DIY towbar installation

[thesquirrelpatrol]

Anyone installed the Vw retrofit towbar kit themselves?
Any tips?
Our van has the factory towbar prep

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Yes, I fitted a Witter unit with removable ball, which I think is exactly the same as the factory-fit option.

Quite straightforward - most of the effort involved relates to removing the bumper and underbody stuff just to get access. Releasing the big metal washers retaining underbody exhaust heat shields etc. is a bit fiddly: they push onto studs with a barb feature so don't like to come off again. I managed to pry and tease mine off without damaging them and so could re-use, but it would be quicker to have replacements and just cut the old ones off.

Tightening the 4 frame-securing bolts to the chassis rails requires a bit of grunt, and I didn't find a way to get a torque wrench on them, so just did them 'super-FT'. I only use it to carry a lightweight bike rack.

See below a few pictures to give you an idea of what you have to remove bodywork-wise:

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Anyone installed the Vw retrofit towbar kit themselves?
Any tips?
Our van has the factory towbar prep

Apologies , I've just seen that your van is 'the big one', so I guess this information is of rather limited use? - sorry! I'll leave the post up though for anyone who's interested in doing the job on a California.

BTW: you can get the mechanical kit for not much over £250 - compare that with VW fitted prices (ca. £1500!). I paid around £270 from a local installer, since I'd already pumped him for loads of info. but then decided to go DIY, so felt it only reasonable that I should at least buy the materials from him!

 

[andyinluton]

Anyone installed the Vw retrofit towbar kit themselves?
Any tips?
Our van has the factory towbar prep

Are you aware that the retro fit doesn’t include the same detachable part of the set up as the factory fit. I would have called it an unboltable tow bar ( you need spanner’s to undo 4 big bolts) rather than what most people would call detachable.
It took my main dealers towbar specialist subcontractor two full days to fit my GC 600 retrofit towbar, can’t remember the cost, £850+vat seems to ring a bell including supplying all the parts.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Are you aware that the retro fit doesn’t include the same detachable part of the set up as the factory fit. I would have called it an unboltable tow bar ( you need spanner’s to undo 4 big bolts) rather than what most people would call detachable.
It took my main dealers towbar specialist subcontractor two full days to fit my GC 600 retrofit towbar, can’t remember the cost, £850+vat seems to ring a bell including supplying all the parts.

Appreciating now that we may well be talking at cross-purposes (GC vs California differences), but the kit I fitted is very definitely detachable - see photo.

I confess though that so far, with just 4” extra rear overhang, I leave it fitted as ‘protection’ against lazy folk ‘parking’ too close!

 

[andyinluton]

Appreciating now that we may well be talking at cross-purposes (GC vs California differences), but the kit I fitted is very definitely detachable - see photo.

I confess though that so far, with just 4” extra rear overhang, I leave it fitted as ‘protection’ against lazy folk ‘parking’ too close! View attachment 107120

Yes we are talking at cross purposes
Your photos are of the Micky mouse lightweight bit of bendy metal for an Ocean / beach. Both the OP and I were talking about the half tonne of fabricated steelwork that they deem necessary on a Crafter based van.
Pic below is a Vw genuine removable towbar.

 

[andyinluton]

I feel sure I shall regret this, but what’s an OP please?

The Original Poster / the person that asked the question

 

[andyinluton]

The GC towbar is a seriously heavy bit of kit, just the detatchable ball part weighs a tonne.

It’s designed for commercial towing & the load ratings work both ways round. With the tow ball designed not to break if there’s a 3.5 tonne trailer trying to stop an up to 5.3 tonne crafter/ MAN