Possible new tow vehicle.

[Rosscow]

Hi all,

Looking to replace our ageing Audi A6!

Seriously contemplating going for a brand new VW Tiguan Allspace. Preferably the 240ps diesel 4Motion but possibly the 190ps diesel 4Motion.

Seems to tick all of the boxes, 2400kg tow limit, 100kg tow ball limit, reasonable MPG for normal driving, etc. etc.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience? Will be towing our twin axle Ace Equerry (approx 1750kg MTPLM).

Cheers!

[C0ffin D0dger]

The specs seem to suggest this has a weight of 1845kg which would put it close to 95% car to van weight ratio with your outfit. Supposedly around 85% is recommended but not a hard and fast rule.

For a van of that size I'd be looking at a Touareg or something similar.

[Rosscow]

C0ffin D0dger said:

The specs seem to suggest this has a weight of 1845kg which would put it close to 95% car to van weight ratio with your outfit. Supposedly around 85% is recommended but not a hard and fast rule.

For a van of that size I'd be looking at a Touareg or something similar.

Sorry Dodger but I can't agree with that!

Our Audi A6 Avant has a kerbweight of 1905kg, and we would always tow with at least an additional 300kg in the car (me, wifey, 2 kids plus a boot full of awning, fridge, groundsheets, etc.)

We've been towing with the above for 5 years without issue.

The 240ps 4Motion Allspace has a kerbweight of 1920kg so is actually heavier.

1920kg + 300kg = 2220kg. 1750kg would be less than 80% van/car ratio.

I like the Touareg but they are just too much money (plus associated running costs).

Edited by Rosscow on Wednesday 24th October 14:25

[C0ffin D0dger]

Rosscow said:

C0ffin D0dger said:

The specs seem to suggest this has a weight of 1845kg which would put it close to 95% car to van weight ratio with your outfit. Supposedly around 85% is recommended but not a hard and fast rule.

For a van of that size I'd be looking at a Touareg or something similar.

Sorry Dodger but I can't agree with that!

Our Audi A6 Avant has a kerbweight of 1905kg, and we would always tow with at least an additional 300kg in the car (me, wifey, 2 kids plus a boot full of awning, fridge, groundsheets, etc.)

We've been towing with the above for 5 years without issue.

The 240ps 4Motion Allspace has a kerbweight of 1920kg so is actually heavier.

1920kg + 300kg = 2220kg. 1750kg would be less than 80% van/car ratio.

I like the Touareg but they are just too much money (plus associated running costs).

Edited by Rosscow on Wednesday 24th October 14:25

To be honest I think this whole tow car to caravan matching lark confusing to say the least and difficult to get the right information. I got the vehicle weight from Parkers but that seems to be out so no use, the VW website confirms the 1920kg. Any of the tow car matching services I've used have the unladen / kerb weight when doing a match but no one tows with an unladen vehicle!

I want to replace my 5 series with an SUV / 4x4 type of thing, everything I've looked at suggests I need something Touareg / Q7 / Discovery sized for my MTPLM 1575kg caravan but I see loads of big caravans being towed with X-Trails or similar.

I think so long as the kerb weight is greater than the MTPLM of the caravan and you're not exceeding the manufacturers specified limit for braked towing then b*llox to the 85% thing so long as it feels stable. Problem is of course you're never actually going to know this until you're towing with it.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Looking on the Caravan Club website (if you're a member?), the Tiguan Allspace was tested in the Caravan Weight 1500 - 1700kg category for Towcar of the Year 2019.

Make of that what you will?

[Rosscow]

Yeah that's rubbish, I'd happily tow my twin axle with a 5 series or E Class estate (just like I have done with my Audi estate).

You certainly don't need a big SUV, but you can't deny that the towing is a lot more effortless. Comes at a price though!

[Rosscow]

C0ffin D0dger said:

Looking on the Caravan Club website (if you're a member?), the Tiguan Allspace was tested in the Caravan Weight 1500 - 1700kg category for Towcar of the Year 2019.

Make of that what you will?

I am, and I've just had a look.

I reckon it'll be spot on!

[chasingracecars]

I towed my caravan with a Audi 3.0 Tdi Quattro it was good but now I have a Range Rover and it’s amazing better then towing with the Audi.

[Rosscow]

chasingracecars said:

I towed my caravan with a Audi 3.0 Tdi Quattro it was good but now I have a Range Rover and it’s amazing better then towing with the Audi.

Of course - as you'd expect with something that has 3500kg towing limit against something that has around 2000kg!

A lot more expensive to buy and run, though.

[chasingracecars]

Rosscow said:

Of course - as you'd expect with something that has 3500kg towing limit against something that has around 2000kg!

A lot more expensive to buy and run, though.

Audi £13,000 down, £370 a month in lease payments......

Range Rover £1500 bought! £500 repairs.

[Rosscow]

chasingracecars said:

Rosscow said:

Of course - as you'd expect with something that has 3500kg towing limit against something that has around 2000kg!

A lot more expensive to buy and run, though.

Audi £13,000 down, £370 a month in lease payments......

Range Rover £1500 bought! £500 repairs.

Yeah, but you could have bought an Audi for £1500!

[Essel]

We used to tow an Ace Award (about 1400kg by memory) with the previous gen Tiguan. My wife bought it as a run out special as a good deal. Its the 184 brake fourmotion auto. Towing was very comfortable, plenty of pull and stable. Consumption towing was mid to high twenties as I recall, but it was new at the time, and the normal consumption has got better now its a bit looser.

[Rosscow]

Essel said:

We used to tow an Ace Award (about 1400kg by memory) with the previous gen Tiguan. My wife bought it as a run out special as a good deal. Its the 184 brake fourmotion auto. Towing was very comfortable, plenty of pull and stable. Consumption towing was mid to high twenties as I recall, but it was new at the time, and the normal consumption has got better now its a bit looser.

Excellent, thanks

[QIKSPEED]

We use a Grand Cherokee 3.0D and it tows like a train.

Might be worth a look at!

[R0G]

The recommendation for towing caravans is 85% of vehicle weight AT THE TIME OF TOWING

The problem is that the CC use the worse case scenario with an empty vehicle and a fully laden caravan to determine the 85%

[dirty_dog]

Rosscow said:

Sorry Dodger but I can't agree with that!

Our Audi A6 Avant has a kerbweight of 1905kg, and we would always tow with at least an additional 300kg in the car (me, wifey, 2 kids plus a boot full of awning, fridge, groundsheets, etc.)

We've been towing with the above for 5 years without issue.

The 240ps 4Motion Allspace has a kerbweight of 1920kg so is actually heavier.

1920kg + 300kg = 2220kg. 1750kg would be less than 80% van/car ratio.

I like the Touareg but they are just too much money (plus associated running costs).

Edited by Rosscow on Wednesday 24th October 14:25

Yep we're in the same boat towing a Lunar Lexon 640 with our 2003 V70 2.4, I try and load the car as much as poss and it does feel solid enough. However, i'm sure towing with an XC90 or similar will be a bit more relaxing - I'm not completely happy with the amount of noseweight vs towbar rating and with soft rear springs it does drag its behind somewhat.

@Rosscow I think it was you that made me realise I needed full B+E a few years back when we were towing with our E39

[LeadFarmer]

C0ffin D0dger said:

Looking on the Caravan Club website (if you're a member?), the Tiguan Allspace was tested in the Caravan Weight 1500 - 1700kg category for Towcar of the Year 2019.

Make of that what you will?

I think their Best Tow Car Award should be renamed "Tow car manufacturer who as spent the most in advertising in our st magazine' award.