Tow Bar installer northwest

[cheenis]

Hi, I'm looking at getting a tow bar fitted to a T6 and until reading the various stories on this forum, I was going to buy a Westfalia kit and do it myself. Given how difficult people say it is to do the electrics I think I'll just get a fitter to do it, but before I do I had a couple of questions and hoped people could help on here:

1) I've been convinced into getting the T6 specific wiring (although it will only be used as for a bike carrier) as I've been told that the universal electrics kits cause all sorts of lights to pop up/ stop working, etc. Is this true or just a scare story?

2) I've heard varying reports about pfjones who are comfortably cheaper than other fitters. Does anybody have experince of them fitting the tow bar for them to a T6? Are they good or will I end up having to visit somebody else a few months later to get it fixed?

All feedback/ responses greatly appreciated.

 

[widu13]

Hi bud, I've fitted a few towbars before and I was VERY glad I had my T6 one fitted. It took 5 hours to fit it, which for a place that specialises in tow bar fitting is a long time. Definitely, definitely get the dedicated wiring. I didn't use PF Jones; I was in Shrops and used Copthorne Services we are very good, but I have heard good things about PFJ- after all they specialise in towbars and supply much of the trade as well.

 

[Jollyvan]

Fitting the ironwork is a doddle - did mine on the drive on ramps. The electrics - Are you ever going to want/need them?. Is it a PV or a full camper conversion? - Can't help with pfjones question but I used an auto electrician to fit Westfalia VW specific electrics.

 

[Littleblackflash]

I think you only hear of stories of people who struggle to fit them. I've fitted a couple of pf jones kits with dedicated wiring and it's really simple to do.

Bolting the iron work on is easy. Then just the run the wires to the front and make a few connections. The instructions are well written and easy to follow. You will need VCDS or similar to activate it.

Just allow 5/6 hours if you've never done one. No special tools (except vcds) are needed.

 

[cheenis]

Wow, thanks for the super quick responses! It's a converted camper, rear seat is on rails. I presume the wiring has to go through the vehicle body which means taking off all sorts of panels? If it's underneath the van and then I just need to shield and tidy away tandhe wires befote they pop up at the front for the connection then I'm happy to do that, but if I've got to take than panels off then as it's all beautifully lined I'm less happy to do that myself. I've don't my own stereos with the can bus wiring, etc so I'm not scared of that, just getting the wiring through, took me ages to get my rear camera wires through on my caddy and had to give up in the end.

 

[Deaky]

Wow, thanks for the super quick responses! It's a converted camper, rear seat is on rails. I presume the wiring has to go through the vehicle body which means taking off all sorts of panels? If it's underneath the van and then I just need to shield and tidy away tandhe wires befote they pop up at the front for the connection then I'm happy to do that, but if I've got to take than panels off then as it's all beautifully lined I'm less happy to do that myself. I've don't my own stereos with the can bus wiring, etc so I'm not scared of that, just getting the wiring through, took me ages to get my rear camera wires through on my caddy and had to give up in the end.

I all runs underneath the van, no interior panels need to be removed unless you have towbar prep from the factory.

 

[Daffy]

It might be worth asking your VW dealer to price supply & fitting the wiring, mine wanted £50 to fit the genuine VW loom (although mine has got prep)

I didn’t get a price on the full kit but when I queried the labour price they told me that the electrics are the easy part when you know what you’re doing.

Maybe worth a call if you can do the towbar yourself.

 

[cheenis]

Brill! That's all great news. A mate has also just had his done so I can check out what they did. Feel like this is a diy job! Thanks guys really appreciated! I will give vw a bell and check them out. Considering they wanted £220 for a second key I'm not hopeful

 

[catfood12]

I've just fitted a genuine Westfalia towbar kit and wiring. All reasonably straightforward. There's some additional replacement bumper mounting trim and plastic rivets needed. The Westfalia loom is available in LHD & RHD. Get the right one. Loom runs underneath the vehicle. I had to take whole cab trim out to fit the loom. I also had to get the underseat fusebox, as my van didn't have one OEM fitted.




