MK6 Golf Towing / Tow Bar thread

[GTD Dubber]

I have a genuine VW fitted towbar and am looking for the plate that goes at the back of the towbar to hide part of the muffler. (See Rossw's picture above for what I mean). Can anyone tell me where to get the rear plate that semi hides the muffler, please. I have asked several VW dealers and they have no record of even a part number. I have seen several Golfs with this cover plate on them and even asked a person who had one installed on her car, and the dealer that installed it, even said they have no record of the part. Any help would be appreciated.

[Umai Naa!!]

I would suggest that you contact Best Bars, who are the manufacturers for the towbars for Volkswagen in Australia and New Zeland.

[GTD Dubber]

Terrific, thanks Umai Naa. Shall do.

[GTD Dubber]

I would suggest that you contact Best Bars, who are the manufacturers for the towbars for Volkswagen in Australia and New Zeland.

Talk about a successful week. This all revolves around the steel plate that sits behind the towbar on my GTD (see early posts for the story). I finally GOMA and contacted Best Bars in NZ, yesterday. Between yesterday and today, Nathan from Best Bars and Ryan from Parts in VW Gosford, have managed to have the part: 1. Identified, 2. okied by VWA to be sent to VW Gosford and 3. to be sent over to Aus for me to collect. So often we hear about bad service. Well this is a good service story. Very impressed by the speed and concern shown by all the guys involved in this saga. Thanks again Nathan and Ryan. Also Umai Naa and Rossw for suggesting the path to take.

[Umai Naa!!]

Good to hear you got it sorted.

[GTI4fun]

Tow bar issues (electrical)

Hey fellas went to speedy tow bar people to get an aftermarket tow bar done to my GTI and unfortunately there are some problems with the electrical side of things. They tried 3 ECU's, tried to work it with ignition on and off and still wont work properly.
Problem is that the trailer break lights are on once the parking lights are switched on so if i was to drive in the night you wouldnt be able to tell when i'm breaking, basically one wire operates two functions at the same time (breaking and night time park lights).
Any suggestions and or advice what could be happening????

Thanks for your time.

[Umai Naa!!]

Simply put, the stop/tail globe on the car is a single filament globe, meaning only one wire to do two functions. The body control module just steps the voltage up to the full 12V when you put your foot on the brake to make the globe brighter.

The car itself is fine. It's where you're getting a brake light signal from is the problem. You may be able to tap into the high mount brake light circuit, but I can't guarentee that it won't cause problems. Your best bet is to work out which wire on the travel sensor (which is essentially your brake light switch) on the brake master cylinder is the brake light feed to the body control module. Tapping into this shouldn't cause any other dramas.

[The_Hawk]

Sadly screwing with VW wiring often ends in disaster

Surely this is a common issue for aftermarket installers (at least those touch VW's)??

In the OEM install there is a computer module that plugs in in the boot which runs the trailer plug. No splicing and no screwing with the electronics but it needs to be coded AND it's rather pricey (from memory $600+). But at least it gives you a standard PIN out that works with the trailer and when coded it will allow your rear sensors to be disabled when you hook up a trailer (if you have them).

It might be worth a call around the wreckers to see if you can find one in a Mk6 to liberate and use, hopefully for not a lot of $$.

[GTI4fun]

Sadly screwing with VW wiring often ends in disaster

Surely this is a common issue for aftermarket installers (at least those touch VW's)??

In the OEM install there is a computer module that plugs in in the boot which runs the trailer plug. No splicing and no screwing with the electronics but it needs to be coded AND it's rather pricey (from memory $600+). But at least it gives you a standard PIN out that works with the trailer and when coded it will allow your rear sensors to be disabled when you hook up a trailer (if you have them).

It might be worth a call around the wreckers to see if you can find one in a Mk6 to liberate and use, hopefully for not a lot of $$.

Thanks for detailed reply Hawk, does this mean i'll have to go to an electrician to get it properly coded?? What if i was to call VW people and ask them to do the electrical side of things only and keep the aftermarket tow bar???

[The_Hawk]

Theoretically the stock module + electrical plug coupled with an aftermarket bar should work...

Interestingly, and completely aside, I can't buy a factory tow bar for a cabriolet

[Umai Naa!!]

But you can for an Eos!

Even if you find a Golf at a wreckers with a genuine wiring kit in it, it's a bit of a mission to remove it. It's not a simple plug-and-play thing. You need to back wire terminals out of connectors for starters.

If you do end up going down the genuine path, anyone who has VCDS or VAS-PC, and knows how to use it, can code the module in for you.

[Lucas_R]

If anyone is interested, i am sellling a used genuine VW towbar kit from a Mk6 GTI: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...ml#post1025565

[Dawoode]

Golf wagon vi wiring for towbar

Hi everyone probably an old topic. Was wondering if I have to buy the ecu for the Hayman Reece towbar or can I just use the wiring kit that came with it?

[Dan_3MPS]

Another bump of an old topic, if you have the 'genuine towbar' fitted to your Mk6 GTI and don't want it let me know. Looks like I'm keeping my car very long term now and I want to add a towbar to it with the proper CANBUS electronics rather than a bypass kit.

Did find this kit from the UK which appears to be the CANBUS electrics so might combine it with a local towbar install which seem to be around $700 fitted.

On another note, does anyone tow a small camper trailer/lightweight caravan (under 1000kg) with their Golf? Wondering how it would go for a couple of small trips per year.

[supermotojm]

On another note, does anyone tow a small camper trailer/lightweight caravan (under 1000kg) with their Golf? Wondering how it would go for a couple of small trips per year.

I have 103 TDI and tow dirt bikes and road bikes on a trailer - no issues at all. Been camping with the trailer full of all our gear too. All this was under 600kg (incl trailer weight).