Towbar Fitting

[stevereid]

Hello again folks,

I've bought a Westfalia detachable towbar, electrics and bypass relay.
I was wondering if anyone had fitted one and what it was like to do ? just before I pay someone local to fit it.
Thanks
Steve

 

[mikeh126]

Had the same fitted last week. A Westfalia detachable, with single electrics. NOT car specific - just a buzzer with the indicators. Cost = £330 cash fitted. From what I can see - the towbar is approx £180 - £190 to buy - so the fitting was c.£150
I have the Avant - and the bumper needs cutting. It took the guy (who apparently does work for main dealers) a total of 3.5 hours to do, and he came to me to fit it.

I thought it was worth getting someone to fit it - if they do it for a living, it stands a chance of being done properly.

Cheers

Mike.

 

[stevereid]

Hi Mike,

I think i'll get it fitted by a "Pro" been quoted around £100 to fit my towbar and electrics by the local specialists.

Thanks for the reply.

Steve

 

[quattrojames]

THIS is the only detachable towbar I've ever seen on here, but I'm not sure what make it is.

Make sure you don't end up with THIS

 

[scott b]

replied to your PM

£100 to fit and wire it is a good price

what area are you in, if you want it fitting and your in the northwest, give us a shout, will do it for less than £100, but would have to be a weekend

 

[stevereid]

Scott,
Just replied to your pm
I'm in the north east, had I been closer I would have jumped at your offer.
Steve

 

[stevereid]

James,

Jesus Christ ! What a mess... did Stevie wonder and Ray Charles fit that ???

 

[scott b]

THIS is the only detachable towbar I've ever seen on here, but I'm not sure what make it is.

Make sure you don't end up with THIS

**** me, if that was me fitting it i would of took one look at the instructions, and thought, like **** am i cutting a bumper like that

 

[stevereid]

Update,
Towbar is being fitted at my door on friday morning for £95, didnt think that was bad at all.

 

[quattrojames]

Sounds good! Let us know how it looks :icon_thumright:

 

[BILKO1]

THIS is the only detachable towbar I've ever seen on here, but I'm not sure what make it is.

Make sure you don't end up with THIS

It's made by a company called PCT i bought it off of adcooper.http://www.pct-automotive.co.uk/

 

[stevereid]

I've bought a westfalia detachable, as, so it says, "Completely invisible" when the ball isnt fitted.

 

[swarcup]

be carefull about the some mobile fitters, the car i bought had had one fitted by a mobile technician and when i had the wiring looked at it was said to be a major fire hazard because they spliced into wiring in the back when they should have run wires from the fuse box. im not branding all lousy but make sure its done correctly

 

[stevereid]

Cheers Swarcup,

It's a north east based company I've used before a couple of times, Hedley Alarm and Towing. They are reputable and just fitted a bar to my Dad's Avensis last week with power from the fusebox.

Steve

 

[scott b]

be carefull about the some mobile fitters, the car i bought had had one fitted by a mobile technician and when i had the wiring looked at it was said to be a major fire hazard because they spliced into wiring in the back when they should have run wires from the fuse box. im not branding all lousy but make sure its done correctly

as a towbar fitter (since 2003) and a qualified mechanic. splicing into a live feed thats at the back of the car isnt dangerous, as long as the wire is a decent size and not going to over load it, then there isnt a problem, as long as the wire is fussed, which it will be (ie cig lighter) then wheres the problem. never had one set on fire yet, bearing in mind i work for a family business thats been doing towbars for over 30 years!

 

[swarcup]

please dont think im attacking all towbar fitters because in any walk of life there are good and bad and i can only repeat what i was told by the guys fitting my latest one and pass on this info.

 

[stevereid]

Just a quick note to let you guys know that I had the Westfalia detachable towbar fitted on friday, and as I hoped, its completely invisible when the towball isnt attached. Electric socket swings down when needed and back up when it isnt.
Would recommend the Westfalia bar.
Steve

 

[mikeh126]

Yes - I would recommend the Westfalia detachable. I'm pleased with mine fitted recently.
As you say - it's completely invisible - the electric socket swings down (spring loaded), and back up when not needed.
Job done!!!

 

[scott b]

im 99% sure that the genuin audi bar is made by westfalia, they are defernatly one of the best bars when it comes to quality

 

[mikeh126]

Yes - I also understand that the Audi bar is made by westfalia - mine is black, but I think the OEM part fitted as an option from the factory is silver (or colour coded?)

 

[scott b]

also, on a side note, if you look in the spare wheel in the foam insert, there is a place for the towball to sit!

only spotted this the other day

 

[mikeh126]

I only noticed it the other day as well!! It's home is now in the polystyrene spare wheel infill - very neat!!

 

[stevereid]

Well what a fantastic find...other than, mine hasn't got the polystyrene spare wheel infill !!
And to top it off, just got back to the car in the local asda car park and now got 2 scratches the length of the drivers door with the paint off !!! F*CK

 

[mikeh126]

SH*T! That sounds deliberate. I would be gutted if that happened to mine. A respray job? The bast**ds!!

 

[stevereid]

Yep, looks like a key, right through the paint, its going to need the door painted ! Just when I wanted to spend the money on other things for the car.