Golf Mk7 Towing/Towbar Thread

**SIRIoz** · 02-09-2015, 09:22 AM

Looking at the spec sheet (Aug 2015) for the 2016 golf wagon (and trying to extrapolate for the Golf Alltrack) it mentions that the genuine towball option is not available but is for the hatch. Any one have any ideas what could be the cause for them to not provide the towball option on the wagon?
Is it just me that is after a wagon to also tow a box trailer or a bike rack or a small boat tiny?

**agentthumb** · 02-09-2015, 10:30 AM

It's actually quite strange what VW Australia is doing. In Europe, you can get OEM towbar for both the hatch and wagon (happy to be corrected). The VW OEM system is quite brilliant.

The tow ball pivots about a point hidden in the rear bumper. When the owner pulls a leaver in the boot, the towball swings out from under the bumper through a hole that's factory cut in the bumper (it's under the bumper, can't see it). It's packed away the same way in reverse order.

My Australian spec Golf wagon has the hole in the bumper, but VWA doesn't offer the towball option. Yet they offer to fit an aftermarket towbar for the hatch that requires a hole to be cut in the rear bumper (visible hole), and looks like ****. Really don't know what they are thinking / doing in the towing department...

**Idle** · 02-09-2015, 08:42 PM

The OEM bar may not comply with ADR's.

**agentthumb** · 02-09-2015, 08:59 PM

I just gave it some thought.
Given the way the lever has been integrated into the car, and will have to be factory ordered as such, and given all the other options VWA have cut out from our order list, it's more likely that VWA have decided to also remove factory towball from that list to streamline their offering and source aftermarket solutions instead...

Which unfortunately means long delays while Germany certifies these towbars as fit for dealer offered accessories.

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**SIRIoz** · 05-09-2015, 02:37 PM

They seem to have updated the PDF and now just list the towing capacities.

**ftaffy** · 01-12-2015, 07:18 AM

Hey All,

I am about to replace my Passat CC (love this car but sadly lease has ended!) and looking at possibly a Mk6 (TDI - which i dont doubt will tow fine) or a Mk7 90TSI in order to cut back some costs.
Car will be 2nd hand, on a novated lease so limits options else i would have picked a Mk6 GTD instantly.

My question is, how does the 90TSI go pulling a trailer?
A braked car trailer with a light (600kg) car on it is the max i have in mind on occasions but mostly some runs around the country side (2-3hrs each way on a freeway + 30min in the city) with a 4x6 to pick up engines, etc etc but not planning loads of concrete!

Has anyone used there 90TSI to tow similar to the above, thoughts on how it went?
My concerns are around the power available with a 90TSI (Always has large cars before this downsize).

Thanks,
Taffy

**The_Hawk** · 01-12-2015, 08:08 AM

This thread talks to it a little bit (assuming that wasn't you asking a couple of month back there

)

I have a 6x4 box trailer that I tow with my VW Golf. Based on that, yes it will legally tow a braked trailer weighing 900 kg,but 2 things to watch out for:

1. Towball load will be your biggest limitation. The Golf allows 75 kg, most are less. This is marginal for a 900 kg trailer

2. Anything with a friction clutch, be it manual or auto will have a shorter life if used daily for towing.

I would think it would cope pretty well with an engine or small loads but I don't know what would happen when you start putting more than 50% of it's weight behind it on a trailer.

I've often considered getting a tow bar installed in the Mk6 Cab just for the kids bikes and light duty stuff... but I have the multivan with tow bar so haven't had the need.

**ftaffy** · 01-12-2015, 09:21 AM

Thanks for the reply, 75kg tow ball weight was not something i had considered... will look into what i would be seeing with my car trailer scenario above.
A golf only weighs in at 1.2-1.4T... that is less then i thought, which is a good and bad thing i guess.

Hmm wonder if the dealer would let me try it out

No, didnt ask the question. Only posted on here looking for a sump for a project car.

Thanks,
Taffy

**jimmyjamesred** · 05-11-2016, 05:28 PM

Does anyone have the genuine VW mark 7 towbar? Just wondering if you could let me know the type of plug it has. Is it the round or rectangular type?

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**DV52** · 05-11-2016, 05:39 PM

Jimmy: Not sure if I'm understanding your question, but the "official" VW OEM trailer plug is the European 13 x PIN Round plug that connected to the trailer detect control module - J345 (I think)

Don