[WILGIEOS]

Hi all
I have a car broker who's done their research and negotiation to order me a new EOS (Salsa Red, Black leather, 147TSI, 18" alloy, Sat Nav).. for when I return to Melbourne in July after a 5 year stint in Singapore. (driving a Mazda 3.. boring but affordable!) Sorry SGP local EOS owners.
I'm interested in AUS EOS owners experiences with getting VW to fit the towbar? or have you done somewhere else? Its a must for me with road bike to carry.... and how many ordered the wind deflector? or got it thrown in as part of the deal! (extra but no charge).

Tx Narelle.....

 

[kzndbn25]

hi
I've also just bought a new eos and was wondering what the response and experience has been with towbars. anyone?
similarly I need a bar to tow my boat.
cheers

 

[peter-c]

Hi All,

Does anyone from Australia have a factory optioned towbar installed?
Is it anything like this Westfalia model posted in this forum?

Would you please post some photos of what it looks like with and without the detachable hitch attached? Also, with it detached, is there a coverplate to hide the opening in the bumper?

My local dealer didn't have any such images, instead referring me to a car sales website! I subsequently contacted VW Au and they referred me to the dealer! Bizarre.

I'm hoping it is basically the Westfalia model, as I like the look of the ones people have posted here.
Would be great to see what one actually looks like.

I should add that the part number for the AU model that I was quoted, is VGA803921EOS07.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[cappers]

i have genuine vw one - will get some photos for you

no cover plate - with the hitch removed it still protudes past the bumper

 

[peter-c]

Thanks, that would be great.
Can't wait to see them...

 

[cappers]

 

[peter-c]

Thanks Cappers! They are very helpful.

I could have sworn I saw a golf with one of these bars only yesterday! But being on the move, I couldn't have a really good look.

Could I trouble you to please post a photo of it with the back of the car in view? Perhaps a little to the side as well? .....just to get a perspective on the thing. Thanks so much.

It's a shame VW Au didn't source Westfalia's towbar. I like it just a little more, since it is so well hidden when the hitch is removed. Perhaps they couldn't secure a good OEM deal, or that the bar couldn't pass ADR, or just that (presumably) this may be a locally made bar that ended up being far more profitable. Oh well.....

I called around some other towbar places and most couldn't offer a suitable bar. One place though claimed to be able to fit a Euro style towbar (does "Euro" mean hidden when detached?? ...should've asked...) --- but their price was several hundred dollars more than the dealer's.

Anyway, thanks again.

 

[silvershadow]

Thanks Cappers! They are very helpful.

...........................................

I called around some other towbar places and most couldn't offer a suitable bar. One place though claimed to be able to fit a Euro style towbar (does "Euro" mean hidden when detached?? ...should've asked...) --- but their price was several hundred dollars more than the dealer's.

Anyway, thanks again.

Have you contacted Hayman-Reese to see if they can help? Their product is more expensive than normal towbars but you are getting a quality product that will be properly fitted and guaranteed to be suitable for your vehicle.

http://www.haymanreese.com.au/

In the case of your Eos, a cheap towbar may end up costing heaps if it causes structural misalignment due to inappropriate fitting.

 

[peter-c]

Thanks Silvershadow, but to fit a cheap towbar I'd first have to find one! Ironically, the cheapest one quoted so far has been the dealer fitted model, at $1550.

I have looked at importing a Westfalia from the UK for probably around $450, and a dedicated harness for something like $300. I'm pretty confident of its design and build quality. However, the non ADR compliance and effectively no warranty and support is dissuading me. Not to mention possibly shaky insurance coverage due to the ADR factor.

H-R's website was one of the first places I looked, but they do not list an Eos compatible bar. I contacted them a while ago to also ask whether their Golf bars were compatible with the Eos.... have yet to hear back. Does anyone here actually have a H-R towbar?

I'm pretty confident they don't have one though.... Shop1auto in Sydney lists H-R towbars for Golfs, Jettas, Polos, Tiguans and just about every other VW ....except Eos. Also, I'm sure the places I asked for quotes would've happily quoted one if a H-R model was available.

I contacted Westfalia NZ as well, which seems to be an official (albeit young, seemingly) AUNZ distributor. However, I have not heard back from them either after contacting them twice, so the prospects aren't good.

I think the dealer option is probably my only relatively economical option.

....incidentally, just realised one of Capper's photos identifies the OEM being Best Bars Ltd from NZ. Interesting.

 

[silvershadow]

Yes - I would be very concerned about ADR/VW compliance issues as this would be a very convenient "escape hatch" for an insurance company if you ever had to make a claim.

As far as the VW model compatibility goes, have you enquired about a HR towbar for a Passat? If my memory is correct, the Eos rear subframe comes from the Passat and not the Golf but I will stand corrected by others with more experience in this area. You might be able to interest HR in using your car to evaluate if they can use one of their existing towbars for the Eos.

 

[peter-c]

HR probably thought there wasn't much of a market for the Eos, and maybe rightly so. There's probably only a very, very, very small number of people who want to tow things with their convertible ...I guess, myself included.

I might be tempted to offer them my car to evaluate, except they're based in Melbourne with what appears to only be stockists everywhere else. Besides, if they haven't released anything after nearly 6 years of the model run, I'm sure there's a good reason, especially when they seem to cover everything else so comprehensively. They even have one for the Beetle, interestingly enough!

I've put in an order for the factory / BBL bar. You're right..... potential non-insurance coverage is too much of a risk. Accidents still can happen, defects can still occur, and the last thing I need is to be personally liable for damage, or worse --- injury/death, for the sake of.... well.... hundreds of dollars, sure.... but probably a small price to pay compared to the alternative.

Thanks again.

 

[cappers]

another good reason for the factory one is that there are sensors that protect the roof operation when the hitch is connected! - no hitch cycles ok - when a trailer is on it doesnt

 

[peter-c]

exactly!