Jump to content

Tow Bar fitters


GBS
 Share

Recommended Posts

29 minutes ago, GBS said:

I need to get a tow bar fitted. Does anyone have any experience, positive or negative, of any of the firms that offer this service?

GBS

A firm from Carlisle fitted mine for the dealer when I bought a Hyundai I30 from Arnold Clarke. I thought a good price but don’t recall how much and certainly a good job.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the replies. I should have clarified, I am looking at companies online who offer to come and do a mobile fitting at your house.

I'm slightly surprised at the cost but i think i had underestimated the work involved.

GBS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, GBS said:

Thank you for the replies. I should have clarified, I am looking at companies online who offer to come and do a mobile fitting at your house.

I'm slightly surprised at the cost but i think i had underestimated the work involved.

GBS

I realise you are looking at a mobile fitter, but i took my Suzuki Vitara to the dealers Blackshaws of Alnwick last month and it cost £415 fitted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We had Towbar express come out and do ours on the drive, when we had an BMW X1. Can't fault them in any way, very quick and efficient and didn't adversely affect the car in any way. They came with the wrong colour fixings, black rather than white and the fitter checked we were happy to have them temporarily and he came back the next day and swapped them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, ratchers said:

Years ago wanted a towbar fitted to my partner tepee and couldn't believe the quotes,peugeot wanted £500+, my service garage wanted £350, finally picked indespension

in Carlisle at £250, why do modern cars have such difficult electrical systems?🤬

Quote for my wife's disco sport is around £800.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I never have been a lover of Indespension. The mechanical side of towbar fitting now is usually a doddle. It's the electricery that can go horribly wrong.

I used to fit towbars when you just drilled the bumper and fitted shaped spacers and put in a heavy duty flasher unit. Happy days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for all responses, i have quotes of £430 - £880 so far.

14 hours ago, kennett said:

We had Towbar express come out and do ours on the drive, when we had an BMW X1. Can't fault them in any way, very quick and efficient and didn't adversely affect the car in any way. They came with the wrong colour fixings, black rather than white and the fitter checked we were happy to have them temporarily and he came back the next day and swapped them.

This is reassuring as they are the lower quote.

GBS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, reggiegun said:

you can wreck your ecu. Best to have a dedicated wiring lume loom fitted.

This.  Ensure the fitter is going to use a proper, OEM spec loom and not bluddy Scothloks!

Though are you sure you can't DIY it? 

Go on to the towbar manufacturer's website, and download the fitting instructions for your vehicle.  The loom should be plug-in on any modern vehicle, usually behind the offside light cluster. 

You may need to take your car to a dealer or brand-specialist independent in order to tell the ECU a towing socket is present, but that should be 0.5hr's labour.

Edited to add: Gah, it seems Witter Towbars have decided to put their technical info on their website only accessible to the trade.  That's one company I won't be buying from then.

Edited by udderlyoffroad
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, udderlyoffroad said:

This.  Ensure the fitter is going to use a proper, OEM spec loom and not bluddy Scothloks!

Though are you sure you can't DIY it? 

Go on to the towbar manufacturer's website, and download the fitting instructions for your vehicle.  The loom should be plug-in on any modern vehicle, usually behind the offside light cluster. 

You may need to take your car to a dealer or brand-specialist independent in order to tell the ECU a towing socket is present, but that should be 0.5hr's labour.

Edited to add: Gah, it seems Witter Towbars have decided to put their technical info on their website only accessible to the trade.  That's one company I won't be buying from then.

Thank you for this. Please can you elaborate why ScotchLocks are such a bad idea?

I'm sure I could DIY it but it would be another thing to add to a very long list. I think this may be one of those things that its will be quicker and easier to pay for - happy wife, happy life!

GBS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Modern tail lights are driven  from the car ecu and have elaborate system to tell if a bulb fails - some cars you may get away with adding a trailer relay system 

Most modern cars will have a plug somewhere for a tow bar electrics ecu to go ( my van was under near side for step ) this new ECU is coded ( added ) to the car ECU so they can talk to each other.

my Audi trailer ecu also added warning of bulb failure on trailer and other stuff including telling stability and breaking systems that a trailer was fitted.

I have fitted all my own tow bars 

vw passat x2 simple relay box

Ford C-Max ecu and loom

Audi A6 avant - expensive ecu and loom

Transit Custom ecu and loom 

In most cases the dedicated wire loom ecu and coding cost as much or more that the metal work etc

regards Agriv8 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...