Retro fitting a tow bar

[Pattacat]

We have a 2019 ocean and want to have a detachable tow bar fitted. We have a couple of questions and concerns and as ever would appreciate your advice. Firstly, does anyone know if having it fitted by an independent company would affect the warranty? VW have quoted us £1540 by VW which seems a little excessive so would also be interested in knowing how much anyone else paid and who you used. Also, we have a rear view camera fitted, has anyone had any experience of fitting a tow bar with a camera? Were there any issues? We don’t have tow bar prep in place so would need the wiring done too. Many thanks.

 

[Mr T]

I’m in the process of looking to get a towbar fitted to my 2019 Ocean too.
I have received 6 quotations in the last 48 hours from various specialists and have specifically asked for dedicated vehicle wiring and my understanding is this should not cause any warranty issue.
Where are you based? Happy to share the donkey work I’ve done but I have looked for recommended companies within approx 80 miles of Oxfordshire. Prices range from £599 to £640 inc vat typically with one odd one at £780.
This is for a detachable westfalia towbar, 13 pin and vehicle dedicated electrics including all coding. I do not have tow bar prep either. Shouldn’t be a problem for reversing camera either.

 

[Jay20cali]

Try pf Jones
They do the same Westfalia towbar for around 700 from memory,
They use there own loom and run the wires under the van instead of behind the cupboards

 

[Ting Tong]

The VW one is made Westfalia and is the same as the Westfalia detachable. Any warranty issue attributable to the tow bar won’t be covered eg if it fries your ECU or the bumper falls off. However you shouldn’t have a problem if it’s fitted by a reputable firm. I’d stick with the Westfalia one.. should be £595 plus vat for a detachable with westfalia vehicle specific wiring loom and software coding.

 

[Mr T]

I have just been advised that the Westfalia detachable towbar has a maximum unsupported load of 60kg, (so this is using a tow ball mounted bike rack). This was part of a notification sent out by Westfalia some time ago.
Has made me stop and think what to do for a moment

 

[WelshGas]

I have just been advised that the Westfalia detachable towbar has a maximum unsupported load of 60kg, (so this is using a tow ball mounted bike rack). This was part of a notification sent out by Westfalia some time ago.
Has made me stop and think what to do for a moment

How many bicycles are you intending to carry?

 

[Mr T]

How many bicycles are you intending to carry?

Generally 2, maybe 3 on occasion (one of which would be a child's bike) Just thought it interesting, as I say, made me stop and think for a minute.
I have done the calculations and should be fine but this fact had not come up before, you only see the S load of 100kgs on the Westfalia website.
Just thought I'd share.

 

[WelshGas]

Generally 2, maybe 3 on occasion (one of which would be a child's bike) Just thought it interesting, as I say, made me stop and think for a minute.
I have done the calculations and should be fine but this fact had not come up before, you only see the S load of 100kgs on the Westfalia website.
Just thought I'd share.

Exactly what I do. I think the towbar, per se, can take a lot more but there is a limitation on the weight that can be carried by the rear suspension to maintain correct handling of the vehicle. A direct nose weight is only a simple indication, easily measured, compared to a calculation relating to weight, distance from suspension point etc, etc. You will be fine. There is a weight limitation on the tailgate rack and it's not all down to the strength of the rack but weight transferred to suspension and hence vehicle stability and handling.

 

[AlisonF]

To do wiring for reversing camera without tow bar prep requires quite a lot of work. I had follow on Issues which took a long time to resolve. Hence I was pleased I had gone via VE and had it in writing about not inpacting warranty if VW parts and VW fitted... long saga on the forum which I can dig out later if of interest, but late to an appt now.

 

[AlisonF]

Oh and I went for a basic towbar and laid over £2k two years ago

 

[B J G]

I had a Towbar fitted to our Citroen by Towbar Express. Fitted on the drive by mobile technician.
They fitted a Brink detachable which I find much easier to put on/off than the Westfalia one on the Cali.
Brink is a dutch manufacturer. also had a Brink on a LR defender, again a quality unit.

They quote fitted from £592.44.

Towbar Express

Towbar Express. We offer a professional mobile towbar fitting service, with towbar fitters based locally to you.

www.towbarexpress.co.uk

ps not my postcode just a random one.

 

[Mr T]

To do wiring for reversing camera without tow bar prep requires quite a lot of work. I had follow on Issues which took a long time to resolve. Hence I was pleased I had gone via VE and had it in writing about not inpacting warranty if VW parts and VW fitted... long saga on the forum which I can dig out later if of interest, but late to an appt now.

I don't think we are talking about having wiring for a reversing camera fitted, both I and the OP have a an OEM reversing camera already fitted, sorry I am a little confused by your response?

 

[AlisonF]

I don't think we are talking about having wiring for a reversing camera fitted, both I and the OP have a an OEM reversing camera already fitted, sorry I am a little confused by your response?

