Fitting of a Retro fit Tow Bar - VW California 2012

[fozzybear]

Hello,

Has anyone fitted a removable Westfalia tow bar recently - just been quoted £1,050 from VW. I am guessing that they will have to remove internal panels etc. to put the wiring in. Is it a good idea to let a 3rd party do this instead of VW. Looking to buy a Thule bike carrier instead of using the VW bike rack.

Can anyone recommend someone - close to Gloucestershire would be good.

Cheers, Kevin

 

[Hannick]

We had ours done at Westfalia Fitting Centre, Bristol so not too far from you. I can't recommend them highly enough.

https://www.westfalia-automotive.com/uk/bristol-fitting-centre/

Miles cheaper.

 

[WelshGas]

Hello,

Has anyone fitted a removable Westfalia tow bar recently - just been quoted £1,050 from VW. I am guessing that they will have to remove internal panels etc. to put the wiring in. Is it a good idea to let a 3rd party do this instead of VW. Looking to buy a Thule bike carrier instead of using the VW bike rack.

Can anyone recommend someone - close to Gloucestershire would be good.

Cheers, Kevin

P.F.Jones.
They can supply or fit Genuine VW Westfalia tow bar but using a wiring loom that goes under the vehicle rather than through.

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/volkswagen-t5-transporter-2009-2015-westfalia-detachable-towbar.html

 

[SimonB]

I had mine fitted at Westfalia in Bristol. Excellent team and easy to get to for you, just off the M32 and along the inner circuit road a couple of stops. Price was just over ½ of the quotation that you listed above.
They even stayed later on in the evening to finish it so I could collect it early the next day.
Highly recommended. Philip Ellis is the fitting centre manager 0117 9551011

 

[fozzybear]

I had mine fitted at Westfalia in Bristol. Excellent team and easy to get to for you, just off the M32 and along the inner circuit road a couple of stops. Price was just over ½ of the quotation that you listed above.
They even stayed later on in the evening to finish it so I could collect it early the next day.
Highly recommended. Philip Ellis is the fitting centre manager 0117 9551011

Thanks Simon - left a message for Phillip to call me. Are you using the tow bar for a bike rack? if so which one are you using? Kevin

 

[SimonB]

Yes I am, using it with the 3 bike Thule rack. Fits well and I got it for a good price on Ebay. Lots of 2 bike ones on Ebay, very few 3 bike ones. You have to loosen it to get the rear door open, but that isn't a problem really.
There are a few you can open over the rack with the bikes tilted, but they seemed to be in the £500 range.
There are a few threads on the subject
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/vw-bike-rack-or-removeable-towbar.11214/
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/bike-rack-vw-tailgate-or-tow-bar.8514/

Look at the carrying capacity of the rack as some of the makes are quite low, 30kg or so.

Hope this helps Simon

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks Simon - left a message for Phillip to call me. Are you using the tow bar for a bike rack? if so which one are you using? Kevin

Altera Strada DL, carries 3 bikes, 4 with adapter. Slides backwards to allow tailgate to open if you are using the Westfalia removable Tow Bar. £350.

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/r...ghts_no_ar2603/Qx@w,6M42VAwp3@Rb{~cC4ure5K{W}

 

[Andy]

I fitted a westfalia removable tow bar to my 2011 Cali as supplied by PF Jones. Took about a day, PF Jones have a phone help line for diy help, which is very good.
I use mine to tow a Smart for 2.
VW used to take the kitchen out to install the wiring inside the Cali, thus the high cost. They may now use the loom that goes under the Cali.

 

[fozzybear]

Andy, thanks for the info - spoke to VW again today and they confirmed they run the wiring loom under the van. Looks like I will be using Westfalia Bristol at around £650.00 who also run the loom under the van. Will be also buying a Altera DL (never seem to stop spending).

Thanks everyone for the information.

 

[SimonB]

@Kevin Fossali - forgot to mention. The plug on bike racks is generally a 7 pin one and the socket that is fitted to the Cali is the new(ish) caravan one with many more pins. They should give you an adaptor that simply fits into the socket on the van and locks in place, you then plug the bike rack plug into it.
They forgot to hand me one and I went back for it, but it's easier for me as I live in Bristol.

 

[WelshGas]

@Kevin Fossali - forgot to mention. The plug on bike racks is generally a 7 pin one and the socket that is fitted to the Cali is the new(ish) caravan one with many more pins. They should give you an adaptor that simply fits into the socket on the van and locks in place, you then plug the bike rack plug into it.
They forgot to hand me one and I went back for it, but it's easier for me as I live in Bristol.

My Altera had the 13 Pin EU standard plug so no adapter needed.

 

[SimonB]

My Altera had the 13 Pin EU standard plug so no adapter needed.

Thank you for the update @WelshGas , the adaptor was free so might as well accept it in case there are other things around that still have the 7 pin system.