Towing Hitch And Parking Sensors

[Pete.UK]

Hi,

I've just bought a T6 with a towing kit fitted, when you reverse the towing hitch is picked up every time which is really annoying.

The deal said i need to buy a reflective cover but i cant find these online for VW... whats the best thing to do for this? I've seen some parking sensors can ignore them automatically, can the VW do this?

tia

 

[Murdoch]

Is it the detachable unit? Do you put a cover on the hook?

 

[Ed Webb]

Is it a genuine tow bar? I had this issue when I had the incorrect bar fitted.

 

[Pete.UK]

not sure to be honest, is there a way to tell ?

 

[Pete.UK]

just checked, cant see a way to remove it and i didnt get a cover with it

 

[Murdoch]

not sure to be honest, is there a way to tell ?

Who fitted it and what did the invoice say?

 

[Ed Webb]

Take a photo

 

[Pete.UK]

It was on the van before I bought it, no mention of it on the original invoice so its been added since, I would assume by VW judging by the photo.

If this is a genuine VW tow bar and it interfer#s with the parking aid's shouldn't it be covered under warranty? surely parking aids should work with it

 

[simon]

Mine is a fixed towbar, and no issues with parking sensors. I am led to believe it is the electrical hook up and connection to the van. Mine is t6 specific connection so when I select reverse i get a towing icon on screen and no reverse sensor beeps

 

[.50]

Its seems odd that I fitted a Wastfalia detachable towbar and I dont have any issues with it and the reversing sensors.

 

[Pete.UK]

This beeps everytime i reverse, regardless of whether something is attached or not

 

[.50]

Mine is a fixed towbar, and no issues with parking sensors. I am led to believe it is the electrical hook up and connection to the van. Mine is t6 specific connection so when I select reverse i get a towing icon on screen and no reverse sensor beeps

Interestingly, I fitted my own electrics using a bypass relay, ( so the vans brian doesnt know its there ), but the sensors do not pick up the towbar.

 

[Neilson]

Are you sure it's an issue with the tower causing the sensors to go off?

 

[Keeff]

I have this on the back of mine without any faults . It is lower than yours but it is still ok on the higher bolt holes . Could it be a fault with the sensors and still do it with the ball removed .

 

[mmi]

The middle sensors "see" less than about ±45 degrees in azimuth so they should not detect towing hitch - actually leaving about 15-20cm blind area just behind the ball (just checked). I don't know if that's different without a hitch (coding thing?).

I think you could rule out the hitch as trigger by covering the middle sensors by soft cloth. The sensors are ultrasound sensors so they need something solid to get reflection back thus they are easy to blind covering them by soft cloth.

In the picture the sensor is covered by soft polishing cloth (folded 8 times, still was triggered through 4 layers). The sensor doesn't "see" anything through the cloth, or actually sees just open space. And, the most important thing - does not trigger the sensor.

 

[rod_vw]

I've a Westfalia fixed tow bar on the T6 wired with the correct harness and module which is coded for the vehicle and don't have any problems with the sensors. This one I fitted myself so do know how it is wired and coded.

I also have a Witter fixed tow bar on the T5 with 'simple' electrics and that doesn't give any problems with the sensors either. I can't vouch for the way that one is wired as it was fitted by a dealer but it doesn't have a module on the CAN network.

All tow bars should have a manufacturers plate attached (Legal requirement) with name and various numbers, the genuine / Westfalia one on mine is located facing the road by the spare wheel carrier securing bolts. There is also a part number sticker beside the plate. I think the control module will be beside the fuse mounting assembly under the left front seat and will show on VCDS as 'Trailer'. @Pete.UK it looks exactly the same as the one in your picture.

 

[Salty Spuds]

I have a factory fit fixed towbar, no issues.

 

[rafa]

@Pete.UK
When i bought my T6, it was factory fitted with front and rear sensors but didn't have the towbar.
I asked the dealer to put a towbar. I think the towbar is a VW part (VW kit) because the cover on the hook is stamped VW and the hook is not removable
With the cover on the hook, the sensor doesn't deteck the hook, there's no interference
When i plug a trailer or traffic lights for my bike Rack, the rear sensor stops beeping and on the car audio the trailer is shown.
The hook seems the same than you show on your pics.
Do you want me to report you with a tape mesaure the measure of mine ??
If yes --> It will be in metrical (i live in France)

 

[rafa]

Like promise
here are 3 pics
Hope that helps

 

[khalaghoda]

Hi,

I've just bought a T6 with a towing kit fitted, when you reverse the towing hitch is picked up every time which is really annoying.

The deal said i need to buy a reflective cover but i cant find these online for VW... whats the best thing to do for this? I've seen some parking sensors can ignore them automatically, can the VW do this?

tia

Hi Pete, I’m sure you have solved the reversing sensors / towbar issue, but in case it helps anyone else I’ve had the same problem. I’ve got a new T6 built in February 2019 and exported here to Australia.

The dealer showed me how to turn off the sensors, by starting the engine, selecting “SOUNDS” from the buttons beside the screen on the dash, thence selecting the option of “screen activation” (something like that). Then engage reverse and the image of the vehicle comes up and the damn noise of the sensors starts BUT, on the left side is the icon for “Muting” sound, press that on the screen and voila the noise turns off. This last bit, i.e. pressing the little mute icon has to be done each time you reverse, the clever Germans figuring that the default option should always be to warn of an obstruction and make turning off the warning a deliberate act. Works for me OK.