Towbar fitters in Dunedin or Christchurch?

**Fast Eddie** · 5th August 2012, 14:20

I need to get a tow bar fitted to my 1998 Audi A4 as cheaply as possible.

I got the yellow pages out for firms in Dunedin, called a couple and they both wanted around the 600-700 dollar mark. Madness! I could almost buy another cheap car with tow bar already fitted.

Anything out there cheaper? I have been looking online for used ones and called some wreckers but not much joy for my specific car..

Not sure if I could fit it myself anyway, do they just bolt into preexisting mounts?

Anyway, any options would be great, I can get it done in either Christchurch or Dunedin since the car travels back and forth a bit, could even stop in anywhere between dunners and chch (ie timaru) if for somereason bargains await in a different town.

Will keep flicking through yellow pages and google but maybe someone on here can save me some time. Or maybe someone on here fits towbars and has one

that would be sweet

**neels** · 5th August 2012, 14:27

These guys did the one on my car

http://www.towright.co.nz/towbar.aspx

**SMOKEU** · 5th August 2012, 14:51

You'd be better off taking your car to a wrecker and either buying a towbar for your specific car, or finding one that's similar in size and shape to what you need and then bolting it on to your car if it has somewhere secure enough to bolt it to. The electrics are a different story, however.

**Fast Eddie** · 5th August 2012, 14:57

Originally Posted by neels

These guys did the one on my car

http://www.towright.co.nz/towbar.aspx

cheers, that looks quite promising, 219 plus gst.. but thats rpp so will give them a call and see prices. I gues its a self install jobbie with them.

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

You'd be better off taking your car to a wrecker and either buying a towbar for your specific car, or finding one that's similar in size and shape to what you need and then bolting it on to your car if it has somewhere secure enough to bolt it to. The electrics are a different story, however.

yea, as i mentioned have tried wreckers but no one has had a tow bar for my car yet (not sure about just bolting one on from a diff car lol.. could work but meh might as well buy the one designed for car).. so it looks like im forced to buy new..
electrics not really an issue my friend is auto elec said he would bang me up something for cheap.

**SMOKEU** · 5th August 2012, 15:06

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

electrics not really an issue my friend is auto elec said he would bang me up something for cheap.

Count yourself very lucky then. I've seen what auto sparkies get away with charging.

**orangeback** · 5th August 2012, 16:39

the tow bar is the cheep bit , it's the wiring kit for modern cars thats a killer.
I've just done my 2012 craptiva ( captiva) tow bar was 170+gst the wiring kit for it was $295
joys of parking sensors etc
Tow bar express in chch has a 1 hour turnaround ,

**Fast Eddie** · 5th August 2012, 16:52

Originally Posted by orangeback

the tow bar is the cheep bit , it's the wiring kit for modern cars thats a killer.
I've just done my 2012 craptiva ( captiva) tow bar was 170+gst the wiring kit for it was $295
joys of parking sensors etc
Tow bar express in chch has a 1 hour turnaround ,

tow bar express, cheers looking them up

yea well i think this audi gets away with a cheaper wiring kit as its not too modern. and my friend said he should be able to do the wiring/light plug for me so just need to get the tow bar and get it fitted. electrics should be taken care of.

**tigertim20** · 5th August 2012, 18:48

a trip to TWL on teviot street will get you the stuff you need for lighting.

The easiest way would be to look around wreckers for one that has come off your model of car, and then its generally a matter of simply bolting it on. the $700 price tag is probably for a custom made one fitted - ive done a few and that sounds about right, 2-4 hours labour depending on how cunty your car is, and some steel, etc.

Look for one you can bolt on

**onearmedbandit** · 5th August 2012, 19:01

Strike this all the time in my job. If we're getting a 'bar fitted to a Japanese car, about $280 incl wiring. Change that to an European car and it can jump up to $800. The 'bar is still the same value, it's the wiring. Done incorrectly on a Euro and if you get some water in your wiring you can possibly kiss your ECU goodbye.

**mossy1200** · 5th August 2012, 19:14

Even custom made 700 sounds expensive.
I got a celica one custom made and fitted because they wernt avaliable for that model for 430 with wiring.

**neels** · 5th August 2012, 19:34

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

cheers, that looks quite promising, 219 plus gst.. but thats rpp so will give them a call and see prices. I gues its a self install jobbie with them.

Just checked, mine was $264 installed on a Terrano, it was a few years back and I did the wiring myself.

We've got a Mondeo at work that we don't tow with at the moment, the trailer interface has gone funky and just gives disco lights on the back of the trailer, from memory a new box is around $450 so we haven't bothered yet.

**Fast Eddie** · 5th August 2012, 20:49

Originally Posted by neels

Just checked, mine was $264 installed on a Terrano, it was a few years back and I did the wiring myself.

Nice, yea hoping we can do wiring ourselves.. its an audi but an older one, but still has an all powerful and all knowing computer that does all sorts of shit im sure.. cross that bridge when we get to it. just getting a tow bar itself fitted would be good for now.

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Done incorrectly on a Euro and if you get some water in your wiring you can possibly kiss your ECU goodbye.

mmmm that would be a disaster.. i can only imagine the costs involved if wiring goes dodgy on this euro. however friend who is keen to do my wiring used to work at team auto sound and security in chch, he has worked on all sorts of cars and no doubt some pretty modern things.. fingers crossed he can help me out.

Originally Posted by tigertim20

a trip to TWL on teviot street will get you the stuff you need for lighting.
The easiest way would be to look around wreckers for one that has come off your model of car, and then its generally a matter of simply bolting it on. the $700 price tag is probably for a custom made one fitted - ive done a few and that sounds about right, 2-4 hours labour depending on how cunty your car is, and some steel, etc.
Look for one you can bolt on

Chur, will do if my mate cant get the stuff in chch for me

yea i have been ringing around wreckers and doing the trademe Q and A's for anyone selling audi bits. so far no joy for my model of audi.

but a couple of the firms mentioned here can supply a tow bar apparently for my model for 200ish bucks.. so looking hopeful, see when they reply to my messages if it actually pans out.

**tigertim20** · 5th August 2012, 21:13

I didnt suggest this.
you have a welder. make your fuckin own!

**Fast Eddie** · 5th August 2012, 21:55

haha yeaaaa... thought had crossed my mind but rather get one made by someone... someone who can be held accountable (that isn't me) if it snaps off or something..