New Tiguan (and associated manufacturers)
We recently purchased a new (late 2024) new shape Tiguan. We were quoted £1500 to get a factory fitted towbar. Not wishing to pay this we were advised by thew salesman to get one fitted independently for (probably) half the price. We'd done this before with previous Tiguans. However, due to the new wiring design no UK fitters that we contacted were able to fit a towbar to the Tiguan! It seems that VW have restricted the towbar fitting somewhat. The worry also is that their salespeople are unaware of this issue so customers are buying a car that cannot have a towbar fitted by anyone other than VW. A serious concern for new car buyers of VW, Audi and Skoda.
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Provided the car is one that can be fitted with a tow bar then I see no problem with a tow bar supplied by a tow bar fitter. Check the car has a towing allowance though. We have had well into double figures of tow cars and none were factory fitted, although two were allegedly the OP standard one from the dealer. With the second one I discovered that the dealer had not fitted it but subcontracted it to a fitting firm anyway and when there waiting for a new tow bar for another car they were doing the fitting for other dealers.
We have always used a reputable fitter and good makes like Bosal, Witter and Tow Sure and never had any trouble. I have wondered about brand new models which tow bar fitters might not have been familiar with but had one fitted to a new Vectra just after the model was launched without problem.
You will find that the factory fit ones are normally commercial ones anyway, mainly supplied by Westfaliia who are the same firm as Witter and I think Brink.
The one advantage though oof buying one fitted as part of the sale s that you get the car manufacturers guarantee with it. If fitted elsewhere you get the fitters one which is possibly less secure.
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I agree with @Wildwood 's last comment. When I bought my Touareg, 10 years ago - I paid the dealer over £1200 then - which I thought was a lot of money for a towbar. They fitted a Westfalia and haven't had a single problem with it(or more importantly, the wiring) - but I was particularly concerned about any warranty implications if I didn't have a dealer-fitted one.
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I bought a new Kodiaq 2 years ago, and specced it with a factory fit towbar.
I found out two things when I was looking into the Skoda before placing my order. First, for the car to be fitted with a retro fit tow bar, the car had to have been specced with 'towbar preparation' when new for this to be done. No idea what this entails, but given its a VAG car, others in the group might be the same. I'm not mechanically minded, so havent a clue if this can be circumvented.
Secondly, the weight figures on the Vin plate of some older Skodas prevented the retro fit of a towbar, and I've read reports from members who have been caught out by this. Again, this might be the case with other cars in the group
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Monty, if the weights plate, usually on the drivers side A or B pillar has a GTW (Gross Train Weight) listed then you should have no problem in getting a tow bar fitted. I would start with PF Jones who have an excellent reputation, ard good on cost and fit throughout the UK. If you do not have a GTW figure you have a big problem. The vehicle cannot do legally be fitted with a tow bar and you need to return it.
Colin
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If the towbar is retro fitted it is an "accessory" in the eyes of insurers, some of whom will decline to cover because of that.
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@TimboC - I wonder if it's the same issue that I had with the Touareg. In the small print in the handbook - it said that the warranty would be invalidated if it was used for towing without the cooling fan being upgraded. That was another £850 at the time. I refused to pay it and told the dealer that the car was advertised as having a 3.5 tonne towing limit and nowhere did it mention it was subject to upgrading the fan. They conceded (I suppose they didn't want to lose the sale) and fitted the upgraded fan foc.
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I have purchased a new (latest model) Skoda Kodiaq and it came with a factory fit electric tow bar. When I took my caravan for service to the specialist caravan and towing fitters (who fitted the tow bracket to my last Kodiaq) they advised that they cannot fit brackets to the new Kodiaq. I understand this is the inability to access the ecu to programme for towing. I’m guessing this is likely to be the case with all the latest VAG group cars.
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