Terramar Towbar

[nk1]

Hi,
I have ordered a new Terramar VZ 200kw car. Coming in 2 weeks.
I want to fit a towbar.
I have seen that the fixed one does away with the smart opening boot, so I want detachable.

However I am confused on which type electrics to go with?
Seen info on multiplex or non-mult ssystems, then others with by-pass boxes.... confused which I need.

Car was not ordered with any towbar prep options...

So any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Buy a genuine towbar. Expensive but 0 hassle, 2 year manufacturer warranty and warranty safe. It gets added to the build data of the vehicle making it a permanent trouble free installation.

Third party electrics cannot be integrated with the car.
Your ADAS will stop working
Your ESC/ABS won’t work correctly
The type approval will be invalidated
The warranty will be invalidated

“Read only” kits can still cause the above issues, and it’s likely your insurance wouldn’t pay out in the case of an accident.

 

[James_R]

Buy a genuine towbar. Expensive but 0 hassle, 2 year manufacturer warranty and warranty safe. It gets added to the build data of the vehicle making it a permanent trouble free installation.

Third party electrics cannot be integrated with the car.
Your ADAS will stop working
Your ESC/ABS won’t work correctly
The type approval will be invalidated
The warranty will be invalidated

“Read only” kits can still cause the above issues, and it’s likely your insurance wouldn’t pay out in the case of an accident.

Awesome info.

Aftermarket towbar companies should be heavily regulated considering all the systems on a vehicle that towing affects, and fitting one that the vehicle doesn't know is there is a terrible idea.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Awesome info.

Aftermarket towbar companies should be heavily regulated considering all the systems on a vehicle that towing affects, and fitting one that the vehicle doesn't know is there is a terrible idea.

Their towbars have all the necessary legal approvals. It's the wiring/control modules & integration that cause the issues

 

[nk1]

Have no issue with the strength of the aftermarket towbars. Have fitted a heap of them over the years, to be fair mine is only for a light trailer for garden bushes and a motorcycle trailer. Obvioulsy only a reputable brand!

The manufacturers dont make there own anyways!

Was only looking for advice on the wiring - if anyone had a towbar fitted.

Thanks

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Have no issue with the strength of the aftermarket towbars. Have fitted a heap of them over the years, to be fair mine is only for a light trailer for garden bushes and a motorcycle trailer. Obvioulsy only a reputable brand!

The manufacturers dont make there own anyways!

Was only looking for advice on the wiring - if anyone had a towbar fitted.

Thanks

As mentioned, there’s nothing wrong with the towbars themselves. It’s the aftermarket electrics and the lack of proper integration that’s the issue

No, the manufacturers don’t manufacture their own. They do however sell the towbar that would be fitted at the factory as an accessory with a wiring harness built to OE specifications that integrates with the same control module as would be fitted at the factory with 0 warranty or UNECE implications.

Genuine is the only sensible option in this case, the only downside is cost

If your car is without trailer prep then the genuine towbar cannot be installed..

 

[CosmicBlue]

It is the right advice, the original poster has ordered a car and assumed that a retrofit tow-bar and electrics was something that could be completed after the vehicle is delivered - because that's what used to be possible. Walking into a bunch of potential problems isn't what they want to hear when the vehicle is nearly delivered....cancel and re-order in the right spec?

Our challenge these days and especially with a vehicle like the Terramar is that it is stuffed with technology to the point where the integrated safety systems overlap each other so something like tow-bar electrics need to be integrated at the factory design level. Looking at the price list Cupra evidently anticipated this issue too:

 

[nk1]

It is the right advice, the original poster has ordered a car and assumed that a retrofit tow-bar and electrics was something that could be completed after the vehicle is delivered - because that's what used to be possible. Walking into a bunch of potential problems isn't what they want to hear when the vehicle is nearly delivered....cancel and re-order in the right spec?

Our challenge these days and especially with a vehicle like the Terramar is that it is stuffed with technology to the point where the integrated safety systems overlap each other so something like tow-bar electrics need to be integrated at the factory design level. Looking at the price list Cupra evidently anticipated this issue too:

View attachment 52388

Thank you for you for your info.
However I did leave out some info - the car is a company car, which I am allowed to have a towbar for, but they will not have any part in the purchase. Upto myself.
So cancelling and re-ordering is not an option. Getting it fitted at dealer is an option after collection.
I have used By-pass relays before on all my cars with zero issue - I was only wondering if anyone had fitted one here - just for reference.