Will anyone take on the job of removing my towbar?!

[mikebravo]

Hi, This is my first post on the forum. I bought my first California last spring and I am loving it. One problem though: The towbar must go! I have no use for it and I've decided if I ever get a bike rack then I'd rather have one attached to the tail gate. At the moment it is just getting in the way. I keep hitting my chins off it when I'm getting stuff in and out of the tailgate. OUCH! Plus, it's not compatible with the rear optical parking sensor; every time I go into reverse gear my van expels a long obnoxious beep. In the last 9 months, since I got the van, I have reversed into two vehicles and a metal barrier while parking. I'm so ashamed. Thankfully my tow bar is taking the brunt of it so there is no damage to my van - but I really dont think it was designed as a high pressure batterring ram! So, for everyones benefit, I have to get this bloody thing removed, get my parking sensors working and displaying on my new RDS330 head unit. The problem is, I have approached two VW commercial specialists in the greater Glasgow area and neither seems willing to take on the job. The towbar has the combined electric hookup too. Does anyone have recommendations for where I could get this work done? Is it really such a complicated job? Have you had the same expereince maybe? Thanks very much for any help you can offer. - Michael

Did I say *chins*? Oops! I meant *shins* of course!

 

[flying banana]

have you checked that it's not a 'removable' towbar ? I think you twist them and pull or something and they lock under neath somewhere. and they should pack away in the toolkit ?

 

[Legin]

Problem is that some structural components get removed so full removal is a big and expensive job if you dont have the parts. Best option is to remove the fixed ball section and tuck th electric socket up out the way. I will do it for you but your nowhere near me. Best going to a towbar generalist not vw

 

[Calibus]

Picture?

Or go HERE and link the one that looks like yours.

If it's just the ball that you catch your chins on, the majority of them just require a couple of spanners to remove the ball, that's if it's not already a removable towbar as FB mentioned.

 

[TripleBee]

If you take out the towbar, you will need the original bumper (metal behind the plastic).
If you have the detachable towbar, get it out.
And I see you have a T5 facelift? When I mounted my towbar, I had PDC problems too, but there is an update at VW for the PDC for looking further than the towbar.

I live in Belgium, so it's a little too far to get over and take out your towbar.

 

[B J G]

If as per this you tube video you will need the original 'crash bar' replacing, reverse procedure.

Easiest option is simply grinder cut off the protruding part, making sure no sparks can damage the paintwork.

 

[CoboCali]

Plus, it's not compatible with the rear optical parking sensor; every time I go into reverse gear my van expels a long obnoxious beep.

if you don't have a trailer (or similar) plugged into the towbar electrics socket then your parking sensors should not be deactivated anyway? that needs checking.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Ideally you need to find someone with the same van who wants a towbar + electrics fairly local to you, then Just swap the bits over.

 

[AlanC]

I had the same issue.

I replaced my tow bar for a detachable one but also bought the correct wiring loom that connects to the CanBus system and is not wired directly into the rear lights. The reversing sensors will then work correctly.

The bar I bought was the Westfalia one which is original dealer fitting. There are plenty of independents who should be happy to help. VW dealers farm this work out anyway. Hence the blank
looks.
Alan

 

[WelshGas]

Hi, This is my first post on the forum. I bought my first California last spring and I am loving it. One problem though: The towbar must go! I have no use for it and I've decided if I ever get a bike rack then I'd rather have one attached to the tail gate. At the moment it is just getting in the way. I keep hitting my chins off it when I'm getting stuff in and out of the tailgate. OUCH! Plus, it's not compatible with the rear optical parking sensor; every time I go into reverse gear my van expels a long obnoxious beep. In the last 9 months, since I got the van, I have reversed into two vehicles and a metal barrier while parking. I'm so ashamed. Thankfully my tow bar is taking the brunt of it so there is no damage to my van - but I really dont think it was designed as a high pressure batterring ram! So, for everyones benefit, I have to get this bloody thing removed, get my parking sensors working and displaying on my new RDS330 head unit. The problem is, I have approached two VW commercial specialists in the greater Glasgow area and neither seems willing to take on the job. The towbar has the combined electric hookup too. Does anyone have recommendations for where I could get this work done? Is it really such a complicated job? Have you had the same expereince maybe? Thanks very much for any help you can offer. - Michael

Did I say *chins*? Oops! I meant *shins* of course!

Can you post a picture?

 

[flying banana]

I had the same issue.

I replaced my tow bar for a detachable one but also bought the correct wiring loom that connects to the CanBus system and is not wired directly into the rear lights. The reversing sensors will then work correctly.

The bar I bought was the Westfalia one which is original dealer fitting. There are plenty of independents who should be happy to help. VW dealers farm this work out anyway. Hence the blank
looks.
Alan

The dealers look at you blank regarding EVERYTHING

 

[mikebravo]

Thanks for all the responses so far folks! Here are some pictures...

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Looks like you can just unbolt the towbar (2 large bolts) and remove it.

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks for all the responses so far folks! Here are some pictures...

View attachment 54691

View attachment 54692

Just unbolt the Tow Ball. Your Rear Parking Sensors should then work correctly. Otherwise it will be an expensive job to remove everything and replace the Original parts removed to fit the Towbar and probably cost a good few £100’s of pounds.
As far as getting the Parking Sensors to display on your new Head Unit. If properly wired then it should be a simple matter of coding.
Obviously this all depends on the Parking sensors working properly.
Remove the Tow Ball, big spanner, and if the sensors don’t work correctly when reversing then they need fixing first. Once they are confirmed to be working then you can look into checking the head unit is properly wired and getting it coded.

