Towbar advice (be gentle!)

noramc

Hi folks,
dipping my toe back into the MSE forum waters after a LOOOONG break - be gentle with me!

Was wondering if you kind folks could offer me advice on getting a towbar fitted to a 2005 polo. We are thinking about getting it for fitting a bike rack.

First response on google looks like £325 and I have no idea if this is awful or reasonable ... but being a good moneysaver, I will do more research, including this thread

Many thanks in advance for your advice and experience! :T

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"WITTER TOWBARS
Fixed Flange Towbar (Two Hole Faceplate)

Traditionally used in the UK for all serious forms of towing and generally the most cost effective option. A 50mm towball is bolted to a two hole faceplate that also allows the fitting of accessories such as a towbar mounted cycle carriers and bumper protection plates.

£325.38 inc VAT
Includes: Towbar, Electric Kit & Fitting

Benefits
Tow and carry cycles at the same time
Bumper shields can be fitted
AL-KO towballs can be fitted (AL-KO cover required)
A choice of towing couplings and accessories can be fitted"

Hintza

http://www.cyclingactive.com/bikesgear/gear-reviews/7-of-the-best-bike-carriers

Not sure I would pay for a tow bar just for bikes.

noramc

Thanks Hintza, and thanks for that helpful link.

I need to be able to access the boot while the rack is in place, so I understand (perhaps wrongly) that I need to get one that it is fitted to the towbar. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks again

vqmismatch

A roof mounted one would be much cheaper over all, but given how pleasant the under wheel type tow bar mounted racks are to use I reckon a tow bar is probably worth it if you can get one cheaper. We have both roof and boot mounted racks which are both such a pain to use that they are never used. If you wish to use them a lot then £350 for a tow bar is probably money well spent. There is no point buying a system that is too much trouble to use.

That said the last quote I heard for fitting and supply of a witter bar was £120 so I think you can do much better on price.

Gloomendoom

I doubt that £120 would include the electrics.

forgotmyname

Brand new towbar with electrics should come in at under £100. Exact age/model though?

So £300 would be seriously too much.

£50 - £100 to fit it..

AdrianC

noramc wrote: »

"WITTER TOWBARS
Fixed Flange Towbar (Two Hole Faceplate)

£325.38 inc VAT
Includes: Towbar, Electric Kit & Fitting

A tidge on the high side.

http://www.towsure.com/bundle/Volkswagen_Polo_Hatchback_02-09_Fixed_Flange_Towbar
£121 for fixed bar. (They do a detachable for another ton)
£9 for the ball.
£10 extra for single electrics - all you need.
£130 for fitting.

So that's £270 - but that's Towsure's own-brand, rather than Witter. Witter are one of the very big brand names - but it shouldn't make much, if any difference, since all towbars on anything post-97 have to be fully approved using the manufacturer's recommended points etc etc.

jimjames

noramc wrote: »

£325.38 inc VAT
Includes: Towbar, Electric Kit & Fitting

Benefits
Tow and carry cycles at the same time
Bumper shields can be fitted
AL-KO towballs can be fitted (AL-KO cover required)
A choice of towing couplings and accessories can be fitted"

Our towbar supplied and fitted was £400 so that doesn't sound too bad. That was on a VW Passat estate which may be more costly

noramc

Thanks so much for the help and advice everyone - plenty to think about and now some concrete figures too which is really helpful

Richard53

A towball-mounted carrier is much easier to use than a roof rack or a rear-mounted rack. Mine snaps on and off in seconds and stores in the loadspace, taking up very little room. As a result, it gets used, whereas the expensive rear-mounted thing I bought first was used once and stays in the shed. Less risk of damage to the car from a towbar rack as well.

Is there a towbar specialist near you? We have one local to us who does nothing else (farming county, very busy!) and are very competitive. They fitted a Witter detachable with twin electrics to my Mondeo for about £250 all in a few years ago.

mgdavid

try and find a small local independent towbar fitter rather than a branch of the national chains. With Towrite etc you are paying for the name, premises, advertising etc etc,.