T6 Tow bar

[Old Sid]

I'd like to fit a retractable or removable tow bar to our T6 with 13pin electrics. It has no prep so it's a total job of wiring and metal. VW will of course do it but are there other viable options without losing VW warranty?

Any idea of cost?

 

[WelshGas]

I'd like to fit a retractable or removable tow bar to our T6 with 13pin electrics. It has no prep so it's a total job of wiring and metal. VW will of course do it but are there other viable options without losing VW warranty?

Any idea of cost?

P F Jones about £350 for the kit. You can fit yourself - fiddly but doable, but they also have a Nationwide fitting service. I would suggest getting a quote from VW and P F Jones.

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/volkswagen-t6-transporter-2015-onwards-westfalia-detachable-towbar.html

Or Hazzydayz - £695 + VAT

http://hazzydayz.com/westfalia-deta...th-genuine-electrics---supply--fit-5168-p.asp

 

[Old Sid]

P F Jones about £350 for the kit. You can fit yourself - fiddly but doable, but they also have a Nationwide fitting service. I would suggest getting a quote from VW and P F Jones.

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/volkswagen-t6-transporter-2015-onwards-westfalia-detachable-towbar.html

Or Hazzydayz - £695 + VAT

http://hazzydayz.com/westfalia-deta...th-genuine-electrics---supply--fit-5168-p.asp

Thanks for this. VW quote well over £1000.

 

[Sp0_0k]

Don't you have to like remove a rear bumper in order to fit it?
I now seriously regret I didn't go with a factory tow bar only the prep.
Though might get something better than westfalia.
Anybody heard of a good tow bar like a Brink brand? I read they have 120kg vertical rating compared to 100kg Westfalia has.

 

[briwy]

Our local towbar place fitted a Westfalia (same as the VW one) removable bar to our previous Cali for about £500. They did all the coding which needs doing to get the reversing sensors turned off when something is plugged in.
Turns out all the VW group garages in the area send their vehicles there rather than doing it in-house.

 

[Old Sid]

Don't you have to like remove a rear bumper in order to fit it?
I now seriously regret I didn't go with a factory tow bar only the prep.
Though might get something better than westfalia.
Anybody heard of a good tow bar like a Brink brand? I read they have 120kg vertical rating compared to 100kg Westfalia has.

I fitted a Witter bar to our T5. It did involve removing the bumper and permanently removing the stiffening bar that sits under the flat top of the bumper. Wiring was fairly straightforward too. Unfortunately, the T6 is a bit different as the tow bar wiring has to integrate with the modern vehicle electronics. This is why it's worth ordering 'tow bar prep', even if you don't order the actual tow bar.
I terms of vertical mass rating, this is not down to the tow bar. I understand that the manufacturer specifies the permissible nose weight/mass range.

 

[Old Sid]

Our local towbar place fitted a Westfalia (same as the VW one) removable bar to our previous Cali for about £500. They did all the coding which needs doing to get the reversing sensors turned off when something is plugged in.
Turns out all the VW group garages in the area send their vehicles there rather than doing it in-house.

This sounds about right. However, I have contacted a local tow bar fitter who has replied saying they won't fit to campers.

 

[Andy]

I fitted a Witter bar to our T5. It did involve removing the bumper and permanently removing the stiffening bar that sits under the flat top of the bumper. Wiring was fairly straightforward too. Unfortunately, the T6 is a bit different as the tow bar wiring has to integrate with the modern vehicle electronics. This is why it's worth ordering 'tow bar prep', even if you don't order the actual tow bar.
I terms of vertical mass rating, this is not down to the tow bar. I understand that the manufacturer specifies the permissible nose weight/mass range.

T5 towbar electrics should also be wired up with control box that interfaces with the ecu. Ecu then switches off rear park sensors & van fog light. It also balances brakes. Also has alarm on towbar.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[johnv]

It also knows about the lights .. the warning light in the dash will come on if one of the trailer lights is out

 

[WelshGas]

Don't you have to like remove a rear bumper in order to fit it?
I now seriously regret I didn't go with a factory tow bar only the prep.
Though might get something better than westfalia.
Anybody heard of a good tow bar like a Brink brand? I read they have 120kg vertical rating compared to 100kg Westfalia has.

The Towbar vertical load is related to the Vehicle rear suspension and distance of tow hitch from rear axle centre line.
The further the tow hitch is from the rear axle centre line the lower the vertical load will be.

 

[Sp0_0k]

Though different models have rating varying from cheap ones 80kg to 120kg
Don't think more expensive ones are way closer to the rear axle.

 

[WelshGas]

Though different models have rating varying from cheap ones 80kg to 120kg
Don't think more expensive ones are way closer to the rear axle.

Correct. The Cheaper or more expensive may be able to carry more or less Vertical load, due to their design or materials used, but you are still restricted by the Vehicle Manufacturers specification for the Vertical Download the vehicle can tolerate.
So, put a cheap one on you will be restricted by its specified maximum download weight if less than the vehicle. Put an expensive one on that can carry a heavier vertical download then you are restricted by the Vehicle maximum Vertical Download force, so you end up paying for something you cannot use, IF you follow the Vehicle Manufacturers specifications.

 

[Sp0_0k]

I so doubt VW transporter can't hold more than 100kg extra on a rear axle.

