[Iain_L]

Looking forward to this day. At 1800kg MTPLM, as an inexperienced tower, I found our caravan was a little heavy to be comfortable for our Volvo XC70 (well, me really 😁). Couldn’t afford a late reg Discovery, so went for our Treg.

Well today, our towbar gets fitted, and I’m about to see if all the hassle has been worth it. Gone for a Westfalia Vertical Fitting Detachable, plus vehicle specific electrical connection kit and software coding. That’ll have most bases covered I think, apart from possible cooling fan which I’ve read about. Must admit I think I’ll play that one by ear for a while.

All the specs say that the Treg will be much more suitable for our van; any issues from now on will be down to me probably. Have to say my reversing of an 8m long van is crap still, thank heavens for motor movers 😁

 

[Klewy]

Looking forward to this day. At 1800kg MTPLM, as an inexperienced tower, I found our caravan was a little heavy to be comfortable for our Volvo XC70 (well, me really 😁). Couldn’t afford a late reg Discovery, so went for our Treg.

Well today, our towbar gets fitted, and I’m about to see if all the hassle has been worth it. Gone for a Westfalia Vertical Fitting Detachable, plus vehicle specific electrical connection kit and software coding. That’ll have most bases covered I think, apart from possible cooling fan which I’ve read about. Must admit I think I’ll play that one by ear for a while.

All the specs say that the Treg will be much more suitable for our van; any issues from now on will be down to me probably. Have to say my reversing of an 8m long van is crap still, thank heavens for motor movers 😁

Have you spec’d a fridge feed as part of the fitting?

 

[Iain_L]

Have you spec’d a fridge feed as part of the fitting?

Yep, specifically specified that thanks, having read here that some have ended up with no fridge power.

 

[NoobyT]

Let us know how you get on.

Find an industrial estate that's vacant on a Sunday morning and practice your reversing for an hour or two!

A couple of traffic cones might help too (or use the wife and kids).

 

[Iain_L]

Yep, specifically specified that thanks, having read here that some have ended up with no fridge power.

Oops, a bit of an alliteration there. Can’t exactly unspecifically specify something can I😂😂😂

 

[NoobyT]

Full marks for grammar!

 

[Iain_L]

Well, that’s it fitted, all the electrics seem to work fine, and the car is back together again. Looks like a very neat and tidy job done. One thing that does surprise me is that the towbar doesn’t appear to have a mount for the breakaway cable, so it’s back to looping the cable over the detachable towball. Will go and have a crawl around again just to check.

About to start with the emery paper to get the lovely shiny paint of the towbar.

Hard to justify just going out for a drive at the moment given the price of diesel here, but I’ll use it as an excuse to go and practice my reversing 😂

 

[NoobyT]

When you've hooked the 'van up and plugged it in lock the car and then then unplug it.....

 

[Iain_L]

When you've hooked the 'van up and plugged it in lock the car and then then unplug it.....

“Okkaay” I say with a puzzled expression 🤔

 

[Black Grouse]

Well, that’s it fitted, all the electrics seem to work fine, and the car is back together again. Looks like a very neat and tidy job done. One thing that does surprise me is that the towbar doesn’t appear to have a mount for the breakaway cable, so it’s back to looping the cable over the detachable towball. Will go and have a crawl around again just to check.

About to start with the emery paper to get the lovely shiny paint of the towbar.

Hard to justify just going out for a drive at the moment given the price of diesel here, but I’ll use it as an excuse to go and practice my reversing 😂

The legal requirement for a loop for the breakaway cable didn't come in until part way through 2016 and presumably wasn't retrospective - might be worth querying it with the installer though.

 

[Black Grouse]

“Okkaay” I say with a puzzled expression 🤔

It should set the car alarm off!

 

[Iain_L]

The legal requirement for a loop for the breakaway cable didn't come in until part way through 2016 and presumably wasn't retrospective - might be worth querying it with the installer though.

Thanks, I asked him and he said there wasn’t one. I have sent a message off to Westfalia to check.

 

[Iain_L]

It should set the car alarm off!

Aah thanks. So much to learn here. Thought it was all just plug and play, hitch up and go.

 

[Black Grouse]

Aah thanks. So much to learn here. Thought it was all just plug and play, hitch up and go.

My outfit will set both alarms off if it's unplugged while they're both set - and easy to get the setting/unsetting sequence wrong!

 

[Klewy]

Thanks, I asked him and he said there wasn’t one. I have sent a message off to Westfalia to check.

Westfalia bars don’t have a breakaway connection

 

[Black Grouse]

Westfalia bars don’t have a breakaway connection

They should for the latest cars as it's a Type Approval requirement since 2017 model year - the VW factory-fit electrically-deployable towbar didn't get one until 2017 model year - left right to the last day for some reason.

 

[Iain_L]

Westfalia bars don’t have a breakaway connection

That’s interesting as Westfalia say that towbars approved to ECE R55 should have a safety eyelet for breakaway cable connection, and under their Warranty it says all their towbars comply with Rule 55.

 

[NoobyT]

It should set the car alarm off!

You spoilt the surprise!

 

[Iain_L]

You spoilt the surprise!

Cruel 🤣🤣🤣

 

[NoobyT]

If it doesn't go off then it's not been coded for the full Monty!