Need advise please... I need a towbar, and I saw this under my car... what to do???

[jimlabilles]

Hi all,
First of all, my Tiguan has only been with me for 3 weeks. I bought it 2nd hand from Perth. its a 2009 Tiguan 125 4motion thing.
I also bought a Jetski for this summer, now I need these 2 toys to be attached to each other and roll down the beach for me.

As I was looking for some options, I asked our local dealer here in Adelaide which is Solitaire. they quoted me $1,700 installed. I dont have that money atm. So much to say I was scouring the internet for a cheaper alternative. Then I went and looked at my Tiggy, and I saw this:



I have seen this type of connector before from my boss's X5 (BMW),
1.) does that mean I just need to buy the adaptor from this connector to the normal OZ trailer connector???
2.) Can I get away with this TOWBAR and maybe do it myself? I mean install it?

I know for some of you this questions might seem like a joke, but I trully am new at this VW Tiggy thing and this is actually my 1st decent car.
So please spare me some of your precious time and help me out.
thanks guys

Jim
Glenelg North, SA
2009 Tiguan

[Stan]

looks like you are already set up.

looks like a hayman reeese hitch

this is what goes in the hole, you should be able to get this bit from Autobarn, repco, supercheap, anywhere:





sort of goes in like this, hitch slides in, secured with a pin:





looks like the plug is one of these:



you can get 13 pin to 7 pin adapters for regular trailer plugs, so the answer to your first question is yes. And the second one is too

[jimlabilles]

Thanks Stan.

1 thing though, the square hole as your 2nd picture is not the same in my Tiggy. Mine is from the bottom and not like your picture which is horizontally parallel to the bumper. Mine is perpendiculat to the bumper. Maybe they have something that is for that kind of thing. hmmnn.... off to Autobarn for me tomorrow. thanks stan for giving me an insight in this thing and also for confirming my hunch that that connector that I saw underneath is for a trailer.

I'll post updates once I get this baby done!

[Stan]

welcome mate, take it in to Autobarn, or wherever, and they will sort it for you

[tigger73]

Actually before heading to Autobarn I'd be checking under the boot floor where the spare wheel is. You may even find all your bits there if you're lucky.

[Guest001]

Measure the inside of the square piece If it is 50mm it will fit a HR tongue as shown above.

Different makers have different length shanks for various reasons.

However as your one has rounded inner corners a little massage with an angle grinder may be necessary to make a new tongue fit.

Nissan towbars have the same problem

Actually I find it strange that it has a second small hole in front of the one where the pin normally goes.

Have never seen that on a towbar before and would be welding them up if it was mine.

There should also be a place to attach the safety chain which is compulsory.

You also need a D shackle which is rated the same as the chain.

[jimlabilles]

Guys,
I am so ashamed that with the help of Mr. Tigger73 I found exactly as he said under the boot floor, next to my spare tire is this:



OMG... saved me a lot of $$$ to spend the on the towbar... now i can spend it on installing an ANS810... woop.

thanks for your help guys...
love this forum

Jim
Glenelg North
SA

[Guest001]

Just make sure its ADR compliant and not an illegal home made one A pic of the white sticker on the tongue would be good

[jimlabilles]

Hi hillbilly,
Please see below pix, I'm no pro as stated... but does this mean this is an original VW Tiguan tow bar? and that it might have been installed the dealer (electronics wise)??? I would like to know if its the type that lets the tiggy know if you are towing something. I'm not fuzzy about that because I will only be towing something light (a jetski on a trailer). But it be reassuringly good to know this has been done properly.

[tigger73]

Good result.
Nice when you find an accessory that you didn't know was fitted - bonus

Happy towing!

[Guest001]

Hi hillbilly,
Please see below pix, I'm no pro as stated... but does this mean this is an original VW Tiguan tow bar? and that it might have been installed the dealer (electronics wise)??? I would like to know if its the type that lets the tiggy know if you are towing something. I'm not fuzzy about that because I will only be towing something light (a jetski on a trailer). But it be reassuringly good to know this has been done properly.

Looks all right I guess Must be good. Made In NZ LOL

[roscoe1974]

Hi hillbilly,
Please see below pix, I'm no pro as stated... but does this mean this is an original VW Tiguan tow bar? and that it might have been installed the dealer (electronics wise)??? I would like to know if its the type that lets the tiggy know if you are towing something. I'm not fuzzy about that because I will only be towing something light (a jetski on a trailer). But it be reassuringly good to know this has been done properly.

Hey Jim,

Yep, that's the Towbar (made by Best Bars in NZ) that Australian Dealers fit to Australian Tigs (at least that's what I got and have heard of many others - may be the same in NZ too). All the wiring (I believe - anyone else please correct me if I'm wrong?) is installed from the Factory on every Tig, and the relevant electronics are then activated via VAGCOM/VCDS (the program that VW - or anyone who has purchased the cable & software - use to activate/deactivate functions in the electronics) when the Tow Package is installed. The 'CPU' for lack of a better description is then 'notified' when a trailer is attached and adjusts braking etc. to give more stability to the Trailer and the Car. At least I THINK that's the theory behind it!!!

BTW, mightn't hurt to have a good look around under your Tig and familiarise yourself with it. Seems there's a little rust on the Tow Tongue - just have a scout around under the car and make sure there's nothing sinister...call me paranoid! Most of all though, enjoy the Tig and welcome to the Dub Club!

[jimlabilles]

Thanks Roscoe,
Your confirmation is trully appreciated.
I actually got thinking and just went to look under the car and saw a fair bit of rusting, mild rusting not something to worry about but thanks for the heads up. I buy a rust inhibitor spray paint tomorrow and paint the heck out of that bottom thing.
Looking forward to a fun filled jetski afternoon... whoooo!!!!!

[Guest001]

Just make sure you observe the instruction in the pics and attach the chain as pictured.
Do it to the ring underneath and if the tongue comes out the chain will go with it

[roscoe1974]

Thanks Roscoe,
Your confirmation is trully appreciated.
I actually got thinking and just went to look under the car and saw a fair bit of rusting, mild rusting not something to worry about but thanks for the heads up. I buy a rust inhibitor spray paint tomorrow and paint the heck out of that bottom thing.
Looking forward to a fun filled jetski afternoon... whoooo!!!!!

No worries Jim! Just also note that the foam 'collar' on the square section tube can sometimes make a little tougher to get the tube far enough up to get the pin in, but persevere - the foam stops a lot of rattling!! If need be, push the assembly up yourself and have someone else pop the pin in. Enjoy the water!!