GDW Towbar Installation Guide for Seat Ateca (06/16-)

Important Advice and General Instructions

Before commencing the installation, ensure the towbar has not been damaged during transport and that it is the correct reference for your vehicle. Always consult and follow the fitting instructions precisely.

General Safety and Preparation:

• Present the towbar under the vehicle before drilling or making any modifications to confirm fitment.
• If drilling is required, verify that no electrical wiring, brake lines, or other essential vehicle systems can be damaged. Remove any soundproofing or bitumen material from drilled areas and treat them with an anticorrosive product.
• If the vehicle is equipped with non-standard bumpers (e.g., special editions, sport kits, tuning parts), contact the GDW technical service before proceeding to ensure compatibility.
• The towbar supplied may be pre-assembled for storage; disassemble parts as necessary before installation.

Towing Capacity and Vehicle Information:

• To determine the correct maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow, refer to the vehicle's Certificate of Conformity (COC) or consult your dealer. Do not exceed the towbar's specified technical limitations.
• The towbar must be checked after the first 1,000 km of use and at least annually thereafter. This includes checking and retightening all bolts, repairing any paint damage, replacing damaged components, and greasing internal parts of detachable systems.
• If the towing ball obstructs the number plate or fog light, it must be removed when the trailer is not attached.

Technical Specifications and Parts List

Towing Capacity Calculation:

Diagrams illustrate the calculation of the D-value (towing capacity) and S-value (vertical load). The D-value is calculated as (max. towing weight of vehicle * max. towing weight of vehicle * 0.00981) / (max. towing weight of vehicle + max. towing weight of vehicle), which must be less than or equal to 10.65 kN. The S-value is shown as 110 kg for vertical load and 2200 kg for the maximum trailer weight.

Vehicle Approval and Part Identification:

The towbar is approved under EC/94/20 regulations. Key identification details include:

• Made by: GDW
• Reference Number (REF N°): 2181T30
• EC Approval Number: 55R-011346
• Vehicle Model: Seat Ateca 06/'16-

Parts List:

An exploded view shows all components of the towbar assembly. The parts list details each item with its GDW reference number and quantity, along with standard hardware:

• GDW Ref. 2181T30 (Main Towbar Beam)
• GDW Ref. 2, 3, 4, 5, P25, 908.060 (Various Brackets and Components)
• Hardware includes bolts (e.g., M10, M12 sizes, various lengths), nuts (e.g., M10, M12), washers (e.g., DIN125, DIN128, DIN9021), and nylon parts. Specific DIN standards and quantities are provided for each fastener.

Installation Steps

The following steps detail the process of fitting the towbar to the Seat Ateca:

1. Access Trunk Area: Open the vehicle's trunk.
2. Remove Trim Panels: Access and carefully remove the trim panels located in the side compartments of the trunk on both the left and right sides. Diagrams show how to detach these panels.
3. Remove Taillights: Open the trunk and gently pull the left and right taillight assemblies outwards to remove them.
4. Access Bumper Fasteners: Using a TX25 tool, locate and remove screws or fasteners securing the rear bumper or undertray. Arrows indicate the specific locations.
5. Detach Rear Bumper: Apply gentle pressure to the sides of the rear bumper and pull it downwards and outwards to detach it from the vehicle. Diagrams illustrate the detachment points.
6. Continue Bumper Removal: Further detach the rear bumper assembly, showing it being carefully pulled away from the vehicle.
7. Mount Main Towbar Beam: Position the main towbar beam (part 1) onto the vehicle's chassis mounting points. Secure it using bolts (part 13) and nuts, tightening them to a torque of 27.3 Nm.
8. Final Tightening of Main Beam: Ensure all bolts for the main towbar beam are fully tightened to 27.3 Nm using a 13mm socket wrench.
9. Attach Side Brackets: Connect the left and right side brackets (parts 1 and 2) to the main towbar beam. Use bolts (parts 6, 7, 10) and nuts, tightening to 54.0 Nm.
10. Attach Brackets to Chassis: Secure the side brackets to the vehicle's chassis using bolts (parts 6, 7, 10) and nuts, tightening to 54.0 Nm.
11. Continue Bracket Attachment: Continue the process of attaching the side brackets to the chassis, ensuring all bolts (parts 6, 7, 10) are tightened to 54.0 Nm.
12. Attach Towball Neck: Mount the towball neck assembly to the towbar beam. Secure it with bolts (parts 9, 6, 8) and nuts, tightening to 54.0 Nm.
13. Towball Neck Attachment with Brackets: Continue attaching the towball neck assembly. Diagrams show different bracket thicknesses (X < 2mm, 2 ≤ X < 4mm, 4 ≤ X < 6mm) and their corresponding placement (R for right, L+R for left and right).
14. Mount Towball Socket Housing: Attach the towball socket housing and electrical connector bracket using specific hardware (A, B, C, D, E, F), including bolts (X1 DIN933-M12 x 30-8.8), nuts (X1 DIN985-M12-8.8), GDW parts, and nylon washers. Tighten with a TX19 tool to 3.0 Nm.
15. Reinstall Rear Bumper: Carefully align and reattach the rear bumper assembly by pushing it back into place until it securely clicks.
16. Reinstall Taillights: Reinsert the left and right taillight assemblies into their original positions.
17. Reinstall Trim Panels: Replace the trim panels in the trunk compartments on both sides.

Clearance Requirements:

Diagrams illustrate specific clearance requirements for the towbar, referencing Appendix VII, illustration 25(a,b) of regulation nr. 55. These diagrams specify minimum and maximum dimensions for various angles and distances to ensure proper operation and safety.

Important Warnings

A warning symbol ⚠️ is displayed, indicating a caution or important notice that requires attention during the installation or use of the towbar.