Options Factory tow bar

[FAL]

Has anyone had a factory (supplied/dealer fit) tow bar on a new Civic recently? It seems there is misunderstanding as to how much the plastic rear valence needs to be cut. It is obvious to me it doesn't need to be cut at all on the vertical/visible surface and not for about an inch into the horizontal surface underneath. Dealer and Honda seem to be debating whether the official instructions for fitting (which seem to include cutting the visible surface) are still the same.

[AL56]

Hi FAL,
I have a honda towbar fitted by dealer and they did have to cut out the rear valence
about two inches long and one inch deep you can hardly see it even with the detached ball, on or off.

[FAL]

My point is that they don't have to on the type of factory tow bar they are supplying now (non-removable hook). Why did they have to on yours? Does the hook clearly pass through where the visible edge of the rear valence would have been? This one does not, but either Honda or the dealer insist on wanting to cut the visible part using a template.
(I perhaps should make it clear that I have in the past fitted tow bars with my own hands to 3 or 4 different makes/models of car and I have built cars from a bare shell to finish an International Rally, so I am happy to tell them, not ask them, but I am alarmed their official instructions are blatantly wrong and involve butchering the car unnecessarily).

[AL56]

Hi Fal,
Here are some photos of my car with the dealer fit towbar with the hitch removed.

[FWH]

Why does it have two power connectors?

Is that standard in the UK?

[AL56]

Hi FWH
Yes it is standard in uk but can change to european plug at extra cost.

[FAL]

That seems to foul what would have been the valence but it is a different tow bar. The current removable hitch type most definitely does not but they are still claiming the official fitting instruction requires it to be cut. I'm annoyed at having to sort them out - it all costs time for the customer which, directly or indirectly, equals money.

The second electrical socket, for those not familiar, is for caravan internal electrics. Its not standard for towing - a trailer only requires the first socket.

[alanwalne]

I was told when I had my towbar fitted (non Honda) that if you had a twin bolt bar fitted, then the cut would be purely underneath, but for swan neck or removable bars then the visible face of the valance would have to be cut.

I have a Witter twin bolt bar fitted with an alko 50mm ball. I will post some pictures later (I have just taken some on my phone so the quality may not be brill)

[alanwalne]

Pictures as promised:

I think the alko cover matches the civic shape too!!! I have a slot in bumper protector for use when hitching up.

N.B. Make sure you keep the bumper bar for refitting if you wat to remove the towbar for resale.

[FAL]

I have now had the entire rear valence replaced (for free, obviously) on a week old car. The dealer agrees the factory non-removable hitch tow bar did not require any cutting except from about an inch in underneath (and thus all effectively invisible). Honda UK have stiill not responded to me to confirm official fitting instructions (what a surprise...) so I'm still not sure whether Honda are issuing incorrect instructions to dealers or whether the dealer's mechanic screwed up and used removable hitch instructions for a non-removable hitch tow bar.

[Mad4amanda]

Any chance of a picture part number and price for this new bar ?
We would be interested later this year!
thanks
steve

[alanwalne]

Originally Posted by Mad4amanda

Any chance of a picture part number and price for this new bar ?
We would be interested later this year!
thanks
steve

Which one, the Honda nonremovable one, or the non Honda one?