Towbar Information

[slipshot]

Well this is one shot of the car from the rear with no tow bar attached...

[snerlo]

Looking forward to seeing a shot up close and underneath too if possible please mate. You're a great help for posting as people with R36's generally don't have tow balls on them. Appreciate your post.

[slipshot]

Ok gents, as requested, here's some pics taken this morning with me angling the phone as best I can. Very sorry for the quality. People walking past looking at the mentalist trying to angle his phone up under his car no doubt had a chortle!

[slipshot]

Let me know if anything is not clear or you want alternative images... and I'll get some with the tow ball in place when i can.

Andy

[snerlo]

Thanks for the photos mate. I think we get the idea as to what is going on under there. A photo or two with the tow ball on would be great too. Thanks heaps.

[R36&GTI]

I have had a 1500kg Hayman Reese bar fitted to my R36 wagon by Arrow towbars in Brisbane for $1000. Brilliant job done at my house. Some head scratching at integrating the electronics module, but it all worked out well. If I knew how to post photos I would do so - it looks very neat...

[snerlo]

Do you have photobucket or dropbox or any of those. You can provide links to photos using those if you have them. If not, let me know and I'll pm you my email address. Very interested in checking it out mate if you don't mind.

[R36&GTI]

Thought you might like to see my (Hayman Reece 02965RW) R36 towbar.. installed by Arrow Towbars in Brisbane last year for $1000 at my house. 1800kg / 90kg and very very neatly done. Tows a boat on a trailer real well, and (now that I've had the Haldex repaired by P&P in Brisbane!) drags it up the ramp without missing a beat. I'm really happy with this setup although of course ground clearance is always a problem... Photos below show work in progress as well as the finished item, and a (not very good) shot of the R36 with 6m RIB behind.

[snerlo]

Thanks for the photos mate. Looks good. Will have to get you out for a meet one of these days. Trying to get as many R36's together as we can sometime.

[slipshot]

OK, sorry for the delay - images with the tow bar attached and the actual bar itself which comes in a rather nice VW branded leather pouch (or it did when it was installed) which I think would have been at purchase or shortly after.

[seanmau5]

I just completed the installation of a towbar on to my 2009 Passat CC. While it doesn't directly relate to the R36 I believe it may still be helpful to post some of my findings.

I originally found a second hand towbar and associated wiring on eBay that I managed to snag for $350 which is great value. The towbar is a 'Best Bars' towbar which I believe is a Kiwi brand? The wiring kit is from Westfalia - part #321534300143 (which is actually specifically suited to the B6 Passat).

I followed the PDF instructions located here: https://www.westfalia-automotive.com...5391105-06.pdf

The hardware was very easy to install, it's just a matter of removing the rear bumper and putting it all together like a puzzle. The wiring was also very easy when following the instuctions (only difference I found for the Passat CC is that the '3 core cable set' also needed to be routed up the same side as the 6 core cable set. Could possibly be the same for the AUDM B6?) The wiring kit was all the correct lengths and looked factory which was my main concern, even down to using the factory ground points.

Once the wiring is installed and you have connected it to the BCM and fuse box and followed the VCDS instructions in the link there are a few extra steps that I managed to stumble across that I think will assist everyone with issues.

Reverse camera coding - to deactivate the reverse camera when a trailer is connected go to module '6C-Back-up cam'. Next click on Coding-07 (which opens short coding) and we want to pay particular attention to the third digit in the 'Software Coding' box. If that number is 0 then the camera isn't coded for anything. If the number is 1 then the camera is coded just for a towbar. If the number is 2 then the camera is coded just for parking sensors. If the number is 3 then the camera is coded for both a towbar and parking sensors. Since I now have both installed I changed the code from 2 to 3 and wallah - camera off when trailer is connected.

Parking sensor coding - to deactivate the rear parking sensors when a trailer is connected go to module '10 Park/Steer Assist'. Next click 'Coding-07' then 'Long Coding Helper'. Select your type of hitch from the drop down menu next to 'Bit 0-3' then exit and click Do It! You can now close down that controller and wallah - rear parking sensors off when trailer is connected.

Hope some of you find the above helpful - I can provide screenshots from tomorrow to make sense of it all if need be.

Cheers
Sean

[ftaffy]

Hey Guys,
Looking at options to install a tow bar onto my 2014 Passat B7 that i am getting

Dealer quote: Towbar pack: $737, Electrics: $552 Labour: $660
Or course i can get the pack and electrics for ~$1300 and just install myself.

3 options from Towbars Australia - Which as a "universal European ECU Relaying wiring loom kit" - anyone used this? Does not give me the warm and fuzzy feeling with that description on a modern car.

Medium Duty: $

Heavy duty: 839.95

Euro: $894.70


Euro Car Upgrades - Comes with a wiring kit that others on here have used.
Westfalia Euro style: $1048, free Dec postage offer.


I am leaning towards Euro Car Upgrades option as its been used by guys in this thread but wanted to see if anyone had used any others?
Any pictures of how the medium/heavy duty options look? Guessing these will result in either a visible cut or hang below as per the look of the R36 earlier in this thread.

Thanks,
Taffy

[Euro Car Upgrades]

Taffy,
Westfalia Australia have continuously been informing us that the Polish euro hak option is not ADR approved. They have mystery shopped these tow bars and found them to be non-ADR tested or compliant. In case of an accident your vehicle may be uninsured.

[ftaffy]

I am guessing the polish hak jobs are the towbars australia euro option?

Thanks,
Taffy

[PranK]

Hey Taffy,

I have the Towbars Australia Heavy Duty bar and loom on my B6. It's fantastic. Was a bastard of a job to fit but I could do it in half the time if I had to do it again.

The "universal European ECU Relaying wiring loom kit" simply taps into your existing lights loom to control the trailer lights (error-free). Its easy to install and does the job. I've been told the main thing that the VW loom offers that this universal one doesn't is trailer braking control which apparently changes the characteristics of the braking in the car to make it safer. I'm not phased about that.

Hope that helps.