Im looking to fit a bike carrier onto a towbar yet to be fitted, ive got a MY13 and don't want to pay dealer price for fitting but want to keep the warranty intact, been intouch with pf jones £300 app fitted with dedicated loom, not sure if this just plugs and no need to splice into wiring, which they say would unaffect the warranty
Secondly do you need to drill the car to fit a towbar or are they pre drilled to take towbar fitting bolts? if they were I maybe tempetd to fit myself.

Just fitted a Witter towbar myself (MY2010, but can't be that much different).

The chassis is all pre-drilled for it so it bolts straight on BUT you do have to cut a couple of small holes in the back plastic bumper (behind the little red reflector) to get access to two nuts. About 1.5 hours work in all.

You can buy a "proper" wiring kit, which plugs into the loom in the boot, or you can buy a cheapo version which splices into the lighting cables. I bought the "proper" Britpart kit with twin sockets on eBay and it wasn't cheap (£120 I think) but it was easy to fit and worked first time, and I hope will last the life of the car. Splice-in kits don't last very long as the connections corrode (ask me how I know!)

Thanks very much for the reply tim, it sounds like I can do it! I would go the proper connect kit like you say, Did the reflector click back on ok ?
And was it a witter detachable or fixed type, as I don't want to get one and have to cut the bumper trim.

Thanks Andy

One thing to remember Andy. You'll have to get the vehicle programmed to switch the reverse sensors off when reversing with anything connected to the tow bar. When the tow bar electrics are plugged in the reverse sensors are off. Unless you don't mind the bleeping?!

Yer thanks LLL I could prob do without the elecs as its just for a bike rack and ya can see lights ok, and i would get a number plate for bikes.
But will prob do the whole job right if its worth doing.

Any reason you dont want to use just a 'normal' bike rack or have you already got one that goes onto a tow bar? Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

The Witter bar you just about do without removing the bumper, all the others recommend bumper removal. It's not that difficult to remove though. p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

Steve D wrote:

Any reason you dont want to use just a 'normal' bike rack or have you already got one that goes onto a tow bar?

Not fitted a Witter personally but they do a fitting video on Witter's www, or used to. Fitted a Westfalia Detachable myself, it's pretty straightforward Saturday morning job, with a good supply of Tea. p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

Just fitted a witter with vehicle specific electrics to my MY2013.The only drilling is through the plastic behind the left reflector to enable access to remove a couple of nuts to fit part of the towbar and then replace the nuts.You "may" to able access the nuts from underneath the vehicle ,but is very tight and getting a spanner/socket from underneath would be very tedious.The holes need to be 20mm dia and cannot be seen after refitting the reflector.
I did not remove the bumper.

The reprogramming enables the flashing "trailer symbol" on the instrument cluster when the indicator/s are on and disables the reverse sensors when the trailer electrics are connected.

Thanks for all replies guys

And John what model witter did you fit,? Was the wiring plug and play 😜type plugs

Andy

Witter R41AU with 19190514RC dedicated wiring kit.

Yes, the red reflector pops out and pops back in easily (a bit too easily, perhaps). The Witter instructions say to drill two holes but in fact the plastic is quite soft so I used a sharp kitchen knife instead.

If you only want the tow bar for a cycle carrier I myself would not bother with the electrics

If it's the bike carrier I think your getting with the tilt and number plate. You will need the electrics to operate the lights and indicators. My bike rack covers the number plates and partially covers the indicators. Bike rack comes with tow bar electrics and lights included.

I used a detachable tow bar and a Thule two bike rack that tilts and locks. Only takes seconds to hook up and looks good and secure. Locks the rack to the tow ball and the bike to the rack.

It wasn't a cheap option but needed the tow bar and electrics for my boat trailer anyway.