Towbar + electrics

[Indalo]

Perhaps I haven’t searched through the forum hard enough but I can’t find anything about towbars.

If anyone can recommend a towbar fitting company with actual workshop premises in the Herts/Essex area, I’d appreciate a link. I don’t want a mobile fitter as I have no place off-road where the work could be performed safely as I street-park on a very busy road with heavy traffic. Apart from the fact that the fitter might not wish to risk his neck, I really don’t want pieces of bodywork to be lowered on to the gravelled road surface and I’m not sure how careful the fitters are about protecting bodywork in such a situation.

I have found one outfit in Braintree and they have quoted me what I consider a reasonable price including dedicated electrics. They will also update the system if necessary for which, I suppose, they may further charge? Contact so far has been by email so I’m about to ring them to see when I might book-in my car.

Anybody?

[old man]

There is a thread or two regarding tow bars from last year.
However, firstly tell us what model and year you own.
I can't help with tow bar fitters in your area, but depending on how much you've been quoted, don't rule out mobile fitters if you can find one that comes recommended.
Whilst they might not be able to perform the task where you normally park, I expect there's a piece of common ground where one could do the job and they don't need power as they use cordless tools.
If you have the latest version of Tucson, quite a bit of the rear plastic bodywork has to be removed first. Ask the company who've quoted you if they have done this job before as they need to know what they are doing and having seen the job done, I wouldn't want the uninitiated attempting the job. I knew this beforehand, so I asked questions of him before he did the job about how he would treat the bodywork once removed. He carried with him a padded blanket on which he laid the relevant bits to protect them.
The whole job took around 2 hours and as long as you get him to supply a dedicated wiring kit, it's just plug and play as the socket needed to connect to is just behind the lining of the N/S rear wing. There was no requirement to carry out any coding of the canbus system to accomodate the new wiring.
What have you been quoted and is it a fixed or a removable hitch ?

[Indalo]

I can't help with tow bar fitters in your area

Thanks for the response, ‘old man’ but I only asked the question on the off-chance that someone in my neck of the woods might know of another respected firm with physical premises.

As for your helpful alternative site suggestion, if there were such a place nearby, then I would do the job myself even though I last used my tools in earnest over 20 years ago. I have no difficulty paying for a reasonably-priced towbar + dedicated electrics and a couple of hours labour. All I need is a basic installation as it’s only to support a Thule cycle carrier.

My last car, a KIA, was equipped with a detachable swan neck at my request before I took delivery. Never, in 6.5 years of ownership, did I ever disconnect the swan neck section so I have no particular need for anything other than the basic swan neck & 7-pin electrics.

For the record, my Tucson is the Hybrid model in Ultimate trim, 2WD, and I took delivery on 7th June, last week. I drove it for a few days and found the ride rather harsh so I thought I’d check the tyre pressures before doing anything else. Finding them at 42psi all-round in the cool of early morning, I reduced them all to 35psi and that actually transformed the ride comfort. The car is now quieter as well as being more comfortable over most surfaces.

I guess PDI is now no more than a quaint old term from the early post-war years when I served my time as the work involved seems frequently omitted at the dealership. It really is very disappointing, especially when we are talking about £40K cars. As an infamous TV motoring show presenter used to say regularly, “How hard can it be?"

[old man]

Finding them at 42psi all-round in the cool of early morning, I reduced them all to 35psi and that actually transformed the ride comfort. The car is now quieter as well as being more comfortable over most surfaces.

I guess PDI is now no more than a quaint old term from the early post-war years when I served my time as the work involved seems frequently omitted at the dealership. It really is very disappointing, especially when we are talking about £40K cars. As an infamous TV motoring show presenter used to say regularly, “How hard can it be?"
Top

I've had exactly the same myself in the past, it's not a new phenomena.
During the research I did before buying my car, I read that the Tucson ride was somewhat harsh, especially compared to its Kia sister. I've never found that myself, but in May I went to France for a month and before leaving I increased the tyre presuures to the maximum recommended by Hyundai for a fully laden car. I expected to have to reduce the pressures whilst over there when the car wasn't fully loaded. It wasn't necessary however on French roads as the ride remained perfectly acceptable. I feel I might have to let some air out now I'm back on English roads though
Good luck with getting a tow bar fitted.

[Amac]

Had mine fitted at dealer. Detachable swan neck with 13pin electrics. Cost was a bit steep at £900 and was done along with 1st sevice and free courtesy car was provided for the day. Did this following issues over warranty on a previos car that had a retro fit towbar fitted which developed electrical problems.

[Indalo]

Had mine fitted at dealer. Detachable swan neck with 13pin electrics. Cost was a bit steep at £900

My local dealership no longer provides a supply & fit tow-bar service as it costs more than most customers are prepared to pay. Evidently, the price that Hyundai charge them + the cost of their workshop time means that the price required to cover the job is > £1,000. They recommend using a tow-bar specialist.

I didn’t bother to ask which model of tow-bar that referred to as it seemed pretty clear that there was zero interest in performing that kind of work so I shall use a well-recommended Essex company. The price will be between £500 - £800, depending on which model I want. I shall probably settle on a sub-£600 model for my needs.

Previously, with my KIA model, the selling dealer happily arranged to supply & fit a detachable-neck tow-bar + electrics pre-delivery, discounted by the same percentage as applied to the car. All parts and work involved was covered by the 7-year KIA warranty so I’m a little disappointed by my local Hyundai dealer’s stance in this matter.

[Amac]

Towbar has hyundai branding and ball cover but iinstructions are for a Wesfalia.

[Indalo]

Towbar has hyundai branding and ball cover but iinstructions are for a Wesfalia.

[Pilotclive]

Shame you're not in Shropshire. Just fitted my own and 7 pin electrics. It s the easiest for to date. Done several cars this was by far the easiest.

[Indalo]

Just fitted my own and 7 pin electrics.