Which towbar

[Woody3]

Have just negotiated to but a used Passat estate (58 plate) 2L TDi CR 140 DPF with which I intend to tow our Bailey Series 5 Pageant Majestic. Towbar fitting is included in the price and I have the option of a Westfalia or Witter. 12N/S or 13-pin.

Anyone got experience of either and the pro's and cons of each? As the car has reversing sensors it will be detachable, and do I need anything special so that there is enough clearance for the Al-Ko 3000 head on my 'van?

My 'van is 12N/S but I would guess that if I opt for Westfalia it will come with 13-pin as standard?

All useful comments gratefully received.

Woody

 

[Lutz]

If it's a Westfalia detachable towball it will be a swan neck that will accept the AlKo 3000 head without a problem. Witter make both a detachable flange neck and a detachable swan neck, but I can't see any advantage in having the more expensive (and less attractive) detachable flange neck, which also requires the special AlKo towball.
I'd go for the Westfalia as it's most likely the OEM model anyway and 13-pin electrics are superior, too.

 

[RogerL]

The advantage of the detachable flange mount is that flange mounted accessories can be used, ie bike racks, blade stabilisers, etc which are much more difficult to fit to detachable swan neck types.

 

[Damian]

As has been said, there are choices in which type of towbar you opt for.
With regard to the electrics, if you opt for 13 pin socket(and convert your van to 13 pin plug) you will have to specify to the towbar fitter that you MUST have the 13 pin socket FULLY WIRED.

Many car specific kits for import cars such as VW, Volvo etc do not have the fridge or battery charging circuits fitted as most continental vans do not have batteries fitted as standard and do not have the fridge circuit connected.

The fitter will have to run wiring to the relevant pins AND supply a dedicated return for the fridge.

It may be worth giving the fitter this diagram: http://www.sargentltd.co.uk/ISO11446_Data.pdf

 

[Surfer]

Have just negotiated to but a used Passat estate (58 plate) 2L TDi CR 140 DPF with which I intend to tow our Bailey Series 5 Pageant Majestic. Towbar fitting is included in the price and I have the option of a Westfalia or Witter. 12N/S or 13-pin.

Anyone got experience of either and the pro's and cons of each? As the car has reversing sensors it will be detachable, and do I need anything special so that there is enough clearance for the Al-Ko 3000 head on my 'van?

My 'van is 12N/S but I would guess that if I opt for Westfalia it will come with 13-pin as standard?

All useful comments gratefully received.

Woody

Not sure what reversing sensors has to do with type of towbar as the sensors should be mounted in such a way that they do not trigger the sensors. Anyway when hitching up, the towbar will be fitted anyway.