How much to supply and fit a towbar

[RSD7a]

I've just had a quote from a local independent outfit, quoting £750 for a removable towbar with 13 pin electrics supplied and fitted to our Boxer. Is that reasonable?
Intended use is to support a cycle carrier for 4 bikes.

 

[trevskoda]

No idea these days but when i was in the trade a bar was £50 and about the same to fit and wire up, thats 30 odd years back, so id say fare price today.
One thing is make sure bikes dont hide the n plate lights or you will have to use a lighting board with reg on it.

 

[RichardHelen262]

There are plenty of those vans around, I would look for a secondhand one and fit it myself.
I have just done this last week fo my car it cost £40 plus £15 to have it shot blasted, I had some black paint lying around, plus an hour and a half to fit and wire it up

 

[Obanboy666]

Not sure regarding motorhomes but I got a tow bar fitted to my Volvo v90 estate 3 years which included 13 pin socket and modifying the car ecu to recognise when I’m towing. Apparently it adjusts the auto box, throttle and whatever else.
It was around the £450.00 mark. I’d suggest you shop around but £750.00 sounds about the norm considering it’s a removable towbar which are more expensive than a normal type.

 

[Weeflash]

Not sure regarding motorhomes but I got a tow bar fitted to my Volvo v90 estate 3 years which included 13 pin socket and modifying the car ecu to recognise when I’m towing. Apparently it adjusts the auto box, throttle and whatever else.
It was around the £450.00 mark. I’d suggest you shop around but £750.00 sounds about the norm considering it’s a removable towbar which are more expensive than a normal type.

I was similar in price for a non removable towbar fitted to my mercedes estate,

 

[wildebus]

I've just had a quote from a local independent outfit, quoting £750 for a removable towbar with 13 pin electrics supplied and fitted to our Boxer. Is that reasonable?
Intended use is to support a cycle carrier for 4 bikes.

Out of interest, are the electrics they are quoting going into the vehicle harness and activating an in-dash indicator and buzzer (vehicles tend to have that kind of thing now)? Or are they proposing using the old-fashioned 'traditional' way of tapping into the lighting harness?

Also, you say "13-pin" as opposed to the 7-Pin style. Will they be fitting a fully-wired 13-Pin socket, complete with all the wires needed for a caravan, or just wiring suitable for a basic trailer/bike carrier? if you don't need/want the full wiring monty but want the better reliability of a 13-pin socket (which makes sense), then there could be room for price discussion there?

Overall, the price you've been quoted sounds pretty reasonable to me. I've tended to fit my own towbars, but thinking of the time needed to fit and the parts, it is around what I would expect to pay.

 

[trevskoda]

Or do what the travelers do here, job done second mate drives out onto road and then you start to haggle, seems to work for them with cash.

 

[RSD7a]

Out of interest, are the electrics they are quoting going into the vehicle harness and activating an in-dash indicator and buzzer (vehicles tend to have that kind of thing now)? Or are they proposing using the old-fashioned 'traditional' way of tapping into the lighting harness?

Also, you say "13-pin" as opposed to the 7-Pin style. Will they be fitting a fully-wired 13-Pin socket, complete with all the wires needed for a caravan, or just wiring suitable for a basic trailer/bike carrier? if you don't need/want the full wiring monty but want the better reliability of a 13-pin socket (which makes sense), then there could be room for price discussion there?

Overall, the price you've been quoted sounds pretty reasonable to me. I've tended to fit my own towbars, but thinking of the time needed to fit and the parts, it is around what I would expect to pay.

Thanks David, On the question of 13 pin socket and the needed wiring for a caravan vs a bike rack, here's what the bike rack description says about the electrics

"Lighting system: The Eazzy 4 comes with a 13 pin lighting system, including a reversing light and UK compliant fog lights (the fog light is on the right hand side). A 13 pin to 7 pin adapter is included. (Note that the fog light will work with a 7 pin system, but the reversing light won't work.)"

Given the above, what difference would there be in terms of wiring, caravan v bike rack?

 

[mark61]

13 pin sockets always seem much better quality to me, fit much nicer and as mentioned more reliable.

