Golf Mk7 Towing/Towbar Thread

[limiteded]

Ive Installed a Towbar on my 110TDI wagon. Its made by CTB at Botany NSW, only rated for 1000kg though.

I installed the Genuine Wiring harness & control unit

Wiring harness Kit PN 5G0055202, Though Wiring harness Kit PN 5G9055202 is meant to be used for the estate. doesn't matter to much

You also need the retainer for the control unit PN 5G6971502. this holds it on the LHS underneath the Jack Kit

Coding can be done using VCDS, though the Golf doesn't overly like it. You may need to initiate the CAN Gateway before it accepts the Trailer Detector unit J345. Then Code 2 Things : The Engine, & the PDC from memory.

[Wagoneer]

From Post #36, I'm still working on sorting the coding.

Any chance of you describing just what functionalities are affected when you plug the trailer in?

And did the wiring harness kit come with worthwhile instructions that you might be able to share?

Ive Installed a Towbar on my 110TDI wagon. Its made by CTB at Botany NSW, only rated for 1000kg though.

I installed the Genuine Wiring harness & control unit

Wiring harness Kit PN 5G0055202, Though Wiring harness Kit PN 5G9055202 is meant to be used for the estate. doesn't matter to much

You also need the retainer for the control unit PN 5G6971502. this holds it on the LHS underneath the Jack Kit

Coding can be done using VCDS, though the Golf doesn't overly like it. You may need to initiate the CAN Gateway before it accepts the Trailer Detector unit J345. Then Code 2 Things : The Engine, & the PDC from memory.

[limiteded]

coding does the following:

Disables Bluemotion
turns of rear parking sensors when reversing
puts an illustration of a trailer on the PDC when its up
I assume the cooling system & gear changes are altered slightly.
Activates trailer stabilisation program

Cant attach pdf in this forum apparently. but yeas they're pretty good instructions

[IanD]

Wow, VW has made a mess of this. I was looking to buy a 110 TD wagon, but I don't think I can because of the conflicting reports on the tow bar. I need a tow bar for my sail boat, bike rack and general trailer.

VW's HQ would not comment when I asked for assistance. Terrible customer service.

One dealer said that Germany has just approved the tow bar, and it would be available soon, but couldn't say if soon was 1 month, 6 months or longer. The dealer said that after-party bars (HR) did not have the correct wiring loom and may void warranty and cause insurance problems.

An after-market installer said that the bar that fits the golf hatch doesn't fit the wagon. He knew of no bar that fits the wagon.

Another dealer offered to install an after-market bar which would have the full dealer warranty.

And then there is all the conflicting reports on this post.

i don't know where I stand. VW could make a statement to clear up the confusion and help their customers, but won't.

[b c]

I've been quoted $440 for the VW wiring harness, plus 2 to 3 hours installation at $165/hr, so $932 will get me VW wiring from a VW dealer, but no towbar.

On the other hand, I can get a Hayman Reese towbar and wiring harness for < $900.

Anyone having any issues with their non-VW towbar or wiring? It's looking pretty clear that I'm going to get an HR towbar.

[lambertia]

I've only towed once with my HR and it's fine so far. I don't have the VW loom so the sensors don't get turned off. There are no warnings.

I may consider getting the loom at a later time.

[lambertia]

If you have a wagon contact HR for a release date.

[b c]

Thanks Greg. What's the impact of the sensors not being turned off? Is it just that they detect the trailer when you're in reverse?

[lambertia]

Yes that's it. The better you are at reversing the less of an issue. Its a big issue for me

[b c]

have pulled the trigger on a full HR setup. Installer would put in the VW wiring if I wanted, but my VW dealer knows so little about it they were thinking it might cost ~$600 to install - over 3 hrs. HR installer allows 30 mins for the HR wiring. Would have liked to have the real deal, but not at that price.

[b c]

Hayman Reese towbar fitted. Involved a rear bumper cut (in the grey area at the bottom). Looks a good job, so now I just need to find a hobie cat to tow

[DV52]

Hayman Reese towbar fitted. Involved a rear bumper cut (in the grey area at the bottom). Looks a good job, so now I just need to find a hobie cat to tow

B c : does it look like the picture in my post #5?

[Euro Car Upgrades]

genuine TowBar option for Golf 7 Westfalia with module option

What do you think of this? genuine Tow Bar for Golf 7
An option which is available in Australia now with genuine VW module so the tow bar works with the car:

[lambertia]

It's in the region of 1500 fitted. HR is significantly cheaper but that's without the VW loom. Do you need the VW loom.

Check out the towbar thread for more.

[Kevin_67]

I had a Westfalia tow bar fitted in Adelaide last week and was told unofficially that the German made wiring loom is the same as the VW item but with a different name on it. Cost was a little under $1,400 and the ECU programmed as required. I need to find out if the reverse beepers should be disabled when a trailer is hooked up (mine still beep), otherwise it works as intended.