Leon FR - Towbar ?

[stevehighsted]

Facelift FR Towbar

Hi Rob
I have just purchased a new 10 plate FR diesel and also want to fit a towbar. Before reading your post I had already decided on the Westfalia. From looking, the rear bumper appears the same as the pre-facelift FR (I part-ex'd my 07 FR for the new one). Is there anything I should know before getting one fitted? I have ordered a tow hitch cover and am expecting the supplier to cut the bumper same as recommended for the pre-face lift FR. Any knowledge would be appreciated.
Cheers Steve

Hi Coy

I've just had a towbar fitted to a facelift FR Tdi. Give me a shout if it is the facelift you have as it was not straightforward. Being technically a new car the towbar manufacturers have not approved the towbars yet so legally they can not be fitted.

I had mine fitted at Mobile Solutions in Derby. It was a Westfalia detachable towbar (The Brink towbar is not approved for the 2009 models). £350 fitted but I also had to buy a bumber cover from Seat.

Cheers Rob

 

[Rob100]

Hi Steve

I had a lot of issues finding a towbar that would fit, when i was looking the facelift was new and most towbar manufactureres had not certified the towbar yet for the new model. However, the towbar company fitted the westfalia towbar as per the pre-facelift model. They fitted it with no problems at all, the bumper cover fitted the hole perfectly and it was a really tidy job. I believe the rear bumper is the same (at least the black plastic section), but happy to stand corrected on that, so yes, I think it should be cut the same as the previous model. The cover was ever so slightly darker in colour than the bumper, but after a couple of weeks you needed a keen eye to spot it.

Only minor issue was the electrics. I debated whether to have the car specific electrics fitted but decided that at £200 more it was not worth it. Hence the fitter had to fit a relay which meant you could hear a very quite tick from the back of the car each time you hit the brake or used the indicators.

On a seperate note, i pulled a 1,400kg caravan so right at the maximum towing weight but the car made an excellent towbar. Not quite as stable as my old mondeo but much easier to tow due to the additional power and more flexible gear ratios / engine, but I'm sure the pre-facelift is the same in this regard.

Cheers

Rob

 

[stevehighsted]

Leon FR Facelift Towbar

Hi Rob,
Thanks for replying so soon. All sounds good. The car has a DSG box and as I'm only towing a folding camper (at approx 700 kg) this should be no problem.
Thanks, Steve

 

[lifeguardsal]

Seat leon fr towbar

Hi, i have bought a seat leon fr and had the full btcc kit put on as i do caravan racing i wanted a towbar fitted, I have bought the westfalia detachable towbar and looks good on the car the only problem I have had is when i towed my caravan i felt it was like driving on water and the caravan wanted to go everywhere. I previously towed with the old fr 55 reg and I didnt know the van was on the back it sat brilliantly but this new one tows terrible I have measured the towing height of the ball and it measures 18" from the floor, what does yours measure ? and how does your van tow ?
it just does not tow right and i welcome your comments please, I have towed for over 20 years and this just is not right. any ideas please /
Sal

 

[Rob100]

Hi Sal

I've no longer got my FR (changed jobs and had to hand it back) so I can't let you know the height of the ball. Mine was a westfalia towbar. But it towed really well, not quite as stable as my old mondeo was but better than other cars I've had. My van has a max weight of 1400kg so I was a little nervous as this is greater than the net weight of the car and at the towing limit, but it was fine. Although the van is a modern van that tows really well, much more stable than my old van that was considerable lighter.

I can only suggest looking at the weight distribution in the van.

What is caravan racing?? Sounds like a sport Jeremy Clarkson and co should try!

 

[jrsmooth]

Hi, i have bought a seat leon fr and had the full btcc kit put on as i do caravan racing i wanted a towbar fitted, I have bought the westfalia detachable towbar and looks good on the car the only problem I have had is when i towed my caravan i felt it was like driving on water and the caravan wanted to go everywhere. I previously towed with the old fr 55 reg and I didnt know the van was on the back it sat brilliantly but this new one tows terrible I have measured the towing height of the ball and it measures 18" from the floor, what does yours measure ? and how does your van tow ?
it just does not tow right and i welcome your comments please, I have towed for over 20 years and this just is not right. any ideas please /
Sal

Have you got any photos of this towbar? I have the BTCC kit and have not seen one that suits my taste. I want one which properly detaches and cannot be seen when off.

 

[lifeguardsal]

Hi, I havnt any pictures of the towbar but you cannot tell it has a towbar fitted you have to buy a seat blanking plate and you can only see this if you go close up to the carures on, i cannot post pictures on here as i dont know how to do it but i can honestly say it does look good, when searching for a towbar there were not many places i found that did it but it was the westfalia bar that was fitted if it helps you could email me [email protected] and i will send you some pics.
Sal

 

[Sooty torques]

For towbar fitting, we used Indespension in Derby, got the fitting as part of the deal with the stealers. Not detachable though, but this does deter / punish folks who can't park properly...