 

[wildebus]

Thanks David, On the question of 13 pin socket and the needed wiring for a caravan vs a bike rack, here's what the bike rack description says about the electrics

"Lighting system: The Eazzy 4 comes with a 13 pin lighting system, including a reversing light and UK compliant fog lights (the fog light is on the right hand side). A 13 pin to 7 pin adapter is included. (Note that the fog light will work with a 7 pin system, but the reversing light won't work.)"

Given the above, what difference would there be in terms of wiring, caravan v bike rack?

For a definitive list, best to check a specialist site, but basicall the 13-Pin single socket = 7S + 7N pair of sockets
I can't recall which is which, but one of the 7 pin sockets are for the lighting functions - so tail lights, brake lights, indicators and fog (so what you need for a trailer/rack light bar), and the other adds in habitation electrics (so will run a 12V fridge in a caravan when engine running, plus a charging circuit to recharge the caravan battery via a split-charge relay (so like your motorhome starter-leisure battery setup - your Sargent EC155 was really designed for a Caravan rather than a Camper - but with the cable running outside).
I think (but can't be sure on this one) that very often a cable is run from the Vehicles Starter Battery to the rear to provide a decent charge ability when good 13-Pin Caravan Compatible towing electrics are installed? I wonder if the towbar installers plan (or have quoted) on that, it could be an opportunity to run the new heavy cable for the new B2B while it is presumably up on a lift?

 

[wildebus]

13 pin sockets always seem much better quality to me, fit much nicer and as mentioned more reliable.

Indeed. By choice, I fit the 13-Pin sockets and use a 13-7 adapter on the trailer or rack. With my current Towbar I inherited a 7-Pin socket and it is such a throwback in comparision
I still have a spare 13-Pin to-7-Pin adapter and this discussion makes me think maybe I should change the 7-Pin plug for the superior 13-Pin one?

 

[Fazerloz]

Iv'e lust had one put on my boxer in Dec, and you are in the right ball park at £750 for a removable one with 13pin socket and dedicated wiring.

 

[Fazerloz]

Rather than a removable you may be better going for a 4 hole flange. They give your towbar more options in the future.

 

[Tezza33]

I would ask if they are fitting a dedicated wiring kit for the Ducato, this costs £150 to £200 but it guarantees to work with the canbus system you have, it doesn't need coding to the vehicle though, price in the cost of the towbar and labour then I think it is a good price.
In 2002 we bought a new Hymer based on a Fiat chassis (not Alco) and it cost £500 to have a towbar fitted, the wiring for that was a standard kit so less than £20, that was obviously 24 years ago and I knew that I was being robbed, I have always fitted my own but I was ill at the time so no choice.
I fitted a removable towbar to a 2019 Ford Kuga for a friend last year, he wanted to pay extra for the wiring kit, you can use a standard kit with a bypass relay but it doesn't have the same functionality as a dedicated wiring kit, although at £20 it is significantly cheaper, I was very impressed with it TBH

Universal TEB7AS Bypass Relay Towing Electrics / Towbar Wiring | eBay UK

Towbar wiring. Towbar accessories. Towbar fitting. Towbar Accessories. Bypass Relay Instructions. This is universal type and suitable for all vehicles except Jaguar S Types. Extended Areas.

www.ebay.co.uk

I fitted a towbar to my Volvo V70 and fitted a bypass relay because it was only to tow a small trailer, it has been on two years now without problems

 

[Fazerloz]

I would ask if they are fitting a dedicated wiring kit for the Ducato, this costs £150 to £200 but it guarantees to work with the canbus system you have, it doesn't need coding to the vehicle though, price in the cost of the towbar and labour then I think it is a good price.
In 2002 we bought a new Hymer based on a Fiat chassis (not Alco) and it cost £500 to have a towbar fitted, the wiring for that was a standard kit so less than £20, that was obviously 24 years ago and I knew that I was being robbed, I have always fitted my own but I was ill at the time so no choice.
I fitted a removable towbar to a 2019 Ford Kuga for a friend last year, he wanted to pay extra for the wiring kit, you can use a standard kit with a bypass relay but it doesn't have the same functionality as a dedicated wiring kit, although at £20 it is significantly cheaper, I was very impressed with it TBH

Universal TEB7AS Bypass Relay Towing Electrics / Towbar Wiring | eBay UK

Towbar wiring. Towbar accessories. Towbar fitting. Towbar Accessories. Bypass Relay Instructions. This is universal type and suitable for all vehicles except Jaguar S Types. Extended Areas.

www.ebay.co.uk

I fitted a towbar to my Volvo V70 and fitted a bypass relay because it was only to tow a small trailer, it has been on two years now without problems

Over a period of 10 years I had to replace one of those relays in our last van, approximately 60000mls of towing.

