Golf Mk7 Towing/Towbar Thread

[zkaizen]

Has anyone fitted a towbar to their Mk7 yet? Saw this in youtube:

Volkswagen Golf Mk7 rear tow hook - YouTube and wondered if this is available here in Australia.

Would love to have a towbar for a bike rack.

Cheers

[Theothercarisabike]

No - but I'm in the same position. The dealer stated that the specifications haven't been released as of yet. No ETA on when they would be.

[Guest001]

Has anyone fitted a towbar to their Mk7 yet? Saw this in youtube:

Volkswagen Golf Mk7 rear tow hook - YouTube and wondered if this is available here in Australia.

Would love to have a towbar for a bike rack.
Cheers

Would have to be ADR compliant to be legal and havent seen one like that that qualifies.

[zkaizen]

Golf Mk 7 Towbar

thanks folks for the replies, guess I have to look at using roof racks as bike carriers...being new to golf and cars without roof rails, does the installation of golf roof racks cause water leaks between the mounting points and door seals?

[stickshift3000]

being new to golf and cars without roof rails, does the installation of golf roof racks cause water leaks between the mounting points and door seals?

I've never had leak issues on my mk5 (rola brand roof racks), I doubt the design is too far different on the 7.

[NBG81]

I've had roof racks on a Mk V and now on the Mk VII, no leaks around the door seals at all. I prefer my bike on the roof as opposed to the towbar mounted units.

[phil38555615]

Tow Bar Trepidation

Test drove a new Comfortline today, and we were nearly ready to seal the deal. But then the sales guy told us that tow-bars were 'not available yet.' We have a fun little tear-drop camper that we love taking on holidays and would hate to risk not being able to tow it. Does anyone know what the issue is with tow bar availability in Australia? Is it safe to assume they'll actually become available? (We're not planning a holiday til around April, so will happily buy the car and wait for the bar - as long as it's definitely coming!)

Advice?

[bru20vt]

I have been asking VW Aust for the last 3 months - I have been told they will become available but they cant give me a date. I know Hayman Reese have a setup for the Golf with the standard towbar class 2.

[DV52]

Test drove a new Comfortline today, and we were nearly ready to seal the deal. But then the sales guy told us that tow-bars were 'not available yet.' We have a fun little tear-drop camper that we love taking on holidays and would hate to risk not being able to tow it. Does anyone know what the issue is with tow bar availability in Australia? Is it safe to assume they'll actually become available? (We're not planning a holiday til around April, so will happily buy the car and wait for the bar - as long as it's definitely coming!)

Advice?

phil38555615: I purchased a Golf Mk7 Highline in June 2013 and the same problem arose then (i.e. no tow bar). After many months of waiting I eventually negotiated with my Dealer to fit a Hayman Reece towbar instead . The tow bar was fitted in October 2013 . It was designed for a Golf Mk6 and it fitted OK (both mechanically and electrically). I have been using it ever since without any problems (it also works with the LED lights on my bike carrier without the dreaded light failure indicator comming-on on the MFD). The other good thing about this fix is that the Hayman Reece towbar has a bolt-on tongue which means no rattling noises that occur with the slide-on tongue that is supplied with the VW towbar (for the mk6). Finally, the best feature of all about this fix is that I got back a bit of money from the dealer because the cost was much lower.

[b c]

phil38555615: I purchased a Golf Mk7 Highline in June 2013 and the same problem arose then (i.e. no tow bar). After many months of waiting I eventually negotiated with my Dealer to fit a Hayman Reece towbar instead . The tow bar was fitted in October 2013 . It was designed for a Golf Mk6 and it fitted OK (both mechanically and electrically). I have been using it ever since without any problems (it also works with the LED lights on my bike carrier without the dreaded light failure indicator comming-on on the MFD). The other good thing about this fix is that the Hayman Reece towbar has a bolt-on tongue which means no rattling noises that occur with the slide-on tongue that is supplied with the VW towbar (for the mk6). Finally, the best feature of all about this fix is that I got back a bit of money from the dealer because the cost was much lower.

Good to hear DV52, I've been waiting since late April - initially for the car, and still for the towbar - so this could be a good option for me. Does the Hayman Reece involve cutting the rear bumper?

[DV52]

Good to hear DV52, I've been waiting since late April - initially for the car, and still for the towbar - so this could be a good option for me. Does the Hayman Reece involve cutting the rear bumper?

bc: Yes, the Hayman Reece Towbar requires a square cut-out. I have included a pic showing this albeit you can't see that the bottom of the black part of the bumper (i.e. at the bottom of the toungue) is not cut-through. This means that the hole is a rectangle with the bottom of the black part of the rear bumper still intact (hope this makes sense) . I chose an in-line plug which you can't see in the pic. Don't take any notice of the black piece of metal that sits directly under the rusty old ball in the pic. This is an attachment that I made for my bike carrier.

[b c]

Thanks DV52, certainly looks workable. I'd like to know more about what VW are intending to offer - some of the european setups look good - before I commit, but if they take too long then its nice to know there is an alternative.

[Alex31]

Any more info on a genuine tow bar kit yet??

[Kevin_67]

I'm also in the 'waiting for the VW towbar' club. When I asked at my local parts dept last week they told me the MK7 tow bars have ADR approval but are still waiting on sign off from Germany (I assume VW HQ). I will call back in a few weeks to check again. Pricing will be around $1,000 for all required parts (inc wiring harness) plus labour.

Another alternative might be these guys:

Golf Hatchback (MK7) 3 and 5 doors | Towbars Australia

If VW take much longer then I might end up going down this route and enlisting the help of a friend or 2.

[warrick]

i am getting a towbars australia bar fitted to my v6 cc by them, weds next week.will report back once fitted.
cheers
warrick

see this post for report back

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f206/cost-fitting-towbar-passat-3cc-v6-4motion-95204.html