Anyone towing 1200kgs+ with Tiguan?

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My other comments still stand though; interested in how the vehicle performs. I'd still go the 147TSI simply for the goodies it offers as the "top end model"; or the TDI for the diesel option.

No worries Dion, I think the Tig would pull the trailer fine. Unfortunately (for me anyway ) the Tig is fairly weighty (especially the TDI or Auto 147), and it is 4Motion, so I don't think it'll get too out of control, but it's definitely on the upper limit IMHO.

[DionM]

Have a look at this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ueX-...eature=related

Ah now I see it. Probably not the kind of info I need, but cool all the same

[Arctra]

There's more to it than just raw power and torque though - that is only part of the equation.

I'm interested in how the Tiguan handles a big load behind it. More power and torque doesn't change the way the vehicle responds to having full downball weight on the towbar, for example. Doesn't affect how stable (or not) the vehicle feels at high speed either.

I cannot comment first hand, but from what I've read on other forums (MyTiguan: http://www.mytiguan.com/viewtopic.ph...trailer#p46861) the Tig does really well with towing loads (see the last post where it's recommended for pulling caravans). Part of the reason getting the tow option is so expensive is the wiring harness/loom/whatever that comes with it that plugs into the Canbus and alters the way the Tig behaves when you connect a trailer. How does it alter the behaviour? I cannot be certain, but I'm guessing it alters the ESP/ABS to react better the the tail load and rear sway, and it would probably alter the way the power is split between front and rear. But I am speculating. The point is, it's supposed to cope with pulling a trailer really well.

[DionM]

Thanks for the link. Interesting reading.

Still not really comfortable with the low downball weight (I'd prefer 150kgs), but I shall do some more investigating.

Hmmm. Okay next problem I see is the way the factory towbar is mounted. I need a fairly high towball (offroad trailer) so that one really low to the ground is not going to cut it (trailer will be an a sharp nose-down angle, putting mroe weight on towbar).

I wonder if the Hayman Reece one will have a normal Class 4 hitch poking out so I can use normal riser receivers.

[Kyeema]

Friends of ours have a caravan weighing about 1400 kg. They borrowed our Tiguan to tow it to see how it would go (and if successful they would buy a Tiguan as well). No problem with lights, that all worked well, but they felt that going uphill the Tiguan needed all the power, although the car was certainly stable. Since the caravan would be heavier when fully packed, they decided the Tig would run on full capacity (uphill) all the time when towing, and that wouldn't be good for the car.
No problem for the occasional tow, but it would be unsuitable for a 2 week caravanning holiday, they thought.

We're talking about a Tiguan 103TDI 6 speed automatic.

[Peter Jones]

I'm towing a ~1400kg tandem behind my Bora 4 Motion V6 no issues.

Ball weight on the Bora is only 85kg, you just have to load the trailer to suit.

Check the owners manual carefully. In Australia the convential wisdom is 10% ball weight, the the manual indicates more like 4%.

Pete

[Arctra]

I wonder if the Hayman Reece one will have a normal Class 4 hitch poking out so I can use normal riser receivers.

The response I got from Hayman Reece when I inquired was:

"It is going to be the 50mm square receiver style towbar , but until the bar is closer to release I won’t know the maximum capacities, but we usually design our towbars to accept the full towing capacity and ball weight capacity of the vehicle.

I have been advised that because it is not possible to purchase the wiring loom separately here in Australia that we will only be selling the towbar with the our wiring solution."

Hope that answers your question.

[DionM]

Thanks all.

I've decided against it. The ball weight is a real problem as I have limited options with loading, plus I think on uphills and that it would struggle a little. I think I will just wait a little longer and replace our 4WD with a Touareg or the new Amarok.

This is the trailer behind my Jeep (rated to 2200kgs and 180kg downball):


With the 4L straight six it will maintain 100km/h easily up almost anything I have thrown it at, but it does so with a lot of noise.

[Swallowtail]

Just curious dionm - why is the axle so far back on your trailer? That's gotta make loading it to get a specific towball weight challenging...

[Maverick]

The response I got from Hayman Reece when I inquired was:

"It is going to be the 50mm square receiver style towbar , but until the bar is closer to release I won’t know the maximum capacities, but we usually design our towbars to accept the full towing capacity and ball weight capacity of the vehicle.

I have been advised that because it is not possible to purchase the wiring loom separately here in Australia that we will only be selling the towbar with the our wiring solution."

That sounds like BS to me, the wiring kit is listed separately.

If Hayman Reece were smart they would import these kits directly from Germany and repackage them.