T5 fitting a tow bar

[Zaskar]

I'm in a 2012 T5 crewvan. at present, it doesn't have any provisions for a tower. Just a stock standard van.

If someone could post a few photos of how a tow-bar assembly attaches into the chassis bar.

Any advice on the wiring harness requirements.

I don't have the tow bar assembly so I need to get hold of the entire kit. Preferably second hand or from a wreck.

I'm in Melbourne and ideally would like to have it on and ready by Friday for a weekend away.

[Umai Naa!!]

From memory, the cab chassis towbars slip inside the chassis rails, and bolted in through the inside.

If you're chasing a genuine wiring kit, it'll need to be off a current model face-lifted T5, as the earlier models used a different electrics setup. I can't recall for certain if the cab chassis was available pre-wired either, and further more, they're not exactly plug-and-play.

[Tornado T5]

Zaskar, are you referring to a Crewvan, ie. Transporter van with factory second row seat or a Cab/double cab chassis T5GP?

[Umai Naa!!]

Good point.

I miss-read that part.

[Sunny43.5]

I swapped the tow bar from our early T5 into our latest one no problem just bolted straight in . The wiring as Umai says is not so easy but their is an alternative , the VW part which just plugs in will set you back around the $600 plus mark . But then you have to have the towing electrics turned on through the computer another extra cost , now as I said there is an alternative if you go to a towbar company they will probably have a Hayman Reece developed kit made especially for the upgrade T5 . It consists of a small box with several relays built in all you need to do is to earth the kit and attach one wire to an Accessory circuit I found one under the passengers seat . Then you connect one wire to each of the lights tail / brake / indicators/ and then the remaining wires to the tow plug. NO programming is required and it will work with LED lighting , you see the relays are powered by the accessory feed and they are triggered by each light so the cars electrics do not see the load of the extra lights . When I purchased the kit for our van it was around $120 for the whole thing .

[Zaskar]

was that 120 for the tow bar and wiring harness?

[Sunny43.5]

No the wiring kit we already owned the tow bar from our early T5 .

[ajvx01]

Got a tow bar for my swb t5 in the shed and for the life if me I don't see how it can be fitted without removing the rear bumper!?

[Umai Naa!!]

Yes, that's correct.

Tail lights out, trim covers below them, and then bumper off. You also need to do away with the reenforcement bar.

[lynnos]

Hello Sunny, I'm wondering what happens with the short cut kit you mention if you have proximity sensors in the rear bumper. If the kit does not integrate as per the genuine parts, does the prox system keep on bleating at the trailer when attached? I have a 2011 model Crewvan,ie Transporter van with back seat, and I have to go through a towbar fitting exercise in the not too distant future. About a year ago, Bryan Byrts at Capalaba quoted me $2000 which I recoiled a bit from. Still, it's a shame they have a problem there now with receivers etc.

[Sunny43.5]

Well to answer that its easy if your sensors are factory then go factory , you see our rear parking sensors are only active when in reverse gear so if you are in reverse then they will pick up the trailer . Its no big deal for me as I only reverse the trailer on odd occasions , yes if you want the bells and whistle versions then the factory options are the way to go , from memory the factory option also dims the vans tail lights to avoid too much glare at night and yes they would also disable the sensors when connected . Now our original tow bar was made under license to VW in Australia by a new Zealand company called Best Bars . All you can see of it is a square hole under the bumper so its pretty neat . These guys are who have the wiring loom try them for a price ours is a class 4 from memory Brisbane Towbars Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast | Speedy Towbars Also try this company they supply to most Brisbane dealers who then mark up the price to the customer [they supplied my fixed side glass for a fraction of what VW wanted .Auto Extras Brisbane | Custom Vehicle Modifications & Accessories - AutoExtras

[lynnos]

Thanks for that. Yes, you probably could live with the occasions when your'e in reverse. I have heard from a couple of sources that Arrow Towbars are very good. Does anyone know something about them or dealt with them?

[Wardy]

From memory we were quoted $968 to fit a genuine VW tow bar to our 2012 Multivan Comfortline by Bryan Byrt at their Mansfield Service Centre.

[Umai Naa!!]

Pre-wired, or non-wired?

Pre-wired take a good day or so to run the wiring through. All left side upper trims need removing to lower the headlining, front seats out, all lower dash trims off, etc.

[H8T0W8]

I recently fitted the Hayman Reece bar. Great value bar and they fitted a aftermarket trailer plug connector that turned off the rear parking sensors when trailer connected.