Pics/advice required - towbar on an Ibiza? (Cupra TDI)

[a11y]

I’m considering a towbar for my Cupra TDI, done a search but still need advice…

I know that to some people it’s as socially acceptable as neon undercar lighting kits LOL, but I’m looking for alternative ways of carrying a few bikes on my Ibiza and this seems a good option. At the moment I’ve got roofbars but I’m not happy with them TBH – they keep slipping and don’t feel that secure, plus from searching I’ve heard of issues of roofs being creased/dented.

My two options are:

1/ fit a towbar and get a towbar-mounting bike rack

2/ fit a rear-mounting strap-on (ooo eer!) bike rack (which aren’t as secure)

The towbar might also come in useful if I borrow my mate’s trailer for any reason. I am going to be trying a mate’s Thule raear-mounting bike rack this weekend I hope, fingers crossed if it fits then I’ll get one for myself and won’t need a towbar, but I’m not hopeful because of the spoiler…


I’ve done a bit of searching and am aware that the bumper needs a bit of cutting to fit a towbar. But does anyone have any picture of towbars fitted to Ibizas? (specifically FRs/Cupras with the deeper bumper). I’m keen to see how good/bad they look, plus how much cutting of the bumper is required.

Also, any advice regarding fitment/supply/etc would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Ally

 

[a11y]

B U M P

Anyone?

 

[Mr Cellotape]

I would recommend not taking the bike, but thats not very constructive really.

So here goes........

Get your Misses to drive another car to the place you want to ride your bike.

That way you can have loads of fun in the Cupra on the way and not be worried about the bike messing up your car

 

[BJM]

The rear spoiler is only bonded on IIRC so just watch theres not too much load on it. Is there not a toebar listed on SEAT.com which bends under the bumper and is removable. Maybe a visit to your local towbar specialist will give you a better idea, theres a good place in Glasgow near the Barras.

 

[air121005]

seen a tow bar on a R32 a week or so ago............

shook my head in disbelieve, didn't look good!

but if you can sacrifice the looks of your car for practicality then go for it!

 

[a11y]

Balls! Not got many options here I guess...

1/ Roofbars plus cycle carriers
- no thanks, issues of roofs creasing

2/ Rear-mounting cycle carriers (strap-on)
- nope, spoiler gets in the way (I had a good look at the spoiler yesterday: if you open the tailgate you'll see that the spoiler plastic extends about 1/2" beyond the end of the metal bodywork - any bike rack that uses clamps or straps around the top of the tailgate will put the weight straight into the spoiler)

3/ Towbar
- looking the most likely

BJM - ya dancer! Just found the towbar on seat.com - looks very neat. Hate to think of the cost, but it might be the best option: http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/newIbiza/site/accessories/exterior/Tow-bar/main.html. Still not sure if this fits the Cupra though, no mention of it on the webste...


I don't really see what else I can do? I can take one bike inside the car, but at times I carry 3 bikes plus people plus cycling gear - it just can't be done easily without carrying the bikes on the outside of the car somehow...

 

[horace1664]

3/ Towbar
- looking the most likely

...Just found the towbar on seat.com - looks very neat. ...
http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/newIbiza/site/accessories/exterior/Tow-bar/main.html. Still not sure if this fits the Cupra though, no mention of it on the webste...

Did you fit one?

Do you have a photo?

I am considering the same thing for a bike rack or one by Bosal.

 

[a11y]

horace1664 - not so far, but if you find anything let me know! I'll do likewise...

I've not found one that fits in with the Cupra bumpers yet. There's 4 towbars listed on the seat.co.uk site and this one is supposed to fit the Cupra model. It does, but only by cutting a 150mm x 50mm section out of the bumper - sod doing that.

That removeable SEAT one I posted about earlier(this one) isn't designed for the Cupra bumpers. There's no way of knowing without actually buying one and trying to fit it, but towbars are non-returnable items so you'd be stuck with it if it didn't fit...

The best I've found is this one as fitted to another member's Ibiza FR. I'm in the process of trying to find out which actual towbar it is but we reckon it's a "PCT" bought from www.towbarsrus.com (ignore the Witter towbar on their page - I know for a fact it involves a large cut in the bumper, even though it says on the website it isn't visible - believe me, it is). That one seems to fit with minimal cutting, and the cutting that is involved isn't visible without looking for it. A towbar's never going to be neat, but that's the best one I've found if you want to avoid cutting the bumper.

The Bosal one - again AFAIK that involves a large visible cut in the bumper...


But I still haven't found an alternative for carrying bikes. I'm not doing roofbars after hearing the horror stories about roof creasing (plus my Thule system has been quite unreliable - slips around a lot on last car). The spoiler makes fitting a strap-on rear-mounting rack unsafe. So a towbar it's got to be. It's just frustrating I can't find out what model of towbar is fitted to that FR!!!

Ally

 

[horace1664]

horace1664 - not so far, but if you find anything let me know! I'll do likewise...

The PCT seems to require a large cutout too, from looking at the PCT website.

Could the one on the FR be a modified / DIY fix based in a Witter or PCT?

Has the chap with the FR had the bumper off to have a look?

