turbo 4

I've got a VRS, Hatch, and am looking at getting a towbar for my bike rack.

Has anybody on here got the Skoda removable towbar? Hows it look,

Did you fit it, and whats the cost!

Thanks.

Andrew

DRJ

Please ignore this response - unless you've got a Fabia - I didn't notice this was an Octavia thread...

Bad news - you can't do it - since Skoda don't allow towing with a vRS you have a problem - from http://www.witter-towbars.co.uk/quality_standards/EC_QandA.aspx:

Q. Why was European Type Approval for towbars introduced?
A. Directive 94/20/EC was introduced as part of European Whole Vehicle Type Approval to provide a common standard throughout the European Community, thus creating an open market. Irrespective of where a towbar has been manufactured, providing it has been Type Approved, a customer will know that it has been manufactured to a known technical and quality standard.

Q. What may happen if I don't fit a Type Approved towbar?
A. If your car is first registered on or after the 1st August 1998, you could be prosecuted for an infringement of Construction & Use Regulations or your Insurers may decline to pay out in the event of an accident claim. If you are unsure which towbar to fit contact your local Witter specialist, who can be found under National Stockists.

Q. I only tow a small trailer on rare occasions, surely I don't need a type approved towbar?
A. YES. The towbar must be certified even if not used for towing! Otherwise it does not comply with the Road Traffic Act.

Q. How can I find out if my new car or model variant, is EC Type Approved for towing?
A. For a new car or model variant a definitive answer could be obtained by examining the vehicle VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) plate, which should have four figures stamped into the lower edge denoting its carrying capacity.
VIN No. (known as chassis number)
XXXX kg -(Max vehicle weight)
XXXX kg -(Max train weight i.e. vehicle and trailer)
1. XXXX kg -(Max front axle load)
2. XXXX kg -(Max rear axle load)If no train weight is specified then the vehicle is not approved for towing, and therefore cannot legally do so. If a train weight is specified then the towing weight is this figure less the maximum vehicle weight The VIN plate is usually located under the bonnet. However it can sometimes be elsewhere

Hence I suggest you wouldn't be permitted to fit one even for putting a bike rack on. Use the roof instead

7url

If it's the Octavia your discussing here I really , really hope you are wrong about that.

I've been waiting 3 months now for a vRS hatch (should arrive next week) and I have to be able to fit a towbar to it.

I even got a quote for a removable one from a local towbar dealer before I ordered the car and they never mentioned it would be illegal.

This is what I found on the Skoda website:


http://www.skoda.co.uk/skoda3g/conte...s_engines.aspx (choose Hatchback 1.8T 180bhp Turbo vRS in the drop down list and you get the towing specs)

ps. I was saving my first post until I'd got the car but now you've scared me - hello everybody

William

Think they mean the Fabia vRS. That is the trouble Furby drivers think they own the site and nearly always just type vRS!!!!!!!!

spinndrift

You can't tow witht he Fabia vrs - IIRC it's okay with the Octavia vrs.

__________________
Rev. Andy
The Rallying Reverend
www.miniroadrunnerrallying.co.uk
Engine data aquisition is fun

7url

Thanks guys - just broke out into a cold sweat when I read that.

The top of the page says:

Forums>Skoda Forums and Community>Octavia

and turbo4 drives an Octavia - which is what had me worried.

Cheers

spinndrift

What you'll find is many people just search on new posts and therefore don't really notice what forum the post is in which could explian the confusion.

__________________
Rev. Andy
The Rallying Reverend
www.miniroadrunnerrallying.co.uk
Engine data aquisition is fun

DRJ

turbo 4

Why don't they do a 'Bar' for a Fabis VRs? are caravans to heavy?

I just rang Skoda, for the removable type, and electrics is £265 or near £400 fitted! yikes.

I will fit my own in a couple of weeks , and probably do a step by step photo 'walk through' for this thread.

Andrew

primey

A walk through would be very interesting for me, as my self and the missus are looking at getting a caravan early next year, my Octy vRS will be used to shunt the thing around Britain so tow bar instructions would be very useful.

__________________
Paul

My Car - Nightfire Blue Superb - 2.5 V6 TDi - Dark Leather Interior - Xenons - Serious Pimp Tints - Sat Nav - Detchable Towbar - Green Cotton Panel Filter - MINTEX Xtreme Performance Brake Pads - Chrome Wing Mirrors - 18" New RS4 Rims - Neuspeed Lower Rear ARB - Pipewerx Custom Stainless Exhaust with 200cel Cat - Custom Code PHASE II Remap - Huge Smile - Can my bank account keep up? ...

Kentish

I had a swan neck(removeable neck) on my old Octy estate (and again now on the Superb) both being Skoda accessories, but both made by Brink.

They are a fantastic bit of kit, strong and solid.
Get the Skoda loom, its all plug n play, with the exception of the 7 pin socket...but even thats comes with a full diagram (the loom passes through a factory bunged hole behind the bumper).
The uprated relay is all in a complete hazard switch assembly...again dead easy to change.

I tow a small trailer sometimes, or mount a Pendle 4 bike ball mounted bike rack. The rack is very solid and stable and carries the bikes with ease. The only downside is that the rack itself is quite heavy and storage does pose some thinking.

ps..there i minimal bumper cutting required, and when the neck is removed you cannont see the cut, or tell a tow bar is mounted.

__________________
Andy

Owner of a sense of humour.