I had seen others but it Dosnt reach. And the cut out is bigger on the left. I tried a couple of ways to try make it fit but nothing worked

hmm perhaps they are supplying the wrong part with the kit?

i need to take mine off, or just leave it where i left it and deal with it. if it doesnt fall off and doesnt foul anything, i really dont mind where it is

[LunchboxVRS]

hmm perhaps they are supplying the wrong part with the kit?

i need to take mine off, or just leave it where i left it and deal with it. if it doesnt fall off and doesnt foul anything, i really dont mind where it is

Turns out that Skoda changed there towbars for mid 2014 onwards compared to the ones they had for release in 2013. The wiring has changed 3 times. Once with each Towbar and agin in 2015. Seems westfalia have not cought up in Aus as the only offer the 2013 version.
Have comm6acted westfalia and waiting a response. Think I'll just get a refund and buy the genuine Skoda one and fit it myself....again.

[zei20t]

Turns out that Skoda changed there towbars for mid 2014 onwards compared to the ones they had for release in 2013. The wiring has changed 3 times. Once with each Towbar and agin in 2015. Seems westfalia have not cought up in Aus as the only offer the 2013 version.
Have comm6acted westfalia and waiting a response. Think I'll just get a refund and buy the genuine Skoda one and fit it myself....again.

where did you buy it from?

if its the place i got mine, they are very reasonable people and will do what they can to help you out

[Nyyyko]

It's finally happened. Took the caravan for its maiden voyage over the long weekend. Skoda went well, 3 hours each way. Good pull, nice handling, braking tops. Probably close to 1300kg with the stuff loaded. May weigh next time. Averaged 14.9 l/100 out and 13.1 on the return. Power to the fridge whilst towing, gas while camping. solar setup for lights and charging stuff. So good. Thanks to all on this thread

[zei20t]

good to hear

ill be towing 1300kg around this weekend. not worried too much about the economy, as long as it goes ok and handles well.

how much weight did you have on the ball? got some gas bottles and water on the A-frame there

[zei20t]

so, towed around 1300kg of trailer and racecar last weekend. traveled fine!

found a minor design flaw with the gooseneck attachment/detachment wheel.

when you want to detach the gooseneck, you turn the wheel away from you, the top goes towards the front of the car. well, when i ran over a kangaroo on the highway, the carcass of the roo kindly detached the gooseneck on my behalf, while i was traveling at around 70-80km/h.

thankfully, the trailer hitch got stuck under the boot floor and i brought the whole thing to a stop safely. managed to drive it all home - once the goosneck was kind of forced back onto the car.

anyway, you'd think the europeans would have thought of that! im getting insurance to install a HR bar, might look ugly, but roadkill wont actually attempt to kill me lol

[LunchboxVRS]

so, towed around 1300kg of trailer and racecar last weekend. traveled fine!

found a minor design flaw with the gooseneck attachment/detachment wheel.

when you want to detach the gooseneck, you turn the wheel away from you, the top goes towards the front of the car. well, when i ran over a kangaroo on the highway, the carcass of the roo kindly detached the gooseneck on my behalf, while i was traveling at around 70-80km/h.

thankfully, the trailer hitch got stuck under the boot floor and i brought the whole thing to a stop safely. managed to drive it all home - once the goosneck was kind of forced back onto the car.

anyway, you'd think the europeans would have thought of that! im getting insurance to install a HR bar, might look ugly, but roadkill wont actually attempt to kill me lol

Does it not have a key to lock it. My westfalia has to be pulled away from the neck before it will turn and won't turn or pull out without the key inserted and turned

[zei20t]

yes it does. and it was locked and the key removed.

but put enough force on anything in the right way and it will break. it was a big roo

ill ask for the gooseneck back once the car is repaired, and ill have a look at whats broken. might take to it with an angle grinder

[DETROITCANDY]

Superb 162TSI braked tow capacity = 2000kg.
Octavia 162TSI RS braked tow capacity = 1600kg.
Both have same driveline and MQB platform with independent rear ends.

Can anyone tell me what the mechanical/structural difference is that makes the heavier superb a more capable tow car. I have no experience with towing and haven't really thought about it much until recently.
I'd love to be able to tow my currently street registered track car and a trailer with an Octavia if/when I decide to de-register my track car. Car is approx. 1400kg before trailer.

[LunchboxVRS]

Superb 162TSI braked tow capacity = 2000kg.
Octavia 162TSI RS braked tow capacity = 1600kg.
Both have same driveline and MQB platform with independent rear ends.

Can anyone tell me what the mechanical/structural difference is that makes the heavier superb a more capable tow car. I have no experience with towing and haven't really thought about it much until recently.
I'd love to be able to tow my currently street registered track car and a trailer with an Octavia if/when I decide to de-register my track car. Car is approx. 1400kg before trailer.

It will be what the chassis and suspension can handle. The towbars are rated at more then the car will take. I think mine says 2000kg

[Guest001]

Superb 162TSI braked tow capacity = 2000kg.
Octavia 162TSI RS braked tow capacity = 1600kg.
Both have same driveline and MQB platform with independent rear ends.

Can anyone tell me what the mechanical/structural difference is that makes the heavier superb a more capable tow car. I have no experience with towing and haven't really thought about it much until recently.
I'd love to be able to tow my currently street registered track car and a trailer with an Octavia if/when I decide to de-register my track car. Car is approx. 1400kg before trailer.

The rules say you can tow the LESSER of the cars capacity or the Towbars capacity.

So car limit 1500kg Towbar 2000kg legal for 1500kg.
Car limit 1500kg Towbar 1200kg legal for 1200kg

The weighed tow weight is the ATM of the trailer which is the plated legal loaded weight limit of the trailer on its wheels and jockey wheel