Price to fit a detachable towbar whats reasonable?

Price to fit a detachable towbar whats reasonable?

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Discussion

Gazzas86

Original Poster:

1,709 posts

171 months

Wednesday 17th June 2020
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Evening all,

We have decided to get a detachable towbar fitted to our 2015 VW Tiguan R-Line. We have had a couple of quotes, which includes everything from supplying towbar, wiring loom and coding/fitting for £600 all in. It's a Westfalia towbar, i'm not sure if its a good brand or not?, but that is what they are quoting to fit.

I've had a look on ebay for 'cheaper' kits, but they either say, not compatible with R-Line, which i assume its because of the LED lights, or bumper differences.

We want the stability program so its safer while driving especially whilst having kids in the car.

Anyone have any knowledge whether its a good price/brand? or offer alternatives?

Thanks all.

BristolAl

90 posts

113 months

Wednesday 17th June 2020
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Seems reasonable, that’s what I’ve paid in the past for a branded removable job in Bristol

Deerfoot

4,902 posts

184 months

Thursday 18th June 2020
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Westfalia are a decent brand. Brink are good also.

I think I paid £400 around three years ago for a Bosal bar on my old V60. It was a fixed swan neck though but it was coded to the car and turned off the rear parking sensors when reverse was selected when towing etc.

£600 sounds about right.

Gazzas86

Original Poster:

1,709 posts

171 months

Thursday 18th June 2020
quotequote all
Thankyou all

vikingaero

10,334 posts

169 months

Thursday 18th June 2020
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I paid £450 for a removable Witter. That included vehicle specific wiring but not coded as I only use the towbar for a bike rack and don't need the DSC towing program to switch,

Robotron-2084

480 posts

49 months

Thursday 18th June 2020
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£475 for a detachable Westfalia (OEM) to my VW T6, included the programming to let the bcm know there's a trailer/caravan being towed.

AWRacing

1,712 posts

225 months

Saturday 20th June 2020
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Ive just had a quote from peterborough towbars to get a detachable, vehicle dedicated electrics and coding fitted to my SEAT Tarraco of £450 incl vat. which i think is pretty good.

electronpusher

23 posts

53 months

Sunday 21st June 2020
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For curiosity, I'm trying to follow along to stay educated...

vikingaero said:
... included vehicle specific wiring but not coded as I only use the towbar for a bike rack and don't need the DSC towing program to switch,
DSC = drive shaft coupling? I see one like this https://remcodsc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/RE... but it's for a towed vehicle especially automatic transmission, to avoid putting miles on the clock and heat into the gearbox. Why does the towing vehicle need one? confused

Robotron-2084 said:
... programming to let the bcm know there's a trailer/caravan being towed.
BCM = body control module? https://www.landroversonly.com/threads/bcm-program...

I understand the ABS would want to know there is a trailer on the back, so I guess the BCM talks to that. I also saw some stuff about changing (automatic gearbox?) shifting speeds to reduce transmission heating and keep the engine in the power band.
From https://moduleexperts.com/5-common-symptoms-failin... I don't see what else needs to know.

LargeRed

1,654 posts

48 months

Sunday 21st June 2020
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Robotron-2084 said:
£475 for a detachable Westfalia (OEM) to my VW T6, included the programming to let the bcm know there's a trailer/caravan being towed.
BCM reprogram ???? tell me why ?

AWRacing

1,712 posts

225 months

Sunday 21st June 2020
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electronpusher said:
For curiosity, I'm trying to follow along to stay educated...

vikingaero said:
... included vehicle specific wiring but not coded as I only use the towbar for a bike rack and don't need the DSC towing program to switch,
DSC = drive shaft coupling? I see one like this https://remcodsc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/RE... but it's for a towed vehicle especially automatic transmission, to avoid putting miles on the clock and heat into the gearbox. Why does the towing vehicle need one? confused
DSC = Dynamic Stability Control

Robotron-2084

480 posts

49 months

Sunday 21st June 2020
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BCM, yup, body control module.

Several reasons I believe, I’ve got a powered tailgate, it won’t open with a towbar bike rack or caravan etc, turns off reverse sensors, move rear fog lights to trailer, extend alarm to trailer and change graphics on reverse camera, possibly changes other related things too.

I don’t think you need to code if you have factory towbar prep, which I didn’t.

electronpusher

23 posts

53 months

Sunday 21st June 2020
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Thanks thumbup