Sorry I was rushing as late. I meant the wiring for the tow bar if you have a reversing camera fitted (mine had to be routed via the leisure battery under passenger seat and caused other issues).

 

[BillyCasper]

I used this company for a Westfalia tow. Electrics all worked fine. Seemed a very good outfit and their blurb states that they provide services to VAG dealers.

Would use them again.

SatNavSystems

Satnav Systems are the leading provider of OEM parts for Volkswagen and Audi cars in the UK. We provide a comprehensive mobile installation and backup

www.satnavsystems.com

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Pattacat]

Sorry I was rushing as late. I meant the wiring for the tow bar if you have a reversing camera fitted (mine had to be routed via the leisure battery under passenger seat and caused other issues).

What kind of problems did you have? Sounds a bit ominous!

 

[AlisonF]

What kind of problems did you have? Sounds a bit ominous!

Clark Commercials Edinburgh

I’ve been posting a thread about my experiences trying to get a tow bar and wind out awning fitted to a T6 (2016). As local Clark Commercials in Dyce, Aberdeen weren’t top of my list based on previous experience (I also later asked them if they would do the work in my desparation and then...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Mr T]

Clark Commercials Edinburgh

I’ve been posting a thread about my experiences trying to get a tow bar and wind out awning fitted to a T6 (2016). As local Clark Commercials in Dyce, Aberdeen weren’t top of my list based on previous experience (I also later asked them if they would do the work in my desparation and then...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

All the more reason to go to a specialised tow bar fitter. Sounds to me like you had a major issue with an incompetent dealer.

 

[AlisonF]

All the more reason to go to a specialised tow bar fitter. Sounds to me like you had a major issue with an incompetent dealer.

Very good point. With 4 years left on a warranty if has paid off for me (as had many other issues). So I’d do the same again, unless the specialist fitter didn’t affect my 5 year warranty...

 

[Perfectos]

I used this company for a Westfalia tow. Electrics all worked fine. Seemed a very good outfit and their blurb states that they provide services to VAG dealers.

Would use them again.

SatNavSystems

Satnav Systems are the leading provider of OEM parts for Volkswagen and Audi cars in the UK. We provide a comprehensive mobile installation and backup

www.satnavsystems.com

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Plus one for Satnav systems VW approved and will not affect warranty ( dealer uses them for retro fits)

 

[Karlos]

Wil PF Jones confirm in writing that your warranty wont be affected? Asking for a friend.

 

[Pattacat]

I’m in the process of looking to get a towbar fitted to my 2019 Ocean too.
I have received 6 quotations in the last 48 hours from various specialists and have specifically asked for dedicated vehicle wiring and my understanding is this should not cause any warranty issue.
Where are you based? Happy to share the donkey work I’ve done but I have looked for recommended companies within approx 80 miles of Oxfordshire. Prices range from £599 to £640 inc vat typically with one odd one at £780.
This is for a detachable westfalia towbar, 13 pin and vehicle dedicated electrics including all coding. I do not have tow bar prep either. Shouldn’t be a problem for reversing camera either.

Thank you... we are on the Oxfordshire border so definitely interested to see how you get on!

 

[soulstyledevon]

We have a 2019 ocean and want to have a detachable tow bar fitted. We have a couple of questions and concerns and as ever would appreciate your advice. Firstly, does anyone know if having it fitted by an independent company would affect the warranty? VW have quoted us £1540 by VW which seems a little excessive so would also be interested in knowing how much anyone else paid and who you used. Also, we have a rear view camera fitted, has anyone had any experience of fitting a tow bar with a camera? Were there any issues? We don’t have tow bar prep in place so would need the wiring done too. Many thanks.

Don’t pay Volkswagen £1540...
Complete madness.

Ive used these guys twice. 2012 Beach and 2017 Ocean.
No issues and fully coded to the van at over half the cost you’ve been quoted. No issues with either fitted.
Volkswagen will only sub out the work anyway...

MotaBars | Towbars, Van Racking, Remaps, Ghost immobiliser.

Specialist towbar & retrofit fitting centre in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. Thule, System Edstrom, Rhino, Ghost Immobiliser. Private and Commercial Vehicles

motabars.co.uk

 

[AlisonF]

I’ve gone back over my invoice from Sept 2018. The £2k included supplying and fitting an awning as well as the towbar. The towbar was £600 + VAT. This was a fixed towbar, no prep kit and electrics modified for reversing camera.

 

[Karlos]

I’ve gone back over my invoice from Sept 2018. The £2k included supplying and fitting an awning as well as the towbar. The towbar was £600 + VAT. This was a fixed towbar, no prep kit and electrics modified for reversing camera.

Thought 2k was a bit steep.

 

[Mr T]

Plus one for Satnav systems VW approved and will not affect warranty ( dealer uses them for retro fits)

That’s my final quote sorted.
£795 fitted at their premises. (Westfalia detachable)