Tow Trust Detatchable Towbar

[CAT3]

I want to fit a towbar to my T6.1 & went to my local towbar centre to enquire about a Westfalia one, like I had on my previous T5.
The guy there told me they are having difficulty getting supplies & he went on to say he doesn't think Westfalia/Witter will be doing towbars for much longer !

Anyway, they recommended a Tow Trust detachable towbar, but I've never heard of them. I expected they would be from somewhere abroad, but it appears they are a UK company in Warwickshire. Has anybody got any opinion/experiance of their detachable offerings please ?

 

[Salty Spuds]

I want to fit a towbar to my T6.1 & went to my local towbar centre to enquire about a Westfalia one, like I had on my previous T5.
The guy there told me they are having difficulty getting supplies & he went on to say he doesn't think Westfalia/Witter will be doing towbars for much longer !

Anyway, they recommended a Tow Trust detachable towbar, but I've never heard of them. I expected they would be from somewhere abroad, but it appears they are a UK company in Warwickshire. Has anybody got any opinion/experiance of their detachable offerings please ?

Well known & reputable. I had one on my D4, it replaced the OEM detachable one which was sh1t3. I also have one on my Yeti. Personally I’d always have a fixed towball over a removable one.

 

[Pauly]

They are all well known brands, I think a lot of people lean towards Westfalia as they are VW OEM supplier and what is fitted at the factory but in truth they are all comparable in physicality it’s the electrics that are most important, you will want a proper vehicle specific electric kit for a T6/6.1

 

[CAT3]

Thank you guys

 

[Hobo Mikey]

What is the price compared to westfalia one please.

 

[CAT3]

I couldn't get a price for the Westfalia as the tower place can't get them so wouldn't quote for one. The Tow Trust version was around £400 to self fit or £700+ to supply & fit including coding.

 

[CAT3]

Well, had the Tow Trust towbar fitted on Tuesday. It looks equally as good/well made as the Westfalia one I fitted to my T5 a good few years ago.
I've not tried towing with it yet as my trailer won't be finished for a couple of weeks yet, but there's no reason to doubt it won't be !!

 

[manfrotto]

Well, had the Tow Trust towbar fitted on Tuesday. It looks equally as good/well made as the Westfalia one I fitted to my T5 a good few years ago.
I've not tried towing with it yet as my trailer won't be finished for a couple of weeks yet, but there's no reason to doubt it won't be !!

Did you also get the Vehicle specific wiring for it? The wiring is normally the bit that gives issues.

 

[CAT3]

Did you also get the Vehicle specific wiring for it? The wiring is normally the bit that gives issues.

Yes, North West Towbars did all the install & coding for me. On my old T5 I got the Westfalia version & did the install myself. I only ever connected "normal" trailers, not caravans, so never needed a permanent live for a fridge, etc.
Obviously vehicle technology has moved on since 2005 & my new van has reversing sensors, camera, & more sophisticated CAN-BUS so needed coding apparently. Not sure exactly what needed coding, I'm just assuming it is to switch OFF the reversing sensors when a trailer is connected to the vehicle.

They seem to have done a fairly descent job, but if I had to be critical, (bearing in mind I work in aircraft maintenance) they didn't apply any anti-rust or grease to the towbar or it's fixings as I would have done, I have now done that, well at least sprayed an anti-rust product over any of the fixings I could see. I have also applied silicone grease inside the 13-pin socket on the towbar for the long term ! There is also some sort of control box which was just wedged in-between the battery & back of the near-side headlight & some copper/brass swarf near the battery, which I assume was left after they drilled out one or two crimps to fit on the battery terminals. I've added a few tyraps to the cable loom to hold this unit a bit more securely. I'm sure if I left it as it was there wouldn't have been a problem, it's just me being a bit anal !!
In fairness it would have taken me all day, messing about to fit it whereas they had it fitted in around three hours & they are a business so need to earn a living, whereas I could have spent days doing the job to save £300. Swings & roundabouts !!