T7 - Aftermarket (VW) Towbar

[WelshGas]

Didn’t damage the water tank in the end - just left the valve open from build - oh and the new water release for the cali looks like the attached - like someone’s put two drill holes in the bottom

Absolutely baffling

The manual is 100% pointless “the drain is behind the rear left wheel” which actually means under the shower point inside the boot…

View attachment 133238

At least they have made holes in the undertray to let the water run out unlike on the T5/6/6.1 where it ran off the undertray anywhere.

 

[Chippy]

Wondering if anyone has the knowledge around the new T7 Calis, and fitting a towbar to them.

I missed the deadline for the retractable towbar to be fitted at factory, due to lack of information from the dealer (no information) until it was too late, so was limited in the options for a bike rack (this question went unanswered three times...)

As such i asked VW to fit the removable towbar, as was my only option.

Was meant to pick up the new van yesterday, however there was "complications" in fitting the towbar, as "the kitchen area etc" had to be removed.

From previous vehicles getting a towbar fitted, this was usually the lighting loom + bumper removal, and wouldn't have involved having to take anything else apart, so has raised a further bit of concern on having a new vehicle that's effectively been stripped out already...

VW commercial have been unable to give me any answers at all, and due to the age of it not sure how many have had a tow bar fitted after

This happened to me, VW could not fit either TB or cycle carrier before pick up last October when they did a big promotion to sell off the last of the T6.1 Ocean. The salesman told me that the vehicle had TB preparation which it didn't. I was quoted £740 for detachable which was being fitted by a third party but on VW premises (he does all their TB work) but due to there being no preparation the job took a few hours longer and cost just over 1k. I was quoted by another established fitter before this was done who I had used before a price of £845 so I'm actually out of pocket but happy with the job. I don't know why they would have to remove part of your kitchen, I know i would not be happy at that. However, as always with VW they make it difficult even if you have the preparation kit by putting it in the most difficult of places according to my fitter. Hope this helps because you can still get one fitted just do your due diligence on the provider / fitter.

 

[marchugo]

For our T5 from 2009, without towbar preparation, I found this solution : a Westfalia removable towbar. No need to remove the kitchen. Cost: 890 euro.

Did it in Germany (Janssen Anhaengerkupplung in Senden, they are part of a nationwide German company Rameder.de.

Took about 5 hours work.
Don't think that they have affiliates in the UK, but my message is: it can be done without VW and without removing the kitchen.

Regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

 

[austow]

Finally got the to bottom of it.

The part that was ordered doesn’t actually work with the new vw California, and there is no after towbar currently available for it from VW other than the factory fitted.

There is no pre wired options for the new Cali at current either.

So it’s get a towbar on day 1, or erm good luck….

So currently cannot transport bikes until something is available

Provisionally, some good news regarding aftermarket towbar fitting on the New (T7) California - aftermarket towbars can be expected within the next couple of months.

I am taking delivery of my new vehicle next week, but I believe this may be the first vehicle with a successfully retrofitted towbar.

I had it fitted by Auto Solutions near Eastbourne (recommended by local VW dealership) - they initially had similar issues as described by others earlier in this thread (confusion over T7 vs multivan parts & wiring + lack of specific VW parts/info or aftermarket solution). After spending half a day fitting and running wiring, and another half day trying to diagnose the issues with VW on the phone in Germany, they were going to have to remove everything and return the vehicle to me without the towbar fitted. However, they spent a further few hours on the phone with a manufacturer of aftermarket towbar products to get to the bottom of this and to share their learnings and now it is reportedly fully working, including wiring & software patched/updated correctly.

The best news is that they have given all the information and updated wiring diagrams etc to this supplier of aftermarket towbar parts, so they can update/create a specific aftermarket towbar & wiring for the New California relatively quickly (they tweaked the multivan kit, I believe). The garage I spoke to expected the process to take no more than 1 to 2 months for the new kit to be widely available - so there is HOPE!

I can update next week once I have the vehicle myself, but Auto Solutions have been very professional and detailed so I have no doubt in their work. It doesn’t sound like an easy job though without factory-fitted wiring.

 

[Melyn]

Provisionally, some good news regarding aftermarket towbar fitting on the New (T7) California - aftermarket towbars can be expected within the next couple of months.

I am taking delivery of my new vehicle next week, but I believe this may be the first vehicle with a successfully retrofitted towbar.

I had it fitted by Auto Solutions near Eastbourne (recommended by local VW dealership) - they initially had similar issues as described by others earlier in this thread (confusion over T7 vs multivan parts & wiring + lack of specific VW parts/info or aftermarket solution). After spending half a day fitting and running wiring, and another half day trying to diagnose the issues with VW on the phone in Germany, they were going to have to remove everything and return the vehicle to me without the towbar fitted. However, they spent a further few hours on the phone with a manufacturer of aftermarket towbar products to get to the bottom of this and to share their learnings and now it is reportedly fully working, including wiring & software patched/updated correctly.

The best news is that they have given all the information and updated wiring diagrams etc to this supplier of aftermarket towbar parts, so they can update/create a specific aftermarket towbar & wiring for the New California relatively quickly (they tweaked the multivan kit, I believe). The garage I spoke to expected the process to take no more than 1 to 2 months for the new kit to be widely available - so there is HOPE!

I can update next week once I have the vehicle myself, but Auto Solutions have been very professional and detailed so I have no doubt in their work. It doesn’t sound like an easy job though without factory-fitted wiring.

Awesome that there may be a proper solution! I know mine was dismantled for 3 days and it was a nightmare for them. Plus side I’ve got the wiring in now so should be less disruptive