I've seen a few posts on the topic of towbar prep and the pros and cons of having it done but haven't yet found anything final as to exactly what the finished job is.

I am waiting for a Skoda dealer chappie to come back to me (that was 3 days ago don't you just love it) and let me know what he can find out. I have picked up one or two snippets of info from around and about and thus far I reckon that towbar prep could be:- an installed continental 13 pin wiring loom hard wired back to the fusebox and/or ECU from the Yeti boot, the programming of the ECU to recognise when a trailer/caravan is hitched and the bumper cutout with cover installed to accomodate the detachable hitch. Has anyone had towbar prep done on a Yeti? Can anyone give me a definitive answer please? Cheers.

A dam fine question, I have been wondering this myself.

If you check out the brochure for dealer fitted parts you will see that the cost of tow bar installation is only £10 less if the vehicle has 'tow bar prep'.

I suspect the dealers won't know what 'tow bar prep'is or will 'waffle' but could be worth contacting Skoda UK and generating a query.

When I asked this question at a local dealers, they told me that the factry prep was better as it prewired from the engine compartment to the rear of the car. If he dealers have to do this it is a big task having to remove and replace things as they go. He told me to go for factory prep as it would be more strait forward and cheaper. It does not inclued the trailer sockets. The sockets either twin for caravans or single for trailers is another expence over the initial prep as is the fitment of the tow hitch.

Added edit.

The car would need to be reprogramed to acept the towing equipnet this is so that the chassis management can tailor its responses by adentifying wheather a traior is being towed or not. That might not be possible if the tow bar was fitted by an aftermaket outlet. This is because many of them just use scotchlinks to cut into the exsisting rear lightin wiring. The cars ECU and chassis management would then not be able to respond corectly if it was towing.

It seems about right what I was told but it would not suprize me in the least if their was a constant flury of conflicting information from whom ever one asked.

Edited 17 February, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

It also includes cutting for the access hatch and the hatch cover and possibly? a couple of other extras.

If the information had been clearer I would have gone for factory prep followed by "independant" connection of sockets and towbar fitting.

Having said that I am happy with what I am getting from the main dealer.

Towbar prep at the factory during vehicle build includes wiring loom and cutout/cover and currently costs £170 + VAT

BUT

There is an asterix on the order sheet which reads

NOT SUITABLE FOR SPLIT CHARGING :'(

which kind of defeats the object

This link might help towards understanding, the wiring kit that I used included a 13 pin socket but only 7 pins were wired up for trailer only use. Towbar Prep included

The wiring to the rear of the car.

The bumper cut out and cover.

Supposedly larger cooling fans.

It does not include coding.

DIY Towbar Install With Factory Towbar Prep

To confirm, they are not "supposedly" larger fans, they are ACTUAL!!

And mine powers the fridge and battery, Will!!

To confirm, they are not "supposedly" larger fans, they are ACTUAL!!

And mine powers the fridge and battery, Will!!

So does mine.....I think..........when the ignition is on, the fridge is powered. Really not sure about the charging of the battery though.

I have factory prep

Oh how I wish Skoda kew what they were doing.......

I have factory prep

Oh how I wish Skoda kew what they were doing.......

I've begun to think that they do know what they are doing but are just reluctant to tell anyone, especially those that sell or service them.

Certainly keeps an air of mystery to deter others from interfering

I've seen a few posts on the topic of towbar prep and the pros and cons of having it done but haven't yet found anything final as to exactly what the finished job is.

I am waiting for a Skoda dealer chappie to come back to me (that was 3 days ago don't you just love it) and let me know what he can find out. I have picked up one or two snippets of info from around and about and thus far I reckon that towbar prep could be:- an installed continental 13 pin wiring loom hard wired back to the fusebox and/or ECU from the Yeti boot, the programming of the ECU to recognise when a trailer/caravan is hitched and the bumper cutout with cover installed to accomodate the detachable hitch. Has anyone had towbar prep done on a Yeti? Can anyone give me a definitive answer please? Cheers.

If you haven't already seen this thread have a read;http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/209715-towbar-coding-update/page__hl__towbar+prep

Fred