Towing vehicle

The towing recommendations of different brands cannot be compared because there is no cross manufacturer accepted SAE performance standard for towing. I believe that towing recommendations are largely influenced by marketing.

Not so in Germany. There is a standardized method of determining the towing capacity for all manufacturers to get their vehicles certified. Braking power is one criteria but getting a load started on an incline is another one.

Uli

On Sunday, 7 April 2013 17:51:30 UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
On Saturday, April 6, 2013 8:12:22 AM UTC-4, GM wrote:

Jetta TDI with a double clutch transmission should work well too - fast shifting transmission and lots of low end torque should be ideal for this purpose.


NOOOOOOOOOO !!! ;-) VW does not recommend any towing with vehicles using DSG transmissions.

Check this: http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/#/new/go...ngines/towing/

Looks ok. Mine's 700kg total.

The German version has higher trailer weights shown, and shows larger engines, such as the 2500cc 5 cylinder gas. Google translate is BRUTAL on owner's manuals with tables. It would be very helpful if someone that speaks German could check this out. Perhaps I was reading out of context.

If mine blows, I'll post. :-)

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

When towing, I run my car with the automatic transmission in "O/D Off", which I believe is no different than 3rd gear. I have watched the tach - in normal 4th gear operation, the torque converter slips. In 3rd gear, it does not. Mileage with the trailer is similar whether in 3rd or 4th.

Lexus LS400, 22 years old, purchased well used to have a comfortable rear wheel drive V8 sedan tow vehicle. Going on 230,000 miles with much of that over the past 15 years towing the glider. No tranny or engine problems to date; I did replace the rear shocks at 200k.

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

1991 Toyota Previa Van Automatic 370,125 miles so far.
Maintenance: change oil, replace spark plug 3 times, brake pad a bunch of times.
Biggest problem name changed to deer killer at one contest.

Richard

Richard,

Kill sticker for your tow rig.

http://www.zazzle.com/deer_hunting_r...20779415734136

Will see you in Nephi!

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

IIRC, some of the car manufacturers give a tow rating only for the automatic transmission version and not to the manual transmission version(same model). Best to check the vehicle specs to clarify.

On Friday, April 5, 2013 7:17:42 AM UTC-7, Colin Roney wrote:
Automatic or Manual. Which is the best?

Years ago, I once towed my glider trailer with a VW Golf (manual) and it was only once - it scared me so much I bought a larger, heavier vehicle straight away.

There seems to be this strange contest, especially in Europe, to see how small a tow vehicle one can get away with. In my view, there is no substitute for power and mass. Power to get you out of trouble and climb those hills and mass to control the weight of the combination. Small vehicles just don't have enough braking power.

I have a rule of fives - a tow vehicle of at least 5,000 pounds mass with a 5 liter engine!

Mike

The only question to ask is can "The Crew" drive it.

So you've landed out in a field and you call to get someone to come get you and the reply on the other end of the phone is I don't know how to drive a stick. Few of the younger generation even know what a stick shift is.

If you use the rule of 5's in Europe you could expect to do $5000 in fuel!!


I tow my cobra trailer (ASW27) behind an Audi A6. When I was younger and
could not afford big cars, or more to the point insure big cars, I towed
happily with a Peugot 306. Just modify your speed for suitable to the size
of the tow car. I will tow at speeds in the A6 that I would never have
dream t of with the the 306!


Years ago, I once towed my glider trailer with a VW Golf (manual) and it
wa=
s only once - it scared me so much I bought a larger, heavier vehicle
strai=
ght away.

There seems to be this strange contest, especially in Europe, to see how
sm=
all a tow vehicle one can get away with. In my view, there is no
substitut=
e for power and mass. Power to get you out of trouble and climb those
hill=
s and mass to control the weight of the combination. Small vehicles just
d=
on't have enough braking power. =20

I have a rule of fives - a tow vehicle of at least 5,000 pounds mass with
a=
5 liter engine!

Mike

Justin Craig wrote:
If you use the rule of 5's in Europe you could expect to do $5000 in fuel!!


I tow my cobra trailer (ASW27) behind an Audi A6. When I was younger and
could not afford big cars, or more to the point insure big cars, I towed
happily with a Peugot 306. Just modify your speed for suitable to the size
of the tow car. I will tow at speeds in the A6 that I would never have
dream t of with the the 306!


I'm on my second Audi A4 - stick transmission. I don't do as many miles as
some on this thread. My first A4 had a nice speed control - the trailer
would start fish tailing at about 70. My new car has a trailer stability
control algorithm. I once noticed I was doing 80 as I was passing slower
traffic on a back road - hardly noticed the trailer was on the back. I'm
more careful now.

I've got the 2 liter turbo. I get nearly 27 mpg on the highway with the
trailer on the back.

A trailer hitch is a factory option in Europe. I had to go to the UK web
site to get trailer specs. There isn't any info in my US owner's manual.