Ordering VW retractable towbar, getting special permit, use adapter - possible?

[Guest001]

The point is, of course, that you don't order "a towbar". What you do is have your vehicle ordered with the factory-installed towbar!

Provided you can even find the order number (OK, I could get that from VW Germany, bilinguality ftw), then your local VW dealer needs to be able to even put that order number into *their* IT system (OK, maybe as a special order item). Finally, VW in Germany need to not get some flag in their system that says "oh nein, zee fehicle iss goink to Australien, vee musst not put on zee uber-elektrischschwenkbarerabschlepphakenruestsatz").

If all this miraculously happens, then for that wonderful chain of events nobody has answered the question whether, if you want to be a law-abiding citizen, you can get an exemption ADR. I mean you can get it for all kinds of other crap and junk on our roads, from LHS to Holden cars in general (ba-da-bing-ba-da-boom! ).

The answer is in all probability NO as all ADR compliant stuff has to be submitted and tested and conform to the Australian Standard.

Also as I have already said it CANNOT be modified in any way from original as it then doesnt comply with what it was when presented for testing.

All you can probably do is get one use it and hope like hell nothing happens that can be attributed to it.

Otherwise ask an engineer who is licenced to do modifications.

OR even better get in touch with the ADR dept.

We can go on forever about what we think or have been told is correct but the only definitive answer will come from the horses mouth so to speak.

[brad]

The point is, of course, that you don't order "a towbar". What you do is have your vehicle ordered with the factory-installed towbar!

Provided you can even find the order number (OK, I could get that from VW Germany, bilinguality ftw), then your local VW dealer needs to be able to even put that order number into *their* IT system (OK, maybe as a special order item). Finally, VW in Germany need to not get some flag in their system that says "oh nein, zee fehicle iss goink to Australien, vee musst not put on zee uber-elektrischschwenkbarerabschlepphakenruestsatz").

If all this miraculously happens, then for that wonderful chain of events nobody has answered the question whether, if you want to be a law-abiding citizen, you can get an exemption ADR. I mean you can get it for all kinds of other crap and junk on our roads, from LHS to Holden cars in general (ba-da-bing-ba-da-boom! ).

I've never seen a car in Australia come with a towbar ex-factory. Sure, factory prep with parts of the wiring loom & re-inforced panels but not with a bar fitted. It all seems to happen at the dealer. I'm sure somebody will prove me wrong on this very shortly.

Re: ADR exemption. I guess you'd need an engineers certification like other people get for brakes, suspension mods, bigger engines, wheel tubs, etc. A Certifying Automotive Engineer would be the person to talk to. Usually the roads/traffic authority has a list. Don't forget that you also have to get agreement from your insurer.

Seems like an awful lot of stuffing about just to hide a towbar. A few of the Skoda guys (octy & superb) have folding bars IIRC. Have a browse over there

[Umai Naa!!]

Some of the Touaregs came from the factory with towbars, but these were special order, and the tongue and a few other bits were fitted at the dealership.

[Marakai]

*sigh* Just too hard, I guess. Not like I have nothing else to do.

Amazes me sometimes how a first-world country can be so behind the times in many ways. Australia has a worse NIH syndrome than even the US (OK, at least we've gone metric! )

[brad]

i'm not sure why you think a fold up tow bar represents the height of technology. As has been previously noted, towbars that meet ADRs are generally of a heavier construction than those from Europe.

[Guest001]

*sigh* Just too hard, I guess. Not like I have nothing else to do.

Amazes me sometimes how a first-world country can be so behind the times in many ways. Australia has a worse NIH syndrome than even the US (OK, at least we've gone metric! )

Its not that we are behind the times. Its that we have different standards for different conditions.

We also design the trailers and vans in a different way.

I would like to see some of your European vans after 500km of corrugations.

Also our vehicles have much higher towball weights and the Euro vehicles and towbars are built for the lighter weight used over there.

Im not saying its better, just different and unfortunately if you want to buy a vehicle that doesnt allow Australian weights, well you just have to live with it.

Or go and buy something that is more suitable.
Like a Landcruiser.

[Marakai]

I would like to see some of your European vans after 500km of corrugations.

I actually hear this argument a lot.

This despite the fact that in reality, Australia is one of the most urbanised societies on the planet. Some high80s/low90s percentage of the population are city-slickers. Urbanites and sub-urbanites - who just pretend to themselves that any moment now, if they really wanted (but of course they don't because they couldnt get a proper soy decaf macchiato!) they could just leave it all and return to the bush and really be at home.

Not accusing you, HB, but I do get a chuckle because it reminds me all those people I currently listen to on trains or in the office, who's most strenuous daily activity is stapling. People who would forget to bring water, but certainly bring the hair gel!

Gawds, I am so ready to move (and yeah, I actually grew up in the country a looooong time ago, I haven't forgotten that steaks don't grow in the supermarket )

P.S. before you diss those "European vans" you need to spend some time on Eastern European roads (yes, still, despite EU)... or up in Scandinavia (you know where all the Euro car makers test their vehicles).

[Guest001]

I actually hear this argument a lot.

This despite the fact that in reality, Australia is one of the most urbanised societies on the planet. Some high80s/low90s percentage of the population are city-slickers. Urbanites and sub-urbanites - who just pretend to themselves that any moment now, if they really wanted (but of course they don't because they couldnt get a proper soy decaf macchiato!) they could just leave it all and return to the bush and really be at home.

Not accusing you, HB, but I do get a chuckle because it reminds me all those people I currently listen to on trains or in the office, who's most strenuous daily activity is stapling. People who would forget to bring water, but certainly bring the hair gel!

Gawds, I am so ready to move (and yeah, I actually grew up in the country a looooong time ago, I haven't forgotten that steaks don't grow in the supermarket )

P.S. before you diss those "European vans" you need to spend some time on Eastern European roads (yes, still, despite EU)... or up in Scandinavia (you know where all the Euro car makers test their vehicles).

After several years of vanning right around the country and not always on tar seal I have seen the results of what happens when vans are taken out of their comfort zone.

Lots of deserted wrecks on various tracks around the country.

Not long after I left school I lived 13 miles from the nearest road for 5 years. To get our food and anything else we had to, use a launch or a dinghy for 1 1/2 miles A tractor and trailer for 2 miles. A Jet boat or a punt for 6 miles. Repack it all onto packhorses for the last 5 miles. Anything we couldnt put on the horses we carried. This included a piano which was shifted on two lengths of rail the length of the Piano Push it forward pull the length round to the front Push it forward do it all again for 4 miles and then 6 of us carried it up the 900ft hill to where it was going. So dont talk to me about taking the hair gel.
I fell over a bank once with a case of 200 sticks of gelignite in my pack Got the heart racing a bit I can tell you.

LOL

[Marakai]

I fell over a bank once with a case of 200 sticks of gelignite in my pack Got the heart racing a bit I can tell you.

LOL

HB, one day I want to read a book with your driving stories! I'd buy it! It would be awesome!