New Octavia MK2 Elegance 1.9tdi Estate towbar?

Jonny Baby · 13-06-2005, 22:12

Dear All

Will be taking delivery of my new Octavia Estate beginning of July, and will be needing a towbar for it as a matter of urgency due to a carravanning holiday middle of July

So far have not been able to locate one for the new estate yet (Skoda dealer wants a fortune for one)

Towsure seem to think the Mk1 towbar will fit a Mk2 but I don't think that is quite right!

So does anyone know where I will get one other than from a main dealer?

Also because I have gone for the elegance spec it comes with those rear parking sensors as standard, I have been told that a fixed towbar will send them crazy, is this true?

Any pointers in the right direction would be very helpful

Cheers

Jonny Baby

Higgy · 13-06-2005, 22:45

Mk1 will NOT fit Mk2.
PDC can get crazy indeed by a fixed towbar. So why not be sure and have a removable one fitted?
I don't know whether the UK has Quickfit or another fastfitter, but in the Netherlands a towbar for the new Octi isn't a problem at all.
They ARE quite expensive!

PaulS · 14-06-2005, 08:00

I also have a MK2 1.9TDI Elegance Estate.

I had a removeable towbar fitted because the dealer said the reversing sensors would pick up the towbar - but they don't!!!

I think its partly because the removeable tow ball is one of those that comes out a fair way from the rear bumper on a round bar, rather than the Witter type that are close to the bumper and have the electrics on the same bracket as the tow ball.

I was quoted something like £700 to have a removeable tow bar fitted by the dealer, but they said they could get a 3rd party one fitted by a tow bar centre in town for £350 (single electrics), so I went for that option. The towbar, however, is clearly a Skoda one because it has the Skoda logo on the tow ball cap and they left the fitting instructions in the car- which have Skoda written all over them!

Its a really neat job - the electrics are on a bracket that swings up behind the bumper when not in use. When the bar is not fitted, you cannot see any sign of it or the mounting bracket or the electrics.

I would think you have two options
1) Find out how much a Skoda removeable tow bar is for supply only and see if you can get a towbar centre to fit it.
2) See if you can find a fixed towbar of the bar type - bit of a gamble because it might affect the reverse sensors - and I'm not sure whether anyone makes them. And IMHO they look awful.

Paul

patnmand · 14-06-2005, 14:15

I've got the Skoda one. When you plug something into the electrics socket it automatically turns off the PDC, so you don't have a problem.

I think dealers are charging a lot to do it, but mine was done at the factory - think it cost £345 which I thought was pretty reasonable

skodaling along · 08-07-2005, 23:35

Hi Jonny

Have you had your tow bar problem sorted?

Just wondering as ive got the Elegance too! and need a tow bar....

Cheers

Andy

springlea · 11-07-2005, 20:00

I have the new Ambience Estate and found that there was a problem with the towbar being fitted to the Mk11 Hatch and the estate so I got on to Witter and they have made a new towbar Part No SK12A that fits Both models and all so Audi A3 I had mine fitted and twin electrics for £286.00 and it does not interfere with the reversing system by a Witter approved agent.

13-06-2005, 22:12	#1
Jonny Baby Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lincolnshire UK Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New Octavia MK2 Elegance 1.9tdi Estate towbar? Dear All Will be taking delivery of my new Octavia Estate beginning of July, and will be needing a towbar for it as a matter of urgency due to a carravanning holiday middle of July So far have not been able to locate one for the new estate yet (Skoda dealer wants a fortune for one) Towsure seem to think the Mk1 towbar will fit a Mk2 but I don't think that is quite right! So does anyone know where I will get one other than from a main dealer? Also because I have gone for the elegance spec it comes with those rear parking sensors as standard, I have been told that a fixed towbar will send them crazy, is this true? Any pointers in the right direction would be very helpful Cheers Jonny Baby

14-06-2005, 14:15	#4
patnmand Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: South East UK Posts: 215 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've got the Skoda one. When you plug something into the electrics socket it automatically turns off the PDC, so you don't have a problem. I think dealers are charging a lot to do it, but mine was done at the factory - think it cost £345 which I thought was pretty reasonable __________________ Patrick Octy II Elegance 2.0PD TDI DSG Flamenco Red Maxi-dot Multifunction Steering wheel Light Assistant Towbar

08-07-2005, 23:35	#5
skodaling along Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 161 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Jonny Have you had your tow bar problem sorted? Just wondering as ive got the Elegance too! and need a tow bar.... Cheers Andy __________________ Skoda 140BHP TDI ELEGANCE

11-07-2005, 20:00	#6
springlea Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 62 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Octy Mk11 Towbar I have the new Ambience Estate and found that there was a problem with the towbar being fitted to the Mk11 Hatch and the estate so I got on to Witter and they have made a new towbar Part No SK12A that fits Both models and all so Audi A3 I had mine fitted and twin electrics for £286.00 and it does not interfere with the reversing system by a Witter approved agent.

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13-06-2005, 22:45	#2
Higgy Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mk1 will NOT fit Mk2. PDC can get crazy indeed by a fixed towbar. So why not be sure and have a removable one fitted? I don't know whether the UK has Quickfit or another fastfitter, but in the Netherlands a towbar for the new Octi isn't a problem at all. They ARE quite expensive!

14-06-2005, 08:00	#3
PaulS Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Worcestershire Posts: 31 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I also have a MK2 1.9TDI Elegance Estate. I had a removeable towbar fitted because the dealer said the reversing sensors would pick up the towbar - but they don't!!! I think its partly because the removeable tow ball is one of those that comes out a fair way from the rear bumper on a round bar, rather than the Witter type that are close to the bumper and have the electrics on the same bracket as the tow ball. I was quoted something like £700 to have a removeable tow bar fitted by the dealer, but they said they could get a 3rd party one fitted by a tow bar centre in town for £350 (single electrics), so I went for that option. The towbar, however, is clearly a Skoda one because it has the Skoda logo on the tow ball cap and they left the fitting instructions in the car- which have Skoda written all over them! Its a really neat job - the electrics are on a bracket that swings up behind the bumper when not in use. When the bar is not fitted, you cannot see any sign of it or the mounting bracket or the electrics. I would think you have two options 1) Find out how much a Skoda removeable tow bar is for supply only and see if you can get a towbar centre to fit it. 2) See if you can find a fixed towbar of the bar type - bit of a gamble because it might affect the reverse sensors - and I'm not sure whether anyone makes them. And IMHO they look awful. Paul