 

[mark61]

Just out of interest I check invoice for my van to see what factory fitted tow bar was. Ordered the increased trailer weight option £642 inc VAT. 13 pin electrics FOC. March 2016.

 

[wildebus]

I would ask if they are fitting a dedicated wiring kit for the Ducato, this costs £150 to £200 but it guarantees to work with the canbus system you have, it doesn't need coding to the vehicle though, price in the cost of the towbar and labour then I think it is a good price.

This raises an interesting point actually. Now in my previous posts I mused about if the electrics in the price was for a simple 'splice' into the rear lighting circuit or integrated into the van system.
Now if the singular purpose and reason for the Towbar to be fitted is to support a Bike Rack and there is no intention to tow anything of note, then paying £200 odd just to add in tow-compatible features that will never be needed or used is TBH a waste of money and a simple relay option would actually be perfectly fine.

In 2002 we bought a new Hymer based on a Fiat chassis (not Alco) and it cost £500 to have a towbar fitted, the wiring for that was a standard kit so less than £20, that was obviously 24 years ago and I knew that I was being robbed, I have always fitted my own but I was ill at the time so no choice.
I fitted a removable towbar to a 2019 Ford Kuga for a friend last year, he wanted to pay extra for the wiring kit, you can use a standard kit with a bypass relay but it doesn't have the same functionality as a dedicated wiring kit, although at £20 it is significantly cheaper, I was very impressed with it TBH

Universal TEB7AS Bypass Relay Towing Electrics / Towbar Wiring | eBay UK

Towbar wiring. Towbar accessories. Towbar fitting. Towbar Accessories. Bypass Relay Instructions. This is universal type and suitable for all vehicles except Jaguar S Types. Extended Areas.

www.ebay.co.uk

I think it was a TEB7AS Relay I used for the last towbar I fitted (to my VW LT aka Sprinter). A good unit I thought and better than the really basic relays.
One benefit on the TEB7AS as I recall is that it is not a regular towing relay that just connects an IN to an OUT (so for example a left indicator on a lighting board is powered by the same circuit as the left indicator on the vehicle) but instead you power the TEB7AS with a connection to the battery and while the various outputs are activated by the various inputs, they are actually powered by the Battery directly - this stops complications with a vehicles Canbus system seemingly detecting incorrect loads as the activation load is minimal.

I fitted a towbar to my Volvo V70 and fitted a bypass relay because it was only to tow a small trailer, it has been on two years now without problems

 

[Tezza33]

Over a period of 10 years I had to replace one of those relays in our last van, approximately 60000mls of towing.

I hope you asked for a refund

This raises an interesting point actually. Now in my previous posts I mused about if the electrics in the price was for a simple 'splice' into the rear lighting circuit or integrated into the van system.
Now if the singular purpose and reason for the Towbar to be fitted is to support a Bike Rack and there is no intention to tow anything of note, then paying £200 odd just to add in tow-compatible features that will never be needed or used is TBH a waste of money and a simple relay option would actually be perfectly fine.



I think it was a TEB7AS Relay I used for the last towbar I fitted (to my VW LT aka Sprinter). A good unit I thought and better than the really basic relays.
One benefit on the TEB7AS as I recall is that it is not a regular towing relay that just connects an IN to an OUT (so for example a left indicator on a lighting board is powered by the same circuit as the left indicator on the vehicle) but instead you power the TEB7AS with a connection to the battery and while the various outputs are activated by the various inputs, they are actually powered by the Battery directly - this stops complications with a vehicles Canbus system seemingly detecting incorrect loads as the activation load is minimal.

They are very easy to fit as well, David. I fitted one on my Fiat Panda in 2011, so I knew how good they are. It was still working when I sold it two years ago, so they are reliable.
I also only use 13-pin plugs and sockets, even though I only have seven wires, far more secure and reliable