Fitting a tow bar with electrics

[benb]

Hi all

I have decided that I would prefer a towbar mounted bike rack rather than a roof one (mainly as it won't be long before I'll need to get 4 bikes on the car, which there just isn't room for)

My garage quoted me over £500 labour, which pushed the total cost to nearly a grand.

Has anyone fitted one themselves? How easy is it? I'll need to wire in electricals to get the light board on the bike rack to work.

 

[boydj]

I'd shop around a bit. I got the expensive, removeable towbar supplied and fitted, complete with electric socket for about £450. My VW dealer did suggest going elsewhere to get the work done as they would have been expensive. It's not a job for a diy enthusiast and there are plenty of the car specialists about - just make sure you go to one with a good reputation.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I've fit three over the years, they are dead easy if you buy the right kit. I get mine from here and they fit without cutting or drilling. I need to fit one to the wife's car because I was my cars that had them. But I've just sold mine as I want to ride more.


http://www.pfjones.co.uk/citroen-c3-picasso-2009-on-flange-pf-jones-towbar.html


And use a quick release pendle towbar mounted rack. Fits in less than 20 seconds..seriously.

 

[pumpadave]

Hi all

I have decided that I would prefer a towbar mounted bike rack rather than a roof one (mainly as it won't be long before I'll need to get 4 bikes on the car, which there just isn't room for)

My garage quoted me over £500 labour, which pushed the total cost to nearly a grand.

Has anyone fitted one themselves? How easy is it? I'll need to wire in electricals to get the light board on the bike rack to work.

hello re towbar electrics would depend on how new your car is, most modern cars have canbus wiring,which is where one wire can do a mulitude of jobs i.e operating side lights aswell as brake lights. So would possibly need a genuine tow bar wiring kit.

 

[Cuchilo]

I got a pro to do mine as I wanted to tow my boat . I cant remember the costs , I think about £300 inc the tow bar but the brake lights on the board are the main lights and I have no main lights . Ive given up calling them to put it right and cant help thinking I could have done it wrong myself and saved some money .
The funny bit is they are called Tow Safe Just don't tow after dark !

 

[pumpadave]

I got a pro to do mine as I wanted to tow my boat . I cant remember the costs , I think about £300 inc the tow bar but the brake lights on the board are the main lights and I have no main lights . Ive given up calling them to put it right and cant help thinking I could have done it wrong myself and saved some money .
The funny bit is they are called Tow Safe Just don't tow after dark !

just one quick question is it 7 pin or 13 pin because if it's a 13 pin it is an mot testable item which has to work properly or it is an mot fail

 

[Cuchilo]

It must be a seven pin as an MOT failure on my new van would have resulted in a tow safe man dragging a Vauxhall movano high roof mid wheel base around with his backside

 

[DRHysted]

Really depends on the model. I fitted the last one to my 2002 Mondeo (including a 7way bypass for he electrics) without a problem. But I did used to do all the mechanics and electrics on my old 4x4.
I'd say it also depends on what you feel you can do. If you can spin the spanners, and produce a clean solder join, then you'll be fine. However if you don't know one end from the other on a spanner, or can't wire a plug, I'd advise paying someone else.

 

[SquareDaff]

Find a cheaper garage! I bought the bits and had a friendly garage fit the towball and electrics for £130.

 

[Andrew_P]

I got a removable Westfalia one fitted to a BMW For £475, included the item, wiring loom and fitting, Identical brand and item that BMW fit and they wanted north of £1300 The place I got it done was in Horsham Tanfield Towbars & Trailers

 

[subaqua]

fitting the towbar itself is fairly easy as each one is specific for the vehicle. The biggest issue is the type of electrical system, somebody mentioned CANBus so you will need a CANBus relay to control the lights. some vehicles even have a towing software update to the ECU to make things work and alter engine suspenasion and transmission paramaters .

It doen't need to be the makers kit just a good bit of kit http://www.towsure.com/category/VehicleSpecific_Wiring_Kits always get good reviews on the camping forums

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

we had one fitted this time last year to our 2002 VW Passat. single electrics, nothing fancy (didn't need the dual electrics for a caravan). We let the garage we purchased the car from sort everything out for us, including them getting someone in to do it all (part of us buying the car) cost us £200 extra. We have a 3-4 bike bike rack and have used it to carry all 4 bikes. Love the fact that the instructions say the 4th bike (ours is via an additional attachment onto the rack) says should only be a childs bike - they weigh more than my road bike does!

When we had our previous car done (1998 Audi A4), the cost was similar, though I purchased the towbar (£100 ish) and had the audi specialist garage fit it in that case - total somewhere around £200-250.

 

[benb]

Thanks all. Technically I think I could do it as long as it's just soldering some wires.
I'll do some research and have a think about it, and get a couple of different quotes too.

 

[amaferanga]

Worth spending a little more on a removable one as well IMO. Mine slots in and locks in place in a second and is as quick to remove. The light socket also folds away so when I'm not using the towbar everything is neatly hidden away behind the bumper with the towbar itself in the boot. Mine is a Witter one that PF Jones supplied and fitted for £315 (to a Fiat 500). For anyone near Manchester I'd highly recommend them.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Thanks all. Technically I think I could do it as long as it's just soldering some wires.
I'll do some research and have a think about it, and get a couple of different quotes too.

No soldering needed the kits comes with scotch locks.