Towbar: include in factory fit or buy later?

Since having an aftermarket tow bar fitter "crush" a tube spacer in the double skin rear cross member sub-frame of our first LR 110, by stupidly over tightening, I have always purchased factory fitted on subsequent vehicles.

It should be done right, with the right kit, have no data bus issues, be fully included in the warranty, and is not a "modification" re insurance.

The main advantage of the manufacturers fit is that it is included in the gurantee. It will almost certainly cost more however for a Westfalia which many tow bar specialists will fit for less. You also need to include in the sales order that it is ALKO compatible and it is wired for the caravan not just for a basic trailer. 

Are you sure that it is a factory fit and not being fitted by the dealer on a stock car. If the latter it might just be going to a local fitter as most dealers do not have the expertise to do it.

Most fitters are very good especially if linked to one or more of the main manufacturers who believe it or not are all in the same ownership. They generally understand your needs better than car salesmen and would be myfirst choice but do make sure they are an established and reputable operator.

From the U-Switch website. (as I would have expected)

What counts as a modification?
Car modifications can be performance-based or purely cosmetic, but insurers will want to know about any changes made to the vehicle.

When you get a quote from a price comparison site such as uSwitch, you’ll be able to select from a list of modifications. You might be surprised to see what these include — alongside performance modifications such as engine alterations, you’ll also be asked to declare additions such as sunroofs, parking sensors, paint work, and tow bars.

Most insurers will only ask you to declare these alterations or accessories if they were added after the car’s manufacture, but others will consider these to be modifications if they were not part of the basic specification of the car, i.e. if the manufacturer provided these as optional extras when the car was purchased. Not all insurers will take this into account, so when you’re comparing online it’s best to select these as modifications. If you’ve got an existing policy and you’re concerned that you haven’t declared everything, just give your insurer a call and ask whether they take these types of modification into account.

I don’t know if it is relevant, but I didn’t get a factory fitted tow bar for my MH, which would have cost £595 from Swift.   However, now I want one it will cost me between £900 and £1200 from a dealer.    They say that the high price is because it is “Type Approved”.    Although my MH is wired right to the end of the chassis for a tow bar, including the relay, the dealers are saying they will have to completely rewire it, including another relay, because it is “Type Approved”.    The quicker we get out of the EU the better!

BillC

Many thanks for your replies which seem to lean towards factory fit. However, I am not confident that Ford would fit specifically a detachable flange towbar (for bike carrier). For peace of mind I think I would go for the Witter brand installed afterwards by an approved Witter fitter.

We've just had a towbar fitted to our Ford Kuga by the dealer. We specified a Flange towbar fitment as we intended to carry bikes.

We explained more than once that we wished to have a Flange type and preferably a Witter one as that was the bike carrier we wanted to use.

When the garage/dealer called us to go in and check that it was correct, they had ordered and received a Ford towbar complete with detachable tow ball 

In the end they used the Ford wiring loom and we bought and supplied the Witter towbar, unfortunately the Witter towbar plate didn't fit a Ford Kuga so a different plate (for the socket) had to be obtained. Witter didn't have one, luckily the local Towbar specialist did. 

In hindsight if we were doing it again we would use the Towbar Specialist rather than the garage. OH used to fit all the previous towbars we had but the electrics nowadays are much more complicated.

The reversing sensors do work properly by the way, I believe its all down to the Ford wiring loom.

Are you sure that the dealer isn’t blowing smoke up a certain part of your anatomy?  I would get a second opinion, tbh as afaik the tow bar is type approved nothing about the wiring. Maybe you should write Boris, Nige or the Mogster for advice? 

All towbars have to be type approved for the UK so cost is not an argument and the wiring is not part of the approval.

No factory fitted towbar for a car has a flange fitting. However, some factory fitted towbars for vans and other light commercial vehicles may be of the flange type.

We've just had a towbar fitted to our Ford Kuga by the dealer. We specified a Flange towbar fitment as we intended to carry bikes.

Tammygirl,

Was that to tow at the same time, as there are options to carry bikes on the ball if not towing? I do the latter.

Reading your post I was concerned if towing. The data I saw rates the Kuga with a "S" rating of only a 100kgs. This with even two light bikes and the Witter carrier leaves a very low noseweight for the van? 

Both my last cars (VW Tourans bought new) with towbars fitted prior to taking delivery were fitted at the dealership premises.  The first was a Brink towbar, and the second was a Westfalia.     I don't know how the decision to factory-fit or fit at the dealership is arrived at.  Or how this varies depending on any particular manufacturer.

My latest car, bought very recently, was about 15 months old when I purchased it - ex-demo with less than 8,000 miles on the clock.  I ordered a towbar to be fitted prior to taking delivery, and I know this work was contracted out.  But the warranty for the vehicle included the towbar, and the fitters are specialists in their field.  I believe such people now have equipment to connect to the towbar electrics to simulate attachment of a trailer/caravan.  I have already hooked up the caravan to check for myself, and everything seems fine.

So I think the choice of which direction to take is up to you.  If the purchase of the vehicle includes provision of a towbar prior to delivery, it will be covered by the warranty whether factory-fitted or dealership fitted.  This stems from the fact that the car manufacturer accepts retrofit by their franchised dealers.