Took about 5-6 hours as other have said. Some fiddly bits pulling pins out of the BCM multiways. Nothing too tricky at all though. I'd give it a DIY go !

 

[cheenis]

Wow, fair play, did you have to take the rear bumper off?

 

[Deaky]

Wow, fair play, did you have to take the rear bumper off?

Yes you do

 

[Hickey]

I'm looking at doing this too, so would you all recommend pfjones westfalia vehicle specific electrics? and are the instructions specific for the t6? Cheers

 

[catfood12]

I'm looking at doing this too, so would you all recommend pfjones westfalia vehicle specific electrics? and are the instructions specific for the t6? Cheers

The PJ Jones wiring kit is different from the Westfalia kit. I bought the Westfalia kit to ensure no issues with coding and interfacing to reversing camera and parking sensors. I ordered it from autodoc.de, and there was negligable cost difference between that and the PF Jones kit. I also had to make up a loom to get battery 12V to under the passenger seat, as my PV didn't have the optional fusebox as standard.

The instructions are very T6 specific, from cable routing to where to connect etc..

I did order the detachable towbar itself from PF Jones, as they were the cheapest by far.

I bought the plastic bumper bar and rivets from TPS;
1X 7H0 807 723 Plastic Rail - £20.49 + Vat
8x 701 867 299 Clip - £0.89 + VAT
8X 357 853 586 B Gasket - £0.85 + VAT

 

[Hickey]

The PJ Jones wiring kit is different from the Westfalia kit. I bought the Westfalia kit to ensure no issues with coding and interfacing to reversing camera and parking sensors. I ordered it from autodoc.de, and there was negligable cost difference between that and the PF Jones kit. I also had to make up a loom to get battery 12V to under the passenger seat, as my PV didn't have the optional fusebox as standard.

The instructions are very T6 specific, from cable routing to where to connect etc..

I did order the detachable towbar itself from PF Jones, as they were the cheapest by far.

I bought the plastic bumper bar and rivets from TPS;
1X 7H0 807 723 Plastic Rail - £20.49 + Vat
8x 701 867 299 Clip - £0.89 + VAT
8X 357 853 586 B Gasket - £0.85 + VAT

Cheers catfood was it this kit?
Elektrosatz, Anhängevorrichtung WESTFALIA Freischaltung erforderlich — Art. Nr.: 321454300113. Jetzt kaufen!

 

[catfood12]

Cheers catfood was it this kit?
Elektrosatz, Anhängevorrichtung WESTFALIA Freischaltung erforderlich — Art. Nr.: 321454300113. Jetzt kaufen!

Nein ! Das ist de Left Hand Drive.

Hang on, let me find the P/N for RHD, the loom must be a bit longer...

 

[Daffy]

Cheers catfood was it this kit?
Elektrosatz, Anhängevorrichtung WESTFALIA Freischaltung erforderlich — Art. Nr.: 321454300113. Jetzt kaufen!

If it’s easier, there is an English version of this site autodoc.co.uk, might save a bit of confusion if German isn’t your strongest language (it’s my 3rd language after Bristolian and English)

 

[catfood12]

Cheers catfood was it this kit?
Elektrosatz, Anhängevorrichtung WESTFALIA Freischaltung erforderlich — Art. Nr.: 321454300113. Jetzt kaufen!

Westfalia Part Number for RHD loom & ECU is 321 454 300 143

 

[Hickey]

Bummer can't find it on their website .de or .uk maybe out of stock

 

[Coradia63]

I bought a removable Westfalia towbar and vehicle specific loom from PFJones cheaper than anyone else didn't have any issues fitting fast delivery

 

[Hickey]

View attachment 45095 View attachment 45096 View attachment 45098 View attachment 45099 View attachment 45100 View attachment 45101 View attachment 45102
I bought a removable Westfalia towbar and vehicle specific loom from PFJones cheaper than anyone else didn't have any issues fitting fast delivery

Hi coradia was your loom a westfalia one? Looks like it on the pic, I spoke to pf Jones and they said the vehicle specific loom was their own so I just ordered the tow bar, now I can't find the loom