2wd vs 4wd towing?

[appaloosacaz]

Hi,

I am getting a car, and looking for something with the capacity to tow, but ultimately I do need a car which can do every day driving.

I have looked up about towing capacities etc and I am wanting a Tiguan. My is with this car is the fact it comes in 4WD and 2WD. I know 4WD would be the best in terms of power etc and would be the better tower but in terms of day to day driving obviously mpg isn't as good. So I'm looking at 2WD. I haven't got a trailer yet, there is one at my yard I can borrow, I don't know about the weight (I would make sure I found out before using) it's an old 2 horse horse trailer I'm not sure on make.

I would mainly want to tow x1 500kg horse to local venues using main roads which aren't too hilly. I would like the option to have a 2nd horse in the trailer too, but also would wonder how it would hold up if I did anything other than this, what would I have to compromise over a 4WD when towing-is there anything else I should consider?

Thanks

 

[Tiddlypom]

As an experienced tower who towed horse trailers over all terrain and on motorways with various 2WD vehicles for over 30 years the upgrade to 4WD is well worth it.

I’d never go back to 2WD. 4WD is your ‘get out of jail’ card in tricky situations that you didn’t expect to get in.

 

[HopOnTrot]

4WD, you’ll appreciate it when you go to an event on grass in the “summer”.

 

[tda]

You don't need 4wd in most normal day to day towing on roads etc, it's just when you need 4wd it's invaluable.
As long as you can run mostly in 2wd for normal day to day commuting there will be no impact on fuel consumption

 

[marmalade76]

I don't know as never towed with a 2wd (unless you count the Trooper & Fourtrak which IIRC were in 2wd unless you selected 4 high) but I'm guessing that where it would make the biggest difference would be when you have to park on a field.

 

[Bluewaves]

I've got a Santa Fe which i drive mostly in 2WD. I turned on the 4WD when I towed especially if i was on difficult terrain like a really stony lane or going up windy hills. I also use the 4WD drive even if im not towing if i have to go on grass verges. My Santa Fe doesn't have great fuel efficiency, maybe because it's automatic. I drive a lot on motorway/A roads and it only comes out at about 36mpg.

 

[appaloosacaz]

As an experienced tower who towed horse trailers over all terrain and on motorways with various 2WD vehicles for over 30 years the upgrade to 4WD is well worth it.

I’d never go back to 2WD. 4WD is your ‘get out of jail’ card in tricky situations that you didn’t expect to get in.

So I've just been talking to my parents about this..... I feel a bit silly because I didn't even realise (I'm not a car person) that you could switch between 2WD I thought it was one or the other I thought it was 4WD all the time

 

[tda]

Some vehicles are permanent 4wd

Edited to add, probably not many nowadays....I'm still in the 1990s

 

[Tiddlypom]

Some 4WD vehicles you can manually select 4WD or 2WD as required. In others the 4WD kicks in automatically when needed.

We’ve got one of each . Whilst I prefer being able to pick and choose when to go into 4WD as I can in the Shogun, I have to say that the Skoda Octavia Scout has also never missed a beat on or off road in the 9 years we’ve owned it.

 

[marmalade76]

Some vehicles are permanent 4wd

Edited to add, probably not many nowadays....I'm still in the 1990s

I still have a TD5 Disco (with absolutely no intention of going any newer) and that's permanent 4wd, Freelanders are also permanent 4wd but have no low range. The Hilux is 2wd unless you put it in 4 but that's 20 years old too.

 

[YourValentine]

It varies but with many cars you can choose when to put it into 4WD and if its your every day car I definitely want that option for fuel efficiency, also manual if you can. Good new automatics might be great but I find that as they get old the changes get slower and it effects fuel efficiency.

4wd for towing is only really critical if you end up in mud or wet slippery grass. If you just want to do local stuff and know you will be parking on hard surfaces, then a 2wd might be a good "starter" tow vehicle while you decide if you want a 4wd
Just be aware of what you're parking on.

 

[cosmic389]

When I bought mine in 2018 I went with 2wd. I had a couple of sticky situations when towing, once on wet grass, almost got stuck! And another when my tyres couldn't get traction in some deeper than normal gravel. I have since replaced the tyres with some better ones. We don't go out much with the trailer and if it's somewhere new I try to find out as much about the terrain as possible. I think my next car will be a 4wd just for a piece of mind!

 

[OldNag]

I rarely used the 4wd option when towing with a non-full-time 4WD but when I did use I really did need it.

 

[MellissaGJ]

If the tiguan is anything like the Audi Q5 2.0tdi I had (it’s basically the same car but cheaper) then if it has Quattro it’s intelligent 4wd and kicks in when needed. You don’t select 4wd the car does it for you. That car had a 2.4t capacity and was absolutely perfect as a tow vehicle and never missed a beat. I only upgraded to a Q7 when I wanted a newer car, having had this one for 7 years, when Audi reduced the towing capacity (probably due to emissions