Earlier this year, I took a look at a Tiguan before deciding it was too soft and I wanted an FL2. Anyway, I am always having a gander at facts and figures on websites and although I don't tow, I was amazed by some stats.

Basically, a Tiguan with a manual gearbox, weighing less than the FL2, with a slightly smaller engine, less power and less torque, can tow 200kg more. Bizarre!

Perhaps some owners who tow a lot can tear this claim to shreds

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/fact...008/47879/

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/fact...006/48969/ 60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

I'm not sure how the "official" towing limits are set but for caravan towing most clubs and organisations set a safe limit at 85% of the towing vehicle's weight. I should hate to tow much more than that and, I believe it's illegal to exceed the towing vehicle's weight. "Tail wagging the dog" springs to mind! Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

at the end of the day its still a golf on steroids  rainy-city
xs

To be honest, I thought that Parkers must have got the stats wrong. All those points considered, the SD4 should be the more capable tow car I would have thought, unless there's something I haven't taken into consideration. 60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

rjc1944 wrote:

...... I believe it's illegal to exceed the towing vehicle's weight. "Tail wagging the dog" springs to mind!

Depends where you look for data, but towing with a vehicle weighing 1700kgs and having a limit of 2200kgs is a recipe for disaster. I've compared a TD4 to a T and I won't be rushing out to buy one. Put the details in to What Tow Car and it wells a different story and that's with using a TD4 as the towcar.

I’ve been towing caravans for over twenty years and believe me the 85% guideline is worth sticking to.

Towing a van over Thelwall viaduct on the M6 with a 40 – 50 MPH cross wind as I did last Christmas, makes you think about it.

The Parkers guide is wrong.

Have a look at VW's official info. It isn't 2200kg. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

It's worse than you think!

The auto gearbox version has a towing limit of 2500 Kg (from VW online brochure).

The stated towing limits by manufactures are simply based on what mass the vehicle can restart on a 12% incline. It bears no relation to what it is sensible (or safe) to tow.

Incidently, LR 2000 kg limit applies when the car is fully loaded to it's GVW. Not all manufacturers do that.

You can legally tow more than 2000 Kg with a FL2 as long as you do not exceed the plated GTW. (Gross train weight) Now: 2012 FL2 SD4 XS Orkney Grey
Previously: 2007 D3 TDV6 XS Tonga Green
Before that: 2003 FL1 TD4 "Kalahari" Black

I think you will find you cannot exceed the manufacturers max tow limit. In the FL2's case, 2000kgs. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

Mav71 wrote:

I think you will find you cannot exceed the manufacturers max tow limit. In the FL2's case, 2000kgs.