Electric Foldable Tow Bar on a 2nd Hand Skoda?

[djidjip]

Dear Fellow Caravan Enthusiasts,
I'm considering a 202ish Skoda Karoq or Octavia Combi as my family's next tow car.
Does any body know if there's an option to install the 'official' electric foldable tow bar option post purchase or should I look for a car that's been fitted originally with the option?
Also, is the upgrade limited to the towbar and electronics, or is there something else that needs to be changed (i.e. cooling, etc.)
Thanks in advance,
Djidji

 

[otherclive]

By having a car with a factory fit its statutory weight plate will be compatible with the tow bar capability, and cars towing specification. Not sure if any models of the cars may require additional cooling which would be fitted at the works. So many models these days it gets a bit more complex.

 

[Deleted member 23278]

Considering an Octavia, P F Jones can supply, fit and code what you're asking about, see here, but you're looking at a big bill to add such a bar. If you can find a factory-fit example it would likely be cheaper overall and you'd be sure of the car's towing capabilities, as per Otherclive, above.

 

[Niall_McIntosh]

Dear Fellow Caravan Enthusiasts,
I'm considering a 202ish Skoda Karoq or Octavia Combi as my family's next tow car.
Does any body know if there's an option to install the 'official' electric foldable tow bar option post purchase or should I look for a car that's been fitted originally with the option?
Also, is the upgrade limited to the towbar and electronics, or is there something else that needs to be changed (i.e. cooling, etc.)
Thanks in advance,
Djidji

I was in a similar dilemma when we last changed our car. I wanted a Volvo XC60 with reversing camera and factory fitted electric foldable tow bar, but there were very few available according to Autotrader. I settled on getting a car with the reversing cameras and then having the towbar fitted by the Volvo dealer I bought the car from. (I did investigate having the towbar fitted by an independent Volvo specialist, and indeed got a quote from one I have previously used, but the price differential was minimal, in the end.) Even though the towbar was retro fitted by a dealer, it is identical in all ways to a factory fitted one. Indeed I have heard that Volvos which have been ordered with towbars, are not infrequently supplied to dealers without one, and the "factory fited" option is added by the dealership.

 

[GaryB]

Just be aware that a few Skoda variants had no gross train weight on the VIN plate unless factory trailer-prep was specified and hence legally cannot tow do check the GTW on the VIN plate before purchase!

 

[Lutz]

I would imagine that retrofitting a retractable towbar to any car would be a very expensive undertaking that could even involve minor structural modifications to the rear underbody. It would be best to to find a car that already has a factory fitted one.

 

[GaryB]

It depends on the vehicle, like Niall previously, I had a Volvo retractable tow bar fitted to my V90, it simply replaces the rear bumper crash beam (8 bolts) with no other fixings or changes. The price is always more than an aftermarket tow bar though! Mine was just over £1,000 but I notice 2024 models are quoting nearly £1,600!

 

[Beachball]

If Skoda retractable bars are made by Westfalia it might be worth looking on there website to see what types are available

 

[Woodentop]

Just be aware that a few Skoda variants had no gross train weight on the VIN plate unless factory trailer-prep was specified and hence legally cannot tow do check the GTW on the VIN plate before purchase!

Not any more. All current range carry the GTW plating.

 

[GaryB]

Not any more. All current range carry the GTW plating.

I noticed the OP was considering a used model hence the caution.