Towbars

[Thorney]

I got one fitted to my P1, dealer gave me the same story but as I didn't fit electrics I maintained I couldnt tow (I wanted it for a bike rack)

[JAMES]

i thought audi made a fold away towbar for the s4,surely this can be slightly modified.
gav this would mean finally modding the rs

[Golich]

Any towbar fitted to a vehicle manufactured after August 1999 MUST be certified to European Directive 94/20/EC. This states that the towbar MUST use the manufacturers original towbar mounting points. To use anything else is an offence under the Road Traffic Act.
Paul

Hhmm well I might have to have a look at this. Taking the wording literally. I wouldn't propose to use anything but the manufacturers mounting points. This of course assumes the RS4 has the same rear chassis as the A4 avant.

Of the top of my head I can only think of a couple of issues where a modification to an existing towbar could cause an accident:

1. The towbar fails structurally. Solution: Easy - Ensure the modified towbar is at least as strong as the manufactures. – From what I've seen very easy to achieve and more importantly prove in a court.
2. The modified position of the ball hitch in someway had an adverse effect on the car's handling. Highly unlikely but easily established. Establish a high factor of safety for the car to trailer weight ratio in line with the manufactures and UK law. Check the car's centre of gravity and radius of gyration against the moment created by the trailer loads at the hitch point.

Any others?

Either way as you say Fatboy who would know any better?

[Jani]

S4's detachable towbar can be fitted to RS4- I know this since the Avus I bought a week ago has one. I've even got quattro's approval letter of it.

[TarmacTerrorist]

Thanks Jani,

Was thinking about it after james posti, I was going to go and see if the dealer had one that i could present up underneath the car to see if it fit. Will go and order one now, anyone know how much they are??

[FatBoy]

I was quoted almost £1,200 to have one fitted by Listers in Coventry. Apparently, there is 8 hours labour to be considered.
Needless to say, I didn't get mine fitted there. I paid £299 all in at Towequipe in Nuneaton. You don't need to go to an Audi dealer to get an "Audi" towbar. They are a third-party product that is approved by Audi. Many other places sell them, I'll try and find out who the manufacturer is.

Paul

[S4 OXON]

I have a 2001 s4 avant , was the one you got fitted, ( fatboy ) a detachable type like audi one. And all the electrics needed any cutting of rear bumper

[FatBoy]

In the end, I went for a fixed unit, which needed a small notch cutting the thin black lower edge of the rear bumber.
You can't actually see the cut once the towbar is fitted.
On the whole, I'm very please with the fitting.

Paul

[JohnW]

Apparently as already said the S$ avant tow bar wil fit without too much trouble.

There are two types - removal and fixed ball.

The removable ball type is over 700 quid incl vat PLUS fitting...

I was looking for a tow bar for my RS4 but chose instead to simply keep the cheapo runabout that has a towbar already.

Try Towsure.
fitted several of their towbars to cars in the past, and never had any probs with quality of product or alignment.

Cheers,
john.

[kalsket]

Westfalia has really beautiful detachable towbar (#305220) for S4 avant, but they say it doesn't fit RS4. Same thing they said about S2 avant towbar and RS2 but Votex catalogue says that same bar fits both...
Therefore I'll try to remember and check my votex-catalogue at home.