Towing A 205 - Will A Passat Be Okay?

[Atari Boy 11]

I have just discovered that my wife's car has a detachable tow bar. It's an '07 (B6) Passat estate with the 2.0 diesel (140) lump and manual box.

 

My question is this: Assuming I don't get a silly massive trailer, will the car be good at towing a 205. I'm sure on paper it will be fine but what about in the real would, could I use it safely and happily to go as far as Germany for example?

 

Many thanks

Edited February 15, 2012 by Atari Boy

[m_attt 31 1 Cars]

look in the owners manual and see what its rated to tow at, also when did you pass your test as it may restrict what weight you can tow.

 

you see loads of smaller cars with caravans on the back doing ok, so sure it would. Not as if your going flat out.

Edited February 15, 2012 by m_attt

[Atari Boy 11]

My licence covers me for trailers - I'm that old.....

[BlueBolt 156]

Not as if your going flat out.

 

More to the point, so long as you don't go flat out!!

 

From my point of view, the VAG durv lumps will have more than enough torque to be able to handle the trailer with the 205. Agreed though also with above that you need to check the owners manual and see what that says about it all...

[m_attt 31 1 Cars]

fair enough, should be fine then. I've used smaller to tow one a distance with no issues.

 

Just be carefull as im sure you go by the trailers MAM, not the actual weight of the load, so if the trailer is plated for 3t you need a vehicle rated at 3t unladen.

Edited February 15, 2012 by m_attt

[Matt180 31]

Mine goes all over the country no probs, its a B5.5 estate sport 130 so yours should be even better

[sensualt101 31 1 Cars]

with all the 205's being under 900kg in weight i am sure the passat would be more than capable of towing it with or without a trailor

[Baz 421]

with all the 205's being under 900kg in weight

 

Where did you get that from? It's not true anyway.

[cybernck 402 1 Cars]

A friend used to tow a trailer with an mk2 Golf GTI on it with a... wait for it... another mk2 Golf GTI!

[welshpug 1,657]

pretty similar mechanically as the A4 that Tom Fenton uses as a tow car I believe.

 

you do need to make sure the trailer is well loaded, twin axle will make things a lot easier.

 

your towing weight is 1800 kilos, quite impressive for a 2.0 fwd car, mind its quite a beast at 1500 kilos!

 

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/volkswagen.htm#passate07

[Atari Boy 11]

pretty similar mechanically as the A4 that Tom Fenton uses as a tow car I believe.

 

you do need to make sure the trailer is well loaded, twin axle will make things a lot easier.

 

your towing weight is 1800 kilos, quite impressive for a 2.0 fwd car, mind its quite a beast at 1500 kilos!

 

 

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/volkswagen.htm#passate07

 

Great infomation, thanks Mei.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Atari Boy

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

I have been to Germany twice using my A4 towing my 205. Choice of trailer is important as it can add significant weight. I have used my fathers Brian James which is bigger and heavier than I needed, I now have my own lightweight PRG which is 400kg unladen and ideal for a 205.

First year towing the big Brian James I struggled up some of the big climbs on the Belgian motorway. Last year with my lightweight trailer and a remap to the Audi and it drove at 70mph all the way uphill downdale.

[BlueBolt 156]

Where did you get that from? It's not true anyway.

 

How much is it then as I've got to get mine towed down to Miles soon.....??

 

It will be minus an engine though so that'll make a difference I guess, but would be good to know what the standard weight is?? I always got told it was around the 900kg mark though....??

Edited February 15, 2012 by BlueBolt

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

I have been to Germany twice using my A4 towing my 205. Choice of trailer is important as it can add significant weight. I have used my fathers Brian James which is bigger and heavier than I needed, I now have my own lightweight PRG which is 400kg unladen and ideal for a 205.

First year towing the big Brian James I struggled up some of the big climbs on the Belgian motorway. Last year with my lightweight trailer and a remap to the Audi and it drove at 70mph all the way uphill downdale.

 

I can confirm that toms Audi takes the piss out of my td5 discovery when it comes to towing.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

I can confirm that toms Audi takes the piss out of my td5 discovery when it comes to towing.

 

It did after the re-map, before the remap and with the heavier trailer and I reckon it was about the same as your Disco?

 

It also did 32mpg towing the trailer from the 'Ring to the ferry terminal in about 5hrs.

[sensualt101 31 1 Cars]

Where did you get that from? It's not true anyway.

 

i appologise for that inaccuracy baz but my point stands! the audi will have no problem at all pulling any 205!

[Anulfo 22]

max 85% of the car's kerb weight can be towed safely.As already stated above tandem axle trailers handle better on the road (less seesawing about)and are better to reverse too!!

[welshpug 1,657]

I'm not sure where that 85% rule that's bandied about comes fro, but the car in question blows that out of the water with a 1500 kerb weight and 1800 towing weight

[Cameron 16]

It's bollocks, basically.

[Anulfo 22]

I'm not sure where that 85% rule that's bandied about comes fro, but the car in question blows that out of the water with a 1500 kerb weight and 1800 towing weight

 

????I could stand to be corrected here but would 85% of 1500kgs not be 1275kgs....that would be inclusive of trailer.

 

Oh i dunno,as previously mentioned it could all be bollock.....I guess if the car can/can't handled the load then it will become obvious pretty quickly.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Anulfo

[welshpug 1,657]

yeah, which is a long way short of the 1800 towing weight stated.

[Anulfo 22]

What is the tare weight of your average car trailer??