With my ever expanding family I have decided to still keep my Scout, but have a trailer to assist with the hudge amounts of stuff we now take camping. I have been trying to understand from pervious threads what the best option is for getting a towbar fitted. I have come to the following conclusions:

1) A detachable towbar is a good option, A PCT Prestige Detachable Towbar seems a good choice.

2) I should go for a 13pin setup to future proof my investment

3) I need a 13 pin vsk wiring kit, but some VAGCOM stuff may still be required.

4) I should not need any bumper or scuff plate cutting if I go for the PCT Prestige Detachable Towbar.

5) It will cost be £587 including fitting from Indespension.

I would appreciate any comments from other Scout owners on this or their own experiances, before I dive in and spend what seems to me quite a lot (not to mention the trailer!).

Not sure on the socket question

These guys http://www.trailertek.com/ near us quoted me £450 for a fully detachable one & the electrics / reversing sensors sorted. I purely need to occasionally tow a trailer for logging. They would supply the bits & get a roving fitter to do it, needed him to sort the VAG wiring apparently but I havent done it yet so cant comment on good or bad

Might be worth a phone call to pick their brains & they may have someone your way to fit

Prices here, Scout 3 versions, non are £450 , but all less than you were quoted so dont know http://www.trailertek.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/trailertek-towbars.pdf

Edited 28 July, 201015 yr by Stuart_J

Thanks Stuart,

This has confirmed that I should probably shop around a bit. So will see if they will quote me. My real worry is getting someone who has done one before and is an experienced fitter, I believe it is worth paying a little extra for piece of mind, especially with the electrics. Indespension offer a 2 year guarantee on electrics, which inspires confidence.

There also seems to be a bewildering array of trailers out there, so that will be my next problem.

I have a Witter detachable with 13 pin electrics.

£350.00 fitted.

No bumper cutting needed.

Edited 28 July, 201015 yr by silver1011

I have a Witter detachable with 13 pin electrics.

£350.00 fitted.

No bumper cutting needed.

Wow thats quite a differance to my quote! A couple of questions...

Does that price include all the wiring and coding to disable the reversing sensors and make it comptable with other ECU functionallity?

Where did you get this done?

Thanks for the picture, do you have any problems with the bar being too low and grounding out?

So in the end I went for the Witter detachable with 13 pin twin electrics i.e. full wiring kit.

I actually ended up getting it fully fitted as part of a package buy with a new trailer

Towbar fitted

Brenderup 1150s Trailer

Jocky Wheel

Load Bars

Cover

Spare Wheel

T Lock

Total £1241 including VAT

That works out at around £750 for the trailer and bits and pieces and around £500 for the bar and fitting not cheap but specialist dealer in Gloucester so know I will get a good job.

Edited 29 July, 201015 yr by KayakJim

I have a Witter detachable with 13 pin electrics.

£350.00 fitted.

No bumper cutting needed.

Mine is the same, a Witter sq19 (?) detachable- in fact as my Scout is black as well that could be my car! Got mine done at Hedley Towbars in Durham for about the same price but haven't had the reversing sensors disabled while the caravan is attached. Also had twin electrics instead of the 13 pin and bought an adaptor.

I haven't had any problems with the towbar grounding but then I've only been out in the 'van twice in civilised locations.

I had mine fitted in York:

http://www.incartecyork.co.uk/towing.html

I'm ashamed to say that I've never actually towed with it yet so haven't had a chance to test it. I was assured that the rear parking sensors would be disabled.

I have grounded it once when reversing down a steep slope fully laden.

The rating plate says:

Part. nr: ZQ-3013

Art. nr: 30707

Class: A50-X

D = 12,0kN

S = 135Kg