Oh yes there is Brinkas well, but, guess what, it requires a cutout too!
Best regards

James

 

[a11y]

James,

I contacted the place that fitted the towbar to the FR in the pics above asking about it - they've replied asking me to check with the bloke who's car it is to see if he can check the model number that should be stamped on the towbar itself. I've emailed the bloke last week but no response so far. Certainly I would happily live with the cutout in the bumper in that pic, but you're right - it doesn't match the PCT fitting instructions...

I've been looking at Brink tonight too. Brink manufacture the towbar that SEAT supply for the Cupra (the one at £99.99) so I'm wondering if they also make the detachable one for the Ibiza. This isn't supposed to fit the FR/Cupra but I can't see why not: all it does it exit through the bumper, and you fit a covering piece of plastic when it's not attached.

Arrgh! This is doing my head in!!! Feckin useless car for carrying bikes...

 

[DIFT]

Ive looked hard for one mate... and I dont fancy your chances.

I end up dropping the seats down and lying them flat, or standing them across the back seats (wheels and rear mech off) and putting the seat belts round them to secure them. You can get two bikes in then... and just dump the wheels where ever.

You can get a fair amount in the ibiza with a little inventive packing.

 

[a11y]

Ive looked hard for one mate... and I dont fancy your chances.

I end up dropping the seats down and lying them flat, or standing them across the back seats (wheels and rear mech off) and putting the seat belts round them to secure them. You can get two bikes in then... and just dump the wheels where ever.

You can get a fair amount in the ibiza with a little inventive packing.

I'm really not liking putting them inside - especially with winter and the sh*tty conditions I'll be MTBing in. This is really the hardest car I've come across for carrying bikes.

Trident Towbars fitted this towbar to steveb8189's 2006 Ibiza FR, so I know it can be done (AFAIK 2006 FRs have the same rear bumper as my 2005 '55' Cupra). I'm just struggling to identify what towbar it is. I've emailed Steve again last week to follow up a couple of things, waiting for him to get back to me.

 

[Nath.]

leave the cupra at home, ride the chuffin' bike from home to where you want to go and back to get even more exercise

people who stick bikes on the back of cars are only 1 step away from weekend pikey's with a white shed on the back of the car GGGGRRRR

 

[a11y]

Check this one out: http://www.seat.com/com/generator/su/com/newIbiza/site/accessories/exterior/Tow-bar/main.html

When you search for it on the www.seat.co.uk site (instead of .com) it says it's not suitable for the FR/Cupra. I can't see why not? By my reckoning, that cutout (which has a plastic cover to fill the gap when the actual towball is reomved) should still be below the numberplate recess on the FR/Cupra rear bumper. Unfortunately the only way to know for definate would be to shell out the £££ and try it, but SEAT will NOT take a towbar back if it doesn't fit so I'd be f**ked if it was a no-no on a Cupra.

 

[zippyprorider]

mate i got roof rails and tule carriers...no problem with roof creasing and very secure! Could be persuaded to part with the roof rails if you needed it (think roof creasing issue is with the standard seat roof rails as tules design is diffrent!)

Andy

 

[a11y]

leave the cupra at home, ride the chuffin' bike from home to where you want to go and back to get even more exercise

people who stick bikes on the back of cars are only 1 step away from weekend pikey's with a white shed on the back of the car GGGGRRRR

Aye cheers for your input...

I won't even start to explain why I need to carry bikes, you just wouldn't understand. Suffice to say, I do some pretty serious MTBing and there ain't no f**king mountains within cycleable distance of the house. Plus it's always good to try new stuff not in your own area...

 

[a11y]

mate i got roof rails and tule carriers...no problem with roof creasing and very secure! Could be persuaded to part with the roof rails if you needed it (think roof creasing issue is with the standard seat roof rails as tules design is diffrent!)

Andy

Cheers for the offer Andy, but it's the Thule bars I've been having issues with: the "foot pack" bits keep on breaking and stop gripping the bars, causing the feet to move outwards. Means that the rack gets gradually "wider" and the rack no longer grabs the edges of the roof

 

[Nath.]

Aye cheers for your input...

I won't even start to explain why I need to carry bikes, you just wouldn't understand. Suffice to say, I do some pretty serious MTBing and there ain't no f**king mountains within cycleable distance of the house. Plus it's always good to try new stuff not in your own area...

AHH, my bad, there was me thinking that you was gonna put 2 adult bikes and 2 kids bikes on the back of your car and go to the local park/seaside and ride them for 7.25 mins

as said, sorry my bad

 

[a11y]

AHH, my bad, there was me thinking that you was gonna put 2 adult bikes and 2 kids bikes on the back of your car and go to the local park/seaside and ride them for 7.25 mins

as said, sorry my bad

Kids? Now that's a scary thought!



Nah, I'm more into my MTBing than my cars at the moment - trying to fit a couple of bikes inside plus riding gear plus stuff for a weekend away is seriously a PITA...

 

[Nath.]

Kids? Now that's a scary thought!



Nah, I'm more into my MTBing than my cars at the moment - trying to fit a couple of bikes inside plus riding gear plus stuff for a weekend away is seriously a PITA...

tell me about it, thanks but no thanks