Towing - Tiguan tow capability

[Maltreck]

I am pretty much looking forward to seeing the Tiguan. On the face of the specs and viewing photos on the internet it looks like it will be a fantastic vehicle; well suited to touring and occasional towing a camper trailer or small poptop caravan.
I note in a number of reviews that the towing capacity is somewhere around two tonnes depending on model - I would think well within the capability of the diesel option. Volkswagen are reported to claim that this is class leading.

I understand that the towball mass rating (downward load on the towball) is most likely to be set at 100kgs for Australia. Most camper trailers and small poptops will impose a greater load than this, and as such ruling out all but the very lightest of RV trailers. The general rule of thumb is that the tow ball loading is 10% of the trailer weight.
I would like to see the Tiguan being able to tow an RV trailer of about 1300 kgs. I would love to hear of a way around this (apart from buying a tent).

[pinzvidz]

Doesn't it come down to how the manufacturer of the camper or caravan has set up the weight distribution, axle positioning and so forth? Some might indicate a tow ball weight of only about 65kg or so, others might indicate 100kg, for a similar size camper or van.

[vanDub]

Doesn't it come down to how the manufacturer of the camper or caravan has set up the weight distribution, axle positioning and so forth? Some might indicate a tow ball weight of only about 65kg or so, others might indicate 100kg, for a similar size camper or van.

The standard setup for caravans in Australia is usually a ball weight of 10% of total weight. I hope you NEVER get to tow anything loaded with extra weight to the rear (or move the axle line) to achieve a light ball loading. Unfortunately I have.

People forget that the towed item swivels about the TOW BALL not around the axle. Weight behind the axle (to lighten the ball weight) has a greater moment arm than weight in front of the axle, and that rear weight makes it sway like crazy if overdone. As the weight of a caravan or trailer increases, a greater proportion (10%) needs to be in front of the axle to contol sway tendencies and hence increases ball weight.

[TonyTA]

...well suited to touring and occasional towing a camper trailer or small poptop caravan.
I note in a number of reviews that the towing capacity is somewhere around two tonnes depending on model - I would think well within the capability of the diesel option. Volkswagen are reported to claim that this is class leading.

I understand that the towball mass rating (downward load on the towball) is most likely to be set at 100kgs for Australia. Most camper trailers and small poptops will impose a greater load than this, and as such ruling out all but the very lightest of RV trailers. The general rule of thumb is that the tow ball loading is 10% of the trailer weight.
I would like to see the Tiguan being able to tow an RV trailer of about 1300 kgs. I would love to hear of a way around this (apart from buying a tent).

I hear you.
Reading the specs for Tig on the VWA site Max (braked) towing is 2000Kg's. Unbraked is 750 which (just enough for a BASIC box trailer).

Towball rating it 100Kg. So we are really limited to 1000Kg trailers if we want to drive with and comfort for any distance etc.

Do you know how much VWA charge for this 'pleasure' (the tow ball option)?

[TonyTA]

WOW!

I found this thread over at MyTiguan.com
http://www.mytiguan.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=5667

[NZTiguan]

Towball rating it 100Kg. So we are really limited to 1000Kg trailers if we want to drive with and comfort for any distance etc.

I don't think this is necessarily correct (that trailers always have 10% of their weight as tongue weight). I tow a 14 foot conventional caravan that I'm sure would be well over 1000kg and I can lift the towbar onto the towball, I'm pretty certain it's less than 100kg. If it was correct a 2000kg caravan would have a 200kg drawbar weight and there's not a chance I could lift that by myself !!

I also saw somewhere that caravan tests in Britain are down with a towball loading of 80kg (they evidently load them specifically to achieve this). I agree that you don't want the towball load too light BUT as long as the main load is on the wheels and not behind them I don't think this is an issue.

Also if you go to a much heavier trailer with tandem wheels the tow bar loading is less from what I've experienced. I have the feeling that a lightweight box trailer or similar may have a 10% tongue load when EMPTY but that when you load it you wouldn't necessarily then add 10% of the load weight to the drawbar end ?

Not true ?? perhaps somebody could show us some examples that do have total weights of around 2000kg AND towbar weights over 100kg ??

Cheers

[Virgil Tracy]

Would the use of a weight distribution hitch work on the tiguan, to lower the ball weight?

[ploz58]

tow bar questions

hey folks,
i might be in the wrong spot here,
when purchasing my tiguan TDI, i had to juggle the finances a bit.
So when asking about the genuine towbar was told , $1250.00 fitted,

Now i thought id get it fitted, during my 3k service i am told, $1250 for the tow bar and $700.00 to fit it!!!!

Has anyone else had this happen and are there alternatives, i understand there is a black box that has to be included.

Little saddened by dealer, sales saying one thing then service saying something else.

Be interested in an alternative just in preference to being done by the dealer

Phil.

[Umai Naa!!]

$700 does seem a bit steep. It sounds like they're charging you the same as they would for the early Tiguans that weren't pre-wired for the trailer control module wiring.

If it is infact pre-wired, (the saleman will have an invoice from VW with the words "Preparation for towing" on it), then it is little more than a few hours work to have the towbar fitted, and wired up. I would suggest you ask them to re-assess your quote. Better yet, shop around with a few other dealers.

[ploz58]

tow bar questions

Thanks for that,
I was wondering if anyone had found a non genuine bar,
there are ones in the states for $150.00 but im sure there would be all sorts of issues there with that,


Thanks for the help out there
Phil

[Arctra]

Thanks for that,
I was wondering if anyone had found a non genuine bar,
there are ones in the states for $150.00 but im sure there would be all sorts of issues there with that,


Thanks for the help out there
Phil

Hi Phil

When I tested out roof bars at Roof Rack World in Artarmon (Sydney) they said that they'd fit a Hayman Reece (I'm not sure I got that name right) towbar with all the electrics for $1600 odd I think. It was a while ago now, and I might have those figures etc wrong, but it's probably worth your while giving them a call.

[Sanman]

I have been following up with Hayman Reece (Cequent) who are developing a towbar for the Tiguan. Here is a cut and paste from the emails:
There was a delay in production. I am being told now that the end of July or early August at the earliest before it goes through the factory. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
The electrics on vehilce’s today are getting more and more difficult for towbar installers to overcome, at this point in time we do have a universal type wiring solution for vehicles that need an extra control module to operate the trailer lights. Once the towbar for the Tiguan is complete we will have a plug in style solution for that specific vehicle. Only information I have at this stage is that the towbar will have a 2000kg tow rating with a 100kg ball weight maximum. As soon as I know the date of release I will drop you a quick email.

[ploz58]

Dealer came through

Well i have to take off my hat to the dealer,
darryl twitt shepparton.

the salesman i dealt with honoured his original price on a tow bar fitted.

He didnt believe the info about the tiguan being pre wired, but his workshop staff said , that had heard something about it, but werent sure.

thanks for your advise
Phil.

[Umai Naa!!]

Gawsh.

They've been pre-wired for at least the last 8 months or so. These days, all that is required is two CAN-bus wired under the dash to be spliced into another two CAN-bus wires, the installation of the control module, and the rear section of the wiring to the towbar itself.

[Sanman]

Gawsh.
These days, all that is required is two CAN-bus wired under the dash to be spliced into another two CAN-bus wires, the installation of the control module,

I notice that there are fuses in place for the various towhitch lights under the dash - make me think no module required?