[MarkJP]

Hi Guys,

I realise that this may potentially be an unpopular request in a towing forum but I'd quite like to remove the towi bar from my 2003 R5 TDi Touareg as I don't actually have anything to tow (as it currently stands).

I've attached a couple of poor quality iPhone snaps to show what it looks like. I am assuming it is a factory fitted tow bar (perhaps you can advise me if I'm wrong about this). I'm really wondering how easy is it to remove? What is involved? The car is new to me and I know a great deal about towing or tow bars, so perhaps these are obvious questions - if so I apologise in advance.

I'm hoping it's detachable so I could attach to again easily in the future if the need ever arose but I'm not sure? I'm not sure what the circular thing on the right hand side is, it does seem to have a lock of some description on it but I certainly don't have a key for it.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Mark

(Great forum by the way!!)

 

[hedditch]

This may help....

Towbar Video - VW Touareg Westfalia Detachable - YouTube

Stuart..

 

[MarkJP]

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for posting the video, that's exactly what I have and really useful to know.

Unfortunately I don't have a key for the towbar (I have just double checked the boot space). I imagine others have been in a similar situation when buying used Touaregs. Do you have any idea of the best way to go about getting it removed? I guess I'll just have to speak to a locksmith or something?

Thanks again.

Mark

 

[noobytoogy]

Is there a key number stamped on the face of the lock?

Have you checked in the hand book to see if there is a piece of card, paper or plastic tag with a number on it that may be relevant?

One advantage of a protruding towball you may not know about is that other motorists tend to give the rear end of your car a very clear berth when parking behind it! And if they don't, they tend to come off far worse!!

 

[MarkJP]

Thanks for the advice so far guys, I really appreciate it.

So I've taken another look at it today and it looks like it may not actually be locked after all - it may never have been locked. I've taken a look at the below video and I can push the housing and turn it as described so that it is showing me the (faded) red sticker just as displayed in the video. I'm assuming if it was locked I would not be able to do this? At this point I can feel the tow bar move ever so slightly if I pull it which it doesn't do at any other time. But unlike the video the tow bar does not drop out and and no amount of force makes any difference, it just rocks back and fore ever so slightly. It feels like the lugs inside aren't moving as they should to release it. I don't know if this it because it is actually locked or if it is just likely to be seized. If it is seized, what are my options? I think that the tow bar may have been on from the factory and never actually been used, so it's had several years to seize in place.

This video is for a Witter Quantum Vertical which certainly looks just like the towbar on my car but the sticker on the side of my tow bar says ACS Systems bv class A50-X (see attached photo).

Does anyone have any suggestions or can confirm that it is currently locked/unlocked?

Thanks again

Mark

 

[noobytoogy]

bv is a Dutch company like UK's Ltd so, onto Google and what do I find:

ACS Systems | Specialized in horizontal and vertical detachable towball systems

Click on the Union Jack

http://www.acs-systems.nl/ACS-products_photos-uk.html

 

[MarkJP]

bv is a Dutch company like UK's Ltd so, onto Google and what do I find:

ACS Systems | Specialized in horizontal and vertical detachable towball systems

Click on the Union Jack

ACS Systems | Specialized in horizontal and vertical detachable towball systems

I have dropped them an email, so thank you very much.

I have a feeling it may actually be seized in place due to being on the vehicle for a long time. Is there any wisdom regarding the best way to remove a seized detachable tow bar or am I best of taking it to a tow bar specialist?

Thanks again

Mark

 

[noobytoogy]

Squirt that vertical box section liberally with freeing oil [but not on your own drive!!].

Give it 24 hours to see if it has freed off.

If not, then, if you really think it has seized and if you can access it, use two hammers to strike the box simultaneously from the left and the right sides - always a good tip for freeing rusted items by the way if they can withstand a good tap!

Otherwise, any half reasonable garage should be able to help you.

 

[MarkJP]

Squirt that vertical box section liberally with freeing oil [but not on your own drive!!].

Give it 24 hours to see if it has freed off.

If not, then, if you really think it has seized and if you can access it, use two hammers to strike the box simultaneously from the left and the right sides - always a good tip for freeing rusted items by the way if they can withstand a good tap!

Otherwise, any half reasonable garage should be able to help you.

Thank you!

I sprayed it with lots of WD40 and left it over night but still wasn't having much joy. So I popped into a tow bar/trailer garage on my way home this evening and the guy was able to force it out. He didn't even charge me, which I thought was very kind of him.

I guess I should probably buy a cover for the receiver from somewhere so that it doesn't get corroded?

Thanks again for the help guys, it's very much appreciated.

Mark

 

[noobytoogy]

Get one from the bar manufacturer!

 

[MarkJP]

bv is a Dutch company like UK's Ltd so, onto Google and what do I find:

ACS Systems | Specialized in horizontal and vertical detachable towball systems

Click on the Union Jack

ACS Systems | Specialized in horizontal and vertical detachable towball systems

Oh and the guy in the tow bar place this evening said that ACS used to make the early Witter units apparently? Not sure if that's true but it would kind of make sense.

 

[noobytoogy]

When I found the photos I thought they looked identical !!!

 

[MarkJP]

Thanks for all your help noobytoogy, I really appreciate all of the advice!

 

[Perry01]

That's a totally different set-up than the factory tow hitch I have on mine here in the U.S.

What is the tow rating for this set-up? Is it the same 7700 lbs?