towbar and electrics ? who fitted yours

[jeepster1961]

hi all, i need a towbar on my passat saloon. i can fit the towbar myself but not confident i can sort the electrics, so who fitted yours and what did it cost.

cheers

[martin1810]

TRy posting on towing threads. The electrics depend on what system you go for, VW plug and play or aftermarket bypass relay. The vw plug & play costs over £100 for the wiring plus labour to fit. A bypass relay costs about £30 or less and is easier to fit. BUT you can't activate any vw programming if you use a bypass relay.

[angus]

EECO nr Halifax did mine, they have been manufacturing bars for decades.

I paid £215.00 fitted, twin electrics, split charge relay (for fridge/battery)Stainless steel bump-plate and chrome flipper. Didn`t go for the `plug-and-play` as the VW dealer (who had quoted way over 800 quid) said the stability system didn`t exist, and there was no mention when he did a search on his computer system!

I tow 1375kgs with a 140 sport estste, and stability hasn`t been a concern.

[dunkley201]

Jeepster, look at "Passat Tow Bar Fitment" under "Tow Bars, Towing....". Angus' VW Dealer is giving duff gen. B6's are wired for TSP if you fit the correct loom and recode. Mine is a VW supplied Westfalia detachable bar with VW loom. Not cheap, but best solution to take advantage of the car's electronics - and very neat.

[pendle wizard]

Redcap Garage in Blackburn, Lancs did mine, £349 excellent job really good to deal with.

[pendle wizard]

Forgot to add - twin electrics on a Witter towbar with Alko towball

[martin1810]

Actually angus is correct. Some models to not have any of the tow bar electrics installed at the factory which means a big job to retrofit the whole vw setup. These models only have esp button and can't be coded for any extra towing features as far as I can tell because the car hasn't got any extra's to activate.

[jeepster1961]

hi, i have read that the car needs to be programmed to be 100% when towing, but my main dealer said not doing sdo wouldnt cause any problems.

[davmal735]

Got an estate fitted with a fixed Brink swan neck bar and twin electrics (type specific and coded) for £340 in Stoke. Company called Autow-bar. Not an easy place to find! VW wanted £700 and upwards. Cheapest local VW approved workshop was Premier in Leek.

[dunkley201]

hi, i have read that the car needs to be programmed to be 100% when towing, but my main dealer said not doing sdo wouldnt cause any problems.

The way I understand it, the (by pass relay) type installation will make it no different to any other car. You will get electrics to power the trailer tail lights plus caravan battery & fridge if twin socket or 13 pin. However, without the correct loom (available from VW, Westfalia etc - quote VIN No) what I am told you will not get is: re-coded ESP; re-coded ABS; trailer light failure warning through car system; alarm triggered if trailer nicked when coupled to locked car, etc. When fully fitted, the ESP & ABS will take account of the trailer when hooked up and behave differently. If the trailer has T-ESP, the car will link to that too.
I tow a 1400kg+ caravan. The car tows fine, by the way - rock steady. I do not intend to test the ESP & ABS in anger however!! But it is nice for it to be there!
For even more info, look for posts from "Rightconnection" on this forum.
Happy towing!