 

[Amy&Mark]

Hi Mike,
Dunno if this helps but... We’ve got a T6 Beach 2017 and had a towbar fitted just after we got it. They removed a metal bumper bar to fit it. It’s just sat in my garage for two years ... tried to sell on eBay but no one wanted it... you can have it for free if you can arrange collection (in north Notts or from north Birmingham) or for postage cost. Dunno if it fits your Cali as well but it might.
Mark

 

[2into1]

To my uneducated eyes, that tow bar looks as if it was designed for a JCB!

 

[kurienp]

Mike, if you try and remove these two bolts, the tow bar ball should come off. However, as it has been there for long, may not be an easy job. Best to go to a local mechanic, who can help you with it. This by far seems to be the easiest temporary option to save you shins.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Ch1pbutty]

https://www.pfjones.co.uk/PCT/VW4472A.pdf

 

[Legin]

If you want it clean looking then get the three webs cut through underneath with a grinder or a plasma / burner. Tuck the wires away. Cheap quick and easy if you have the gear. Will to all intents be like no towbar fitted. Good local garage could do this.

 

[TripleBee]

Hi, This is my first post on the forum. I bought my first California last spring and I am loving it. One problem though: The towbar must go! I have no use for it and I've decided if I ever get a bike rack then I'd rather have one attached to the tail gate. At the moment it is just getting in the way. I keep hitting my chins off it when I'm getting stuff in and out of the tailgate. OUCH! Plus, it's not compatible with the rear optical parking sensor; every time I go into reverse gear my van expels a long obnoxious beep. In the last 9 months, since I got the van, I have reversed into two vehicles and a metal barrier while parking. I'm so ashamed. Thankfully my tow bar is taking the brunt of it so there is no damage to my van - but I really dont think it was designed as a high pressure batterring ram! So, for everyones benefit, I have to get this bloody thing removed, get my parking sensors working and displaying on my new RDS330 head unit. The problem is, I have approached two VW commercial specialists in the greater Glasgow area and neither seems willing to take on the job. The towbar has the combined electric hookup too. Does anyone have recommendations for where I could get this work done? Is it really such a complicated job? Have you had the same expereince maybe? Thanks very much for any help you can offer. - Michael

Did I say *chins*? Oops! I meant *shins* of course!

What do you mean by the beep of the sensors? Is it for like 3 seconds and then stop? If so, there might be damage to the sensors. If it just keeps sounding for eternity, then it sees the towbar.

 

[mikebravo]

Hi Mike,
Dunno if this helps but... We’ve got a T6 Beach 2017 and had a towbar fitted just after we got it. They removed a metal bumper bar to fit it. It’s just sat in my garage for two years ... tried to sell on eBay but no one wanted it... you can have it for free if you can arrange collection (in north Notts or from north Birmingham) or for postage cost. Dunno if it fits your Cali as well but it might.
Mark

Thanks that’s very kind of you but I am hoping I won’t need to go down that route.

 

[mikebravo]

What do you mean by the beep of the sensors? Is it for like 3 seconds and then stop? If so, there might be damage to the sensors. If it just keeps sounding for eternity, then it sees the towbar.

It’s just 3 seconds and then it stops, which I believe is indicating a fault with the Parking sensor system. But I always assumed that the sensors were faulting because of the tow bar. Do you think the fault is totally unrelated to the tow bar? Maybe I should get the OPS system looked at. I’ve read about lots of people using a tow bar in conjunction with parking sensors without any issues. A few do have issues though.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

It’s just 3 seconds and then it stops, which I believe is indicating a fault with the Parking sensor system. But I always assumed that the sensors were faulting because of the tow bar. Do you think the fault is totally unrelated to the tow bar? Maybe I should get the OPS system looked at. I’ve read about lots of people using a tow bar in conjunction with parking sensors without any issues. A few do have issues though.

The description on the PF Jones website for your towbar suggests that the parking sensors should still work ok.

Hopefully someone with a similar towbar can comment if their sensors still function correctly?

 

[mikebravo]

Just unbolt the Tow Ball. Your Rear Parking Sensors should then work correctly. Otherwise it will be an expensive job to remove everything and replace the Original parts removed to fit the Towbar and probably cost a good few £100’s of pounds.
As far as getting the Parking Sensors to display on your new Head Unit. If properly wired then it should be a simple matter of coding.
Obviously this all depends on the Parking sensors working properly.
Remove the Tow Ball, big spanner, and if the sensors don’t work correctly when reversing then they need fixing first. Once they are confirmed to be working then you can look into checking the head unit is properly wired and getting it coded.

Brilliant advice. Thanks very much. I’ve tried to remove it today but one of the bolts is totally seized up (some rusting) so I’ll need the help of a garage I think. I just can’t shift it. Thanks again.

 

[flying banana]

Brilliant advice. Thanks very much. I’ve tried to remove it today but one of the bolts is totally seized up (some rusting) so I’ll need the help of a garage I think. I just can’t shift it. Thanks again.

Soak it in wd40. Get some heat in it and use a good socket and long bar. Also hit it face on with a hammer too to 'wake up' the rust. Should easily crack