Longer Westfalia detacable towbar???

[Nejc]

We have Cali Ocean T6 which has factory fitted Westfalia towbar. The problem is that when using the Thule bike carrier I cannot open the tailgate, even if I remove the safety catch on the carrier and lower it so that it stops on the handlebar of the bike. I think if there was a longer towbar by 2-3 cm it would all work together. Does anyone have experience of anything similar.

 

[B J G]

We have Cali Ocean T6 which has factory fitted Westfalia towbar. The problem is that when using the Thule bike carrier I cannot open the tailgate, even if I remove the safety catch on the carrier and lower it so that it stops on the handlebar of the bike. I think if there was a longer towbar by 2-3 cm it would all work together. Does anyone have experience of anything similar.

Oddly the British Westfalia (Witter) version has the ball head further back than the German Westfalia one. Different designs.

Years ago I contacted Westfalia if an alternative detachable part could be used or recommended to solve the tailgate clearance issue. response was that VW provide very specific measurements as to towbar mounting points and distance away from those that the ball must be positioned. For that reason they couldn't answer my question.

I acquired a second hand Audi one that raised the ball head position but was the same rearward position. Good for lowered suspension. I also have a Golf one which is virtually identical to the Transporter based one, saves me fishing out the one in the box.

You may 'luck' upon one to suit from another vehicle as the plug in end is the same, there are two versions early and late so check carefully what yours is..

A breakers yard may be a source.

 

[Nejc]

Oddly the British Westfalia (Witter) version has the ball head further back than the German Westfalia one. Different designs.

Years ago I contacted Westfalia if an alternative detachable part could be used or recommended to solve the tailgate clearance issue. response was that VW provide very specific measurements as to towbar mounting points and distance away from those that the ball must be positioned. For that reason they couldn't answer my question.

I acquired a second hand Audi one that raised the ball head position but was the same rearward position. Good for lowered suspension. I also have a Golf one which is virtually identical to the Transporter based one, saves me fishing out the one in the box.

You may 'luck' upon one to suit from another vehicle as the plug in end is the same, there are two versions early and late so check carefully what yours is..

A breakers yard may be a source.

Thank you for this information. Our second car is a Skoda Yeti , which also has a Wesfalia towbar and is longer, but the part that inserts is slightly different and unfortunately I cannot use it.

 

[CamperFam]

We have a removable towbar on our T6 and our Thule rack tilts enough (max setting). However it does depend what rack you have - the collapsible ones sadly dont tilt enough, whereas the Velospace XT3 does.

 

[Begize]

This video from Campervan Time / California Time might help. About 8 mins in is the bit of possible interest

 

[andyinluton]

We have Cali Ocean T6 which has factory fitted Westfalia towbar. The problem is that when using the Thule bike carrier I cannot open the tailgate, even if I remove the safety catch on the carrier and lower it so that it stops on the handlebar of the bike. I think if there was a longer towbar by 2-3 cm it would all work together.

There is a slightly longer bar out there, from memory it's the one for a Ford Focus that fits. I'll try and find out where I got the details from as I bought one for my first van.

 

[Docsu]

I have a Westfalia detachable towbar. Looking to add to the camping family options with a 2 berth Basecamp2 caravan BUT it comes with an AL-KO 3004 hitch which appears VERY, VERY close to the bumper. Any advice or experience of this hitch & towbar combination please?

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

It won't be a problem, traded our T6 beach and Basecamp 2 in July, hitched and towed without a problem

 

[CaliforniaPhil]

I have a Westfalia detachable towbar. Looking to add to the camping family options with a 2 berth Basecamp2 caravan BUT it comes with an AL-KO 3004 hitch which appears VERY, VERY close to the bumper. Any advice or experience of this hitch & towbar combination please?

We tow a Sterling with the 3004 hitch. It's tight but never scraped anything. I do make sure the sliding part of the brake system is all the way out before unhitching. As we have a mover on the caravan, this is easy to reverse the caravan up a bit.

 

[johns6809]

I have a Westfalia detachable towbar. Looking to add to the camping family options with a 2 berth Basecamp2 caravan BUT it comes with an AL-KO 3004 hitch which appears VERY, VERY close to the bumper. Any advice or experience of this hitch & towbar combination please?

I used to have a Basecamp with the same hitch when i had a 17 plate Kombi. It looked very tight but it never touched or marked anything. Just make sure the hitch on the caravan is fully extended when disconnecting.