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I think full vehicle came in for Elddis in 2010 so only applies to vans from that date,on my Elddis 2007 van I had no problems just had a towbar made.
But in 2010 Elddis in conjuction with Witter redesigned the rear chassis extention.
You can see a video on the Elddis site.
Any towbar manufacturer can obtain type approval for a type approved vehicle if they wish to. That is the purpose of the type approval scheme. The fact that Witter have done so does not stop any other towbar manufacturer from doing so and Elddis would be in breach of EU regulations if they prevented them from doing so.
Whether any other towbar manufacturer may wish to, as it is a very small vehicle base number, is another question.
Witter say:
"My local motor dealer says that my warranty will be invalidated unless I fit the manufacturer's towbar?
94/20/EC was designed to create free trade. If you fit a Witter Type Approved towbar it will not invalidate the vehicle warranty. Under EC Block Exemption Rules a motor vehicle manufacturer cannot prevent a franchised outlet from supplying or fitting components deemed to be of equal quality to that supplied by the vehicle manufacture - such as a Type Approved towbar"
Whether any other towbar manufacturer may wish to, as it is a very small vehicle base number, is another question.
Precisely Ray, and that's the nub of the matter.
For vans based on Alko chassis, it may be economic. Likewise a towbar that bolted onto the original Fiat chassis rather than any extensions (my old one on a Compass Avantgarde aka Elddis Autoquest did that, but it made it a meaty/heavy piece of kit). But something that is specific to a particular brand...or even model...of motorhome, the economics will look very dodgy indeed.
(Admission : I get someone else to fit my towbars so don't know the ins/outs - it may be the norm is to bolt back to the original chassis, but I suspect not given e.g. Autotrail impose a far lower towing limit on their motorhomes than the underlying chassis would allow, I assume because of the extensions they fit)
This is an extrct from Witter e-mail from2010
..........As part of our contractual agreement with Elddis the towbar unfortunately is not available in aftermarket and has to be purchased via the Elddis dealer network.
This is the part that is most worrying. You can be sure that there will be a massive mark up by Elddis on the price that Witter would have provided it direct.
There were quotes in the area of £700- £1000 to be provided and fitted by an Elddis dealer but if you were buying a new van even today a towbar is listed in the options list at £399 as a factory fit,so why the big mark up if someone wants to fit one later like the 2nd user.
There were quotes in the area of £700- £1000 to be provided and fitted by an Elddis dealer but if you were buying a new van even today a towbar is listed in the options list at £399 as a factory fit,so why the big mark up if someone wants to fit one later like the 2nd user.
Answers on a postcard please!
Yet another way of ripping off the customer . . . . no other way to describe it!!
There were quotes in the area of £700- £1000 to be provided and fitted by an Elddis dealer but if you were buying a new van even today a towbar is listed in the options list at £399 as a factory fit,so why the big mark up if someone wants to fit one later like the 2nd user.
If I wasn't a cynic I would suggest that it is because it is easier to fit in the factory as part of the vehicle build than as an after market accessory. I am a cynic though and therefore agree with Dave's view.
If I wasn't a cynic I would suggest that it is because it is easier to fit in the factory as part of the vehicle build than as an after market accessory. I am a cynic though and therefore agree with Dave's view.
A bit easier Ray, and you would expect to pay a corresponding bit more than factory fit - but not that much more!!!
Not to go too far off topic, but it's similar to cruise control. I believe it's less than £200 if ordered with a new van, and something like £800 as an after market fitting.
Even though (if I was advised correctly?) all the wiring and connections are there to plug in the stalk, and the only additional work is to tell the engine management system it's there . . . two minutes with a laptop plug-in.
(Please correct my cynicism if it's wrong. I am only quoting what I was told at a show. )
Well, folks,
Its me again!
I have now had this motorhome almost six months and I am no further forward. I have been in contact with people all over the UK, with the exception of Scotland and I am unable to find a supplier who is willing to supply and fit at a reasonable price! Prices range from 300.00 for a towbar without fitting and electrics to 1200.00 supplied by Elddis.
I found a guy who was willing to supply me with a Witter towbar to fit my vehicle and he bragged that he bought far more Witter towbars than Elddis did and he didn't see any problem. I tried to contact him a week later and he is not answering his phones.
I am now in the process of trying to arrange a local dealer to supply and fit but, guess what? Elddis is out of stock!
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