 

[WelshGas]

I so doubt VW transporter can't hold more than 100kg extra on a rear axle.

I'm sure it can, but can the chassis members to which the tow bar is bolted, and don't forget the downforce experienced by the suspension is Tow Bar Downforce x Distance from Axle of Tow Hitch so will be greater than 100 Kgm.

 

[Morganic]

I've heard that some VW dealerships take your order and then get a local towbar fitter to fit it. They charge you VW prices and pay the local fitter much less. Nice little return for just a phone call!
Not that VW are alone doing this!
I had Westfalia fitted with OEM electrics by an independent fitte for just under £400
He told me that lots of car dealers come to him to fit towbars because their own technicians are not always familiar with the process.

 

[WelshGas]

I've heard that some VW dealerships take your order and then get a local towbar fitter to fit it. They charge you VW prices and pay the local fitter much less. Nice little return for just a phone call!
Not that VW are alone doing this!
I had Westfalia fitted with OEM electrics by an independent fitte for just under £400
He told me that lots of car dealers come to him to fit towbars because their own technicians are not always familiar with the process.

I agree this goes on, but quit honestly I would prefer someone who is experienced in fitting them to do the job, and if they are commissioned by the VW Dealership who supply the parts etc, then at least you would have a decent warranty from the Dealership and no possibility of voiding part or the whole of your VW warranty. That is why you are paying the Dealership more.

 

[Morganic]

I agree this goes on, but quit honestly I would prefer someone who is experienced in fitting them to do the job, and if they are commissioned by the VW Dealership who supply the parts etc, then at least you would have a decent warranty from the Dealership and no possibility of voiding part or the whole of your VW warranty. That is why you are paying the Dealership more.

My guy gave me a three year warranty parts and labour. You won't get that from VW. VW with all their after market parts and service are a rip off!

 

[ETOCWEN]

I had the factory fitted removable bar fitted. Should have gone for the fixed bar and saved the £565, don't think its worth taking off and packing away each time. I do use the bar at least once a month , The removable bar worked on my Honda CRV but not on the Cali

 

[Old Sid]

My guy gave me a three year warranty parts and labour. You won't get that from VW. VW with all their after market parts and service are a rip off!

I think my concern might be that having a tow bar fitted by a non VW approved fitter might invalidate parts of the main VW warranty on the vehicle. For example, if electronic problems arise with the vehicle, VW might not honour their warranty because the towing electrics had been attached by a non-approved fitter.
Having said that, many fitters are approved.

 

[Old Sid]

I had the factory fitted removable bar fitted. Should have gone for the fixed bar and saved the £565, don't think its worth taking off and packing away each time. I do use the bar at least once a month , The removable bar worked on my Honda CRV but not on the Cali

What are the disadvantages of the removable bar? I was hoping to have one as the fixed bar extends my van over the 5meter ferry limit.

 

[Morganic]

What are the disadvantages of the removable bar? I was hoping to have one as the fixed bar extends my van over the 5meter ferry limit.

I think that if you have a fixed tow bar fitted it may activate your reversing sensors when reversing. Well that's what I was informed so I went for a detachable and has less bulk. I had the OEM electrics which cancels the sensors when reversing.

 

[RoB5urf]

I think that if you have a fixed tow bar fitted it may activate your reversing sensors when reversing. Well that's what I was informed so I went for a detachable and has less bulk. I had the OEM electrics which cancels the sensors when reversing.

I was told the same thing by the tow bar fitter for my current car (which turned out to be false by the way).

I guess it depends how often you use the tow bar. We had a fixed towbar on our previous car and I lost count of how many times I cracked my shin on the thing when loading up the back.

 

[SimonB]

You don't say where you are in the UK, but Westfalia have a fitting centre in Bristol where I had our removable tow bar fitted. Took a few hours, but all coded to the vehicle. They were considerably less than the VW quoted price. I understand that they only fit the 13 pin sockets now but will give you an adaptor to plug in to fit the older style 7 pin plugs that you may have on lamp boards, etc. The bar is straightforward to fit and remove and can be easily stored in it's cloth bag when not in use. 0117 955 1011

 

[Old Sid]

You don't say where you are in the UK, but Westfalia have a fitting centre in Bristol where I had our removable tow bar fitted. Took a few hours, but all coded to the vehicle. They were considerably less than the VW quoted price. I understand that they only fit the 13 pin sockets now but will give you an adaptor to plug in to fit the older style 7 pin plugs that you may have on lamp boards, etc. The bar is straightforward to fit and remove and can be easily stored in it's cloth bag when not in use. 0117 955 1011

Thank you. Very useful info. Bristol is within reach if the job doesn't take more than one day as I'd need the van to stay overnight. 13 pin electrics are just fine.
Wightlink Ferries limit my residents' pass to 5m long and recently they always ask if I have a tow bar.

 

[SimonB]

Thank you. Very useful info. Bristol is within reach if the job doesn't take more than one day as I'd need the van to stay overnight. 13 pin electrics are just fine.
Wightlink Ferries limit my residents' pass to 5m long and recently they always ask if I have a tow bar.

I think mine was about 3 hours. Not a very exciting location, a trading estate not far from the A4 Bath Road.
The adaptor was free, so I should ask for it anyway just in case you might need it. Simon