Towing with a Mk1?

[reborn]

G'day all, Can you tow with a Golf? Does anyone know what sort of weight would be the limit? It looks like I am going to be left without a towing vehicle for a few months and it would be handy if the Golf could fill in for a while... I have a 14 foot tinny to get to the coast and back - oh... it's up the Clyde mountain?

Do I forget about this as an option? Its a 1.6 4 speed...

Cheers

[syncro]

I think the towing limit is 600kg.
The engine is OK but the towbar attaching point is very weak.

[Oneofthegreats]

Before I got my licence & raced motorcross, my mum was the designated driver with my silver golf & it was a diesel back then.

It would struggle up big hill's but could cruise on the flat @ 110 without too much fuss (apart from taken a millenium to get there.)

On the practice day's there would be a trailer, 3 race bike's 4 people & all the race gear, equipment & fuel so itwas carrying a fair bit of stuff.

The only upgrade I did was to increase the bolt size & grade & also made up some 6mm thick strengthing support's on the inside bumper holes linking the two holes together.

Never had an issue with this, apart from being bloody slow.

Have also towed a tandem with a another golf on the back without any issue too!

[Peter Jones]

August 1979 User Manual.





Pete

[blackgti1.8]

Except in NSW, you're limited to the weight of the towing vehicle.
The MkI, being a fly-weight means that you're limited to ~850Kg, or whatever you claim your MkI weighs

[syncro]

Except in NSW, you're limited to the weight of the towing vehicle.
The MkI, being a fly-weight means that you're limited to ~850Kg, or whatever you claim your MkI weighs

or as specified by the manufacturer.

or the limit of the towbar.

Whichever is the lowest limit.

eg. My syncro can tow 2 tonnes but Australian (Hayman) towbars are only 1000kgs.

[gtimk5]

I used to tow a formula Vee on trailer back in the 80s. 1.6 4 speed GLS
Probably over the limit but you could get away with that stuff back then

[syncro]

With a Golfworx modification it should be OK.

[reborn]

Sounds like it will be a slow trip but I would get there - which is the important thing... Just mean leaving a little earlier for sun up!

Will sort out the heating problem which will surely not be helped by towing and look into bars. My boat would only be around the 600 kg mark I reckon with maybe only 10KG ball weight.

Thanks guys.