Towing Eyelet Attachment Points

[roscoe1974]

Evening all,

Apologies if this has been covered previously, but am wondering if anyone's noticed the same thing on their Tig :

Today I decided to just check out the light recovery points at front & rear on the Tig (MY 2011 TDi with no Towbar or anything unusual).

I popped the small front panel off (just to the inside of the Drivers side Headlight) and saw the threaded bolt hole that the recovery eyelet screws into. No problem.

So then I check the back and after popping the panel off (again, Drivers side on the plastic bumper) discover that it opens onto a black metal square-section tube and there's no threaded bolt hole to which to attach the recovery eyelet.

Can anyone tell me if they've had the same discovery on their Tig? Is it possible that this a part of the Towbar assembly (which I didn't order and certainly don't have the rest of as far as I can see) and it's covering up the actual threaded bolt hole? Or is it possible that the access panel is just on the incorrect side of the car and the threaded bolt hole is actually on the Passenger side?

Any experience would be appreciated!

[Umai Naa!!]

Having fitted around 30-odd Tiguan towbars, I can tell you that the threaded hole the towhook screws into, is actually in the reinforcement bar that gets replaced by the towbar.

Essentially, you can use the eyelets you hook your safety chain(s) to, for recovery purposes.

[MGV]

Roscoe, the threaded hole on my '10 is on the drivers side behind the little round flap that pops off. (rear) I used it a couple of weeks ago using my tig to pull a broken branch from a tree. One thing that i found unusual is that is a reverse thread... Dunno why?

[jcubed]

Hi Roscoe,

Equal apologies if I've posted this before, but your problem is that you had a genuine VW Tiguan factory-fitted towbar installed. As reward for your loyalty, you then lose the rear recovery point.

Attached an article I wrote to a local motoring magazine when I made the same discovery 3 years ago.

I was super annoyed - as you can maybe glean from the tone of "Wot ver zey zinking?" - but knew it was pointless to take on VW about it. Rather have some fun.

[roscoe1974]

Thanks all - I'm a little flummoxed to be honest, as I didn't order a VW Towbar (due to the cost) and was intending to get a Hayman Reese version once finances were available.

Is it possible that Tigs now just come standard with the structure of the Towbar, just minus the actual Tow Ball etc.?? Or maybe it was my shameless flirting with the VW Sales Lady we bought from and she 'threw in' most of the Tow Bar without telling me as she knew we wanted one but couldn't afford it? ;o)

In the meantime though, as JJJ mentioned, it's a tad annoying not to have a Rear Recovery Point...

[roscoe1974]

Thanks all - I'm a little flummoxed to be honest, as I didn't order a VW Towbar (due to the cost) and was intending to get a Hayman Reese version once finances were available.

Is it possible that Tigs now just come standard with the structure of the Towbar, just minus the actual Tow Ball etc.?? Or maybe it was my shameless flirting with the VW Sales Lady we bought from and she 'threw in' most of the Tow Bar without telling me as she knew we wanted one but couldn't afford it? ;o)

In the meantime though, as JJJ mentioned, it's a tad annoying not to have a Rear Recovery Point...

P.S. somehow I severely doubt it was my flirting...that would more likely have led to an omitted spare wheel or something of the like!!