I've towed trailers (full of apples ) and caravans behind all my Leons (2 x Mk1 and this Mk2 FR TDI) with no problems...? As stated, loading is critical. We have found that our current FR took some time getting it right with the 'van on though - it is very prone to sidewinds and "wash" from us overtaking HGV's / big vans / buses. It is also (with the fitted Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas at any rate) very prone to wanting to follow any ruts or HGV "tramlines" on m/ways & dual-carriageways where it does tend to wander and feel like a vague aqua planing sensation when said "grooves" are bad. Getting a higher noseweight helped stability a lot with our set-up. When towing in France on the autoroutes, 75mph is nice and steady (but better road surfaces than in the UK...).

Van towing figures for those anorak wearers out there:

These tyre pressures work best for us:
Front PSI: 36
Rear PSI: 45

FR Kerb weight: 1406 kg
85% figure (for safe towing): 1195 kg

Van: 2008 Avondale Dart 470/2
Plated max load (MTPLM): 1120 kg

 

[jrsmooth]

I only want to tow a jetski, which will be very rarely. So I don't want to spoil the look of the car with a towbar (detachable or fixed). The BMW 1 series towbars were great, as they just hook round the bumper, no need for cutting at all!

So I want something that minimises the amount of cutting, everything removes or can be hidden (such as the electrics) and can be covered up when not in use.

 

[Sooty torques]

Should have no probs finding a suitable hidden towbar.

Google gave this straight away.

 

[jrsmooth]

Should have no probs finding a suitable hidden towbar.

Google gave this straight away.

Ray, thanks for taking the time to read that, and have a look through google.

The two tow bars on that page for the MK2 leon, both state unsuitable for an FR leon, which is what has worried me, especially since mine has the K1/BTCC kit.

 

[Sooty torques]

The two tow bars on that page for the MK2 leon, both state unsuitable for an FR leon, which is what has worried me, especially since mine has the K1/BTCC kit.

Sorry didn't check that... As I say, my FR has the fixed towbar (cheapo stealers) but I am surprised that they are not suitable for the FR - the K1/BTCC kit is another matter...

Have you tried contacting folks like Witter? Witter Towbars

They are very helpful with good phone support. Maybe worth a go?

 

[claudefrog]

I only want to tow a jetski, which will be very rarely. So I don't want to spoil the look of the car with a towbar (detachable or fixed). The BMW 1 series towbars were great, as they just hook round the bumper, no need for cutting at all!

So I want something that minimises the amount of cutting, everything removes or can be hidden (such as the electrics) and can be covered up when not in use.

I will try and get a pic of my towbar I use to tow my ski after work and post them up... really wouldnt know its there.

 

[jrsmooth]

Thank you both for your help!

I have a couple of other people sending me pics too, so hopefully something will be suitable!

I think that fitting to an FR will not be an issue, i have seen FR's with towbars installed, it's my BTCC bumper, and getting a fitment that is suitable. IE not having a gaping hole, covered over with some flimsy plastic.

 

[lifeguardsal]

Hi, thank you for replying, can i just ask my fr mk1 towed so much better than the mk2 would you agree with that.

 

[jrsmooth]

Sal, did you get that email I sent you?

 

[Sooty torques]

Hi, thank you for replying, can i just ask my fr mk1 towed so much better than the mk2 would you agree with that.

I think the Mk 1 was more stable tbh, but then we swapped our Mk 1 130PD TDI for the FR Mk 2 170 TDI at virtually the same time we swapped the caravan... Our new van is a much heavier and longer beast. We never towed the new van with the Mk 1 so like-for-like is difficult to compare. However, the extra power is great and the mpg is about the same

No problem with a tonne of apples in the trailer.

 

[claudefrog]

i fitted this and cut the bumper myself.. so it cant be that hard to do.


takes about 90 seconds to remove cover and fit towbar into place.......... no bolts nothing, just a clever mechanism that also locks with a key if needed.

if you want a pic close up fitted i will get it later for you.

 

[jrsmooth]

Cheers mate! They are brilliant, just want I needed to see! Looks alright that does!

Do you know what brand of hitch it is? Did the cover come with the hitch, or is that a Seat item? I can't see any electrics, on the car or trailer, do you not run a lightboard?

Nice ski by the way, much more powerful than my Kawasaki X-2, but I love my ski!

 

[claudefrog]

Cheers mate! They are brilliant, just want I needed to see! Looks alright that does!

Do you know what brand of hitch it is? Did the cover come with the hitch, or is that a Seat item? I can't see any electrics, on the car or trailer, do you not run a lightboard?

Nice ski by the way, much more powerful than my Kawasaki X-2, but I love my ski!

I believe its a brink item.. comes with cover (which I had painted to match colour)

I have electrics wired in aswell... I got fed up with the light board to got some waterproof LED trailer lights and attached them to trailer, look inbetween the 2 back rollers, you can see them there.. and just got a bike plate attached to the spashguard. means no more messing about with taking a board off and wrapping the wire up etc etc. I will remove the cover later and show you the insides of the cover with the electrics location etc.

I have had the GP 2 years now, so I am keeping my eye out for an 08 superjet.. see a few in london direction forsale at good money.. but I dont fancy any further than newcastle direction.. its not too far from the boat back to belfast