Passat B8 Towbar

[VW_NI_GW]

Hello All, first post, be gentle...

New 2016 Passat B8 alltrack owner.
Car does not have a towbar fitted as standard

So thinking of a DIY install. Have the opportunity to get a genuine VW retractable towbar but what is all involved?
Any members done this previously. wiring does not worry me, but Coding well that a different area.

[Frank Bullitt]

I would have thought it is a ball-ache to fit, the wiring and mechanism alone. I have a Tow Trust demountable with dedicated electrics which is spot on - professionally fitted but for somebody competent with spanner’s it should be easy enough.

[VW_NI_GW]

Did you go for the 7-pin or 13-pin electrics?

Yes, likely it is hard to fit. But genuine parts are always better are they not?.

[Frank Bullitt]

13 pin - we tow a caravan.

It has the full VW electrics so integrates properly with the car, and the bar itself requires removal of the crash beam behind the bumper and the new beam to be installed with the towbar connection on it; the only difference to the VW set-up is that it’s not deployed by a button but in terms of the mechanical and electrical connections to the car they are the same.

[VW_NI_GW]

Excellent, this sounds like just what i need.
Gonna attempt to fit myself next weekend.
Bought a detachable kit for £125, 7 pin electrics. just hope the prewire has been done in the car.

following the westfalia instruction manual, hope its accurate.

[MikeBz]

The factory-fit VW towbar has an electric release - you pull a switch in the boot and it releases the hitch so that it swings down, you then have to get physically get hold of it and pull it up into place. To retract it you pull the switch which makes it drop down from its deployed position, then you have to physically push it back up into the stowed position. So no benefit from the 'electric release' at all, you still have to do most of they work by (mucky) hand.

[kippermcflipper]

I have looked into this as well. Some the VW's come with electric preparation - which I believe iirc there is a code under the passenger seat that you have to match up with; and if so it shows that some of the harness has been prepared.

Also you need to code the car; to activate the towbar electrics (control box); and this will mean the engine fan runs for longer, the parking sensors at the rear are deactivated and also activates a trailer stability programme as well. You could try using some ECU tools to do this job, but you do have to know what your doing - take plenty of backups etc.

The retractable one sounds good but might be a bit of a nightmare to fit - I would personally get a Westfalia detachable bull bar, from personal experience these tend to be very good quality and reliable.