Towbars for cycle rack - what's best?

[Time Waster]

Getting our garage to price up a few options for our Skoda Octavia Mrk 3 estate car. Not sure what we want so getting a few options. I would prefer that installation would not need the bumper to be cut away in case I want it reversed later (unlikely but I prefer that). I also asked for the newer 13 pin electrics (my Atera Strada has an adaptor for either of the two common ones in the UK anyway). I figured 13 pin is better for not much more than the older standard.

So that leaves flange vs swans neck and fixed vs removable?

I asked for either. I actually like flange but the idea of not cutting bumper might mean swans neck. Removable is good for when not using it. However I have heard of issues of them becoming loose and moving with each removal or being fiddly to remove or put back on. Then there is the losing of the fixings (pins or something I guess). Plus are they as secure when on which I guess is important for a towbar cycle mount with up to 3 even 4 bikes on it (mine is 3 bike with a 4th adaptor if needed but never tried to fit it). I have this idea that flange is more solid than swans neck towbar even a fixed swans neck one.

Our garage only installs the good makes apparently which I reckon includes Witter and Westfalia. Any others?

Basically does anyone have any advice or opinions to share with us on this matter?

 

[Ian H]

I put a removable swan-neck on my Citroen. The socket folds out of sight, and the reversing sensors work when the hitch is removed.

 

[potsy]

Not advice as such but i very recently got myself a swan neck fixed tow bar and Thule cycle carrier.
Wish I'd done it years ago, so handy now I'm back to cycling at weekends, and need to occasionally travel to the meet points.

Was worried about the reversing sensors but it's all programmed to disable them once the carrier is plugged in, also the carrier can fold down with the bikes on so access to the boot is still possible.

Very impressed.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

@Time Waster
Are you wanting to tow, at the same time?

'Bar mounted are obviously better in terms of lifting on/clearance issues in car-parks/etc..

One factor that I've seen in the past, with roof mounts, after MTB/CX events is the mud/little stones causing issues (or get into the hinges)
They can get 'swept' by rain/airflow into the gap around the doors/hatchback & cause wear to the sealing rubbers

Plus, some soil/mud types might cause paintwork damage

 

[figbat]

I had a removable swan neck put on our Škoda Yeti - there was no issue with fit or stability of the ball when fitted; there was no pin or other items to lose, it just locked into place rigidly. There was a plastic blanking device to put in place when the ball wasn’t fitted, to keep it clean. I used this towbar with a Thule cycle rack and towing a trailer - never a moment’s issue. 13 pin electrics is not really new any more so would be best to choose - an adaptor for 7 pin fittings is easy enough to use if needed.

 

[Time Waster]

We went to our usual garage (we changed last year after losing trust in the garage of 3 or so years so this one is still fairly new to us) to get a price. They did not come back for two or three weeks so I called again and spoke to a woman there. She did not know anything about it as no note made. I immediately thought that the guy I spoke to decided not to quote. When I asked if they fitted towbars he said "if I had to!".

Anyway the woman I spoke to came back late on the same day and gave me a price of £1200 for parts, fitting and everything. That was a flange towbar (fixed) with 13 pin sockets. The bumper would be cut (apparently a mrk 3 Octavia estate has a low bumper so all towbar types need a cutout! Not 100% sure that is true.

Anyway, £1200 for a flange towbar seems double what I expect they cost now. IIRC a similar spec for our camper cost £3-400 about two years ago!! I am now certain that they do not want the work so put in an excessively high quotation such that if we were daft enough to go for it they would make a big profit for their "trouble". If that is what they have done then what a bunch of self-gratification artists!! Just be honest and say it if you don't want to do it!!!!

So now looking for another place to go to or to come to us to fit it. Anyone know a good company to go to? Are there any good ones who come to you to fit? I know there are some. There are also national companies that IIRC send you to a partner garage in your area to fit them. I just do not know who is a good installer I can trust to do a good job and supply a good towbar installed without issues.

 

[Time Waster]

BTW this is only for a cycle rack (Atera strada IIRC - a good one according to the reviews I read when we bought it for the van towbar use. It took my recumbent as well as two other bikes neatly once and always solid too. Also the slide out and down motion with the bikes on meant we could actually open the rear, barn doors of the van too!! The estate we have now will have no issues with opening the boot with the rack and bikes on it.

 

[OldShep]

I think very few garages fit tow bars themselves. They take the car from the customer and drive it to a specialist fitter and add a percentage for doing so.
I'd go straight to a specialist fitter in northern Cumbria that’s Plyline there’s bound to be similar down your end.
Is this the same Octavia you had booming sound with? What was the outcome I can’t find the thread.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

@Time Waster

This company fitted 2 for us (one detachable, the other fixed-gooseneck)
They come to the house/work

Offer a choice of ‘bars
Electrics choices are explained on the website (see wiring types)
both of ours were 13-pin ‘dedicated’
(Q3 sold on)

https://www.towbar2u.com/

 

[figbat]

I would look for towbar fitting specialists - I had mine done by a mobile fitter. I’d also make sure to get a dedicated towing module fitted and coded to the car, rather than a universal relay box.

Part of the expense might be to get the wiring harness from the fusebox to the rear - our Yeti was built with ‘towbar prep’ from new, meaning it had a harness and connector already fitted and also had the bumper cut and a removable cover panel fitted. There is some suggestion that it also included an uprated cooling fan, but I never confirmed this.

 

[figbat]

and luckily a removable one so I at least don't have the useless thing sticking out the back all the time!

This is a good point. They really hurt your shins when (not if) you catch them… and every time you do it after that.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

This is a good point. They really hurt your shins when (not if) you catch them… and every time you do it after that.

Rubber cover when not in use

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

This is a good point. They really hurt your shins when (not if) you catch them… and every time you do it after that.

Rubber cover when not in use

They don't hurt as much as NATO hitches!

@ Time Watch

Don't watch the fitting, if you're nervous
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/trailers-bwsows.273070/page-4#post-6472297

Re; the advantages of 'vehicle specific wiring'/coding; https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/trailers-bwsows.273070/page-27#post-6896360