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Towing Limits on MY18 TIGUAN 140TDI

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  • Towing Limits on MY18 TIGUAN 140TDI

    Hi All,
    We've had our Tig now for a little over a month now and the wife and I are thinking of getting a boat. I understand that the Tig is rated for 2500Kgs. My question is how realistic is this figure.

    Having visited a few boat yards the sales and service guys recommend that I don't tow anything over 1400Kg with the Tig. A bit confused. Is there a formula or rule of thumb for matching tow weight to vehicle?

    I saw one caravan website suggest that drivers should not exceed 85% of vehicle GVM.

    We upgraded our old Passat for this very reason (2500Kg tow capacity). I hope we didn't buy the wrong car.

    Also, with regards to the 4Motion, has anyone had any issues with tigs on slippery steep inclines (like boat ramps) whilst towing?


    Thanks in advance
    MYO6 Sub Liberty GT
    MY03 MK4 Golf + Sunroof (Blue) (Wifes)
    MY12 Passat Wagon 125TDi Highline + DA + Tow Kit (Blue)
    JUST RECEIVED - MY18 Tiguan 140TDI R Line + DA + Tow Kit (White)

  • #2
    The towing capacity is whatever the car manufacturer states.

    However, towbars can be rated at less than this, which should also not be exceeded. I've yet to see a genuine towbar that is rated less than the vehicle's tow rating with regards to VWs of the last 15 years or so.

    As for the boat ramp, the 4Motion system is pretty good, but with the DSG transmission, don't try and slip the clutches in it. You either go, or you don't. Hill Hold, etc should be perfect for this.
    '07 Transporter 1.9 TDI
    '01 Beetle 2.0

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    • #3
      Towing Limits on MY18 TIGUAN 140TDI

      Have a look here:

      YouTube

      It’s a little more complicated than just what the manufacturer states.


      Not only does the maximum towing capacity need to be considered, but also the tow ball download limit and the combined mass limit of the vehicle and the boat.
      Last edited by IsDon; 27-12-2017, 06:45 AM.

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      • #4
        As IsDon says, you have to consider the gross combined and towball weight as well as the claimed towing capacity.

        You also have to add the towball weight (ie, if its 200 KG you add 200 KG to your esky, passengers, fishing gear and so on inside the car) to everything else in the Tig to make sure you don't exceed the Tig's maximum unladen weight.

        I haven't crunched the numbers, but generally speaking SUV wagons usually come out better than crew cab utes.

        Don't believe everything you read on the internet, and what I've seen of the caravan forums and websites they are the least reliable of the lot (says he posting on a web hosted forum). Some of the specialist 4WD sites, provided you ignore the opinionated twats they attract, have some very wise people who do know what they're talking about.
        2015 Jetta Highline
        2017 Ducati Supersport S

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        • #5
          Originally posted by tomskiboy View Post
          Hi All,
          We've had our Tig now for a little over a month now and the wife and I are thinking of getting a boat. I understand that the Tig is rated for 2500Kgs. My question is how realistic is this figure.
          The 2500kg towing capacity is very optimistic. Combined with a maximum allowable towball weight of 100kg the guidance you have received is in the ballpark. What boat do you want to tow ?

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          • #6
            Originally posted by IsDon View Post
            Not only does the maximum towing capacity need to be considered, but also the tow ball download limit and the combined mass limit of the vehicle and the boat.
            Thanks for summing that up. Such a pity that bloke can't do the same. I can't sit through 12 minutes of his verbal diarrhoea to find the 30 seconds of fact.
            Indium Grey Golf 7.5 Alltrack 135tdi Premium - all options

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            • #7
              This guide explains it all very well.

              Vehicle weights explained | tare, kerb, GVM, payload and trailer figures - Car Advice | CarsGuide

              The main sticking point is towball weight. Typically you want it to be 10% of the trailer weight for stability, but the catches are the maximum towball weight and its effect on vehicle mass. I believe Tigs have a towball weight of 100KG, so you can overcome vehicle mass by leaving your overweight mate at home but the towball weight means you are looking at a 1 tonne trailed load. About what the boat salesman says...
              2015 Jetta Highline
              2017 Ducati Supersport S

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Rooboy View Post
                Thanks for summing that up. Such a pity that bloke can't do the same. I can't sit through 12 minutes of his verbal diarrhoea to find the 30 seconds of fact.
                No, much easier for everyone else to do the research for you.

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                • #9
                  The actual legal rule is that the towing limits of a vehicle are The rated limit set by the manufacturer OR the rated limit of the fitted towbar

                  WHICHEVER IS THE LESSER

                  EG Vehicle 2500kg towbar 3000kg Limit is 2500kg Vehicle 2500kg Towbar 2000KG Limit is 2000KG

                  As for Ballweight it should be listed in the vehicle manual and there are no statuatory legal weights.

                  On Euro cars it is low because of the design of vans over there as they are much lighter than Aussie models

                  Also a trailer which has a GTM ( loaded weight limit on axles only) of over 2000kg must have electric brakes controllable from the drivers seat and a breakaway setup.

                  As said your towball weight forms part of the payload of the Tig or tug or whatever.

                  The pic explains it clearly and same applies regardless of whether its a van a boat trailer , a car transporter or a big tradie trailer.

                  The acronyms ATM ,GTM & GCM are STATED LIMITS and NOT actual weights. What your rig weighs is "Actual loaded weight" and may not legally exceed those limits.
                  Last edited by Guest001; 28-12-2017, 10:36 AM.
                  2021 Kamiq LE 110 , Moon White, BV cameras F & B
                  Mamba Ebike to replace Tiguan

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                  • #10
                    I noted that one of the your questions was how will it tow, which is somewhat different to what's legal to tow. I recently towed a race car and trailer at 1.9 tonnes using a 110TDI with DSG and it did it easily. I had it set at 145 kgs on the hitch with 50 kgs of preload on the load equalisers, so it sat almost level (not bum down) and it was very stable at any speed. Obviously not pulling it out of a boat ramp (that would be unfortunate), but my driveway and street are both pretty steep and with no clutch slip it basically idled up the hill.

                    It towed about the same as my Stagea, just used half as much fuel.

                    Based on that I'd expect 2.5 tonnes to be easy, requiring just a bit more juggling of the tow ball weight so it towed nice. With a race car it's relatively easy to move it back or forward a few mm's on the trailer. Or move the tyres, fuel and tools. With an extra 50nm of torque the 140TDI would be slightly better again.


                    Cheers
                    Gary
                    Golf Mk7.5 R, Volvo S60 Polestar, Skyline R32GTST

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Sydneykid View Post
                      I noted that one of the your questions was how will it tow, which is somewhat different to what's legal to tow. I recently towed a race car and trailer at 1.9 tonnes using a 110TDI with DSG and it did it easily. I had it set at 145 kgs on the hitch with 50 kgs of preload on the load equalisers, so it sat almost level (not bum down) and it was very stable at any speed. Obviously not pulling it out of a boat ramp (that would be unfortunate), but my driveway and street are both pretty steep and with no clutch slip it basically idled up the hill.

                      It towed about the same as my Stagea, just used half as much fuel.

                      Based on that I'd expect 2.5 tonnes to be easy, requiring just a bit more juggling of the tow ball weight so it towed nice. With a race car it's relatively easy to move it back or forward a few mm's on the trailer. Or move the tyres, fuel and tools. With an extra 50nm of torque the 140TDI would be slightly better again.


                      Cheers
                      Gary
                      Iwould respectfully point out that ballweight is a figure weighed un hitched and is always that weight unless you shift weight rearwards to lighten it. A WDH or stabilisers do NOT alter the ballweight, they merely redistribute it partly forward and some rearward onto the trailer wheels. Has been the subject of many threads on the Caravannes forum and even Hayman Reece say the same thing. Their analogy is that a WDH increases the force between the hitch and the towball but does NOT lessen the weight.

                      Only a Jack or a skyhook can do that. Shifting weight rearward is fraught with danger as witnessed on ACA last night which showed the effects of poorly laden and poorly driven vans.

                      Should you get weighed they will unhitch and weigh it and you would be over at 145kg
                      2021 Kamiq LE 110 , Moon White, BV cameras F & B
                      Mamba Ebike to replace Tiguan

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Hillbilly View Post
                        Iwould respectfully point out that ballweight is a figure weighed un hitched and is always that weight unless you shift weight rearwards to lighten it. A WDH or stabilisers do NOT alter the ballweight, they merely redistribute it partly forward and some rearward onto the trailer wheels. Has been the subject of many threads on the Caravannes forum and even Hayman Reece say the same thing. Their analogy is that a WDH increases the force between the hitch and the towball but does NOT lessen the weight.

                        Only a Jack or a skyhook can do that. Shifting weight rearward is fraught with danger as witnessed on ACA last night which showed the effects of poorly laden and poorly driven vans.

                        Should you get weighed they will unhitch and weigh it and you would be over at 145kg
                        With the utmost respect back.
                        Who are "they"?
                        Highway Patrol cars don't carry scales.
                        Weighbridge, checking station, I know where the fixed ones are, ever so easy to move the car back a few mm and get down to 100 kgs. Or swap 40 litres of race fuel from the Tig to the race car boot.
                        Mobile checking stations can weigh the whole package, 1 or 2 axles at a time, but they have nothing to check the tow ball weight.
                        I towed over 10,000 k's last year, across 4 different states and never had sideways look, been towing race cars for 30+ years and not once been checked. Of all the race guys I hang around with no one that I know of has ever been checked either. Maybe that's because I don't drive around with the tow car's fuel tank dragging on the ground, so it never looks like it needs checking.

                        I honestly have no idea who "they" are and even if "they" actually exist "they" seem to have other more important things to do than weigh my ball (or bust them).

                        Cheers
                        Gary
                        Golf Mk7.5 R, Volvo S60 Polestar, Skyline R32GTST

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                        • #13
                          I really dont care if you choose to exceed the vehicles limits and falsely think by using stabilisers you are lightening the ballweight.

                          As I said moving weight rearwards is fraught with dangers but of course having been doing it for 30 years makes it all right.

                          For those new to the vehicle the manufacturers limit on the towball is there for a reason and should be adhered to.

                          A good example of the effect of poor loading is shown here YouTube

                          This is often the reason for van and trailer rollovers, where it has been loaded rear heavy and starts snaking as shown in the video.

                          Was several examples on TV last night where the vans were snaking and crashed spectacularly.
                          2021 Kamiq LE 110 , Moon White, BV cameras F & B
                          Mamba Ebike to replace Tiguan

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Sydneykid View Post
                            I had it set at 145 kgs on the hitch with 50 kgs of preload on the load equalisers,
                            Just for the record:
                            1) are you suggesting the "load equalisers" are reducing the towball weight below below the 100kg limit or do you acknowledge you exceed the allowable limit?
                            2) the Owners Manual clearly states that "weight-distributing or load-balancing towing brackets" are NOT to be fitted.

                            In the event of an insurance claim or warranty claim your insurance company / VW will certainly care.

                            Having said that I do believe that the 100kg towball limit is unnecessarily restrictive but typical of European cars. I have seen a number of cases where the exactly same vehicle in AU magically has its towball weight increased. In fact VW does it for the Touareg. In the UK the towball limit is 140kg but in AU it is 280kg.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by jpvw01 View Post
                              ... I have seen a number of cases where the exactly same vehicle in AU magically has its towball weight increased. In fact VW does it for the Touareg. In the UK the towball limit is 140kg but in AU it is 280kg.
                              I believe LandRover are doing something similar as well.

                              I wonder if it is anything to do with the goose neck towing balls that the Europeans seem to favour?
                              2015 Jetta Highline
                              2017 Ducati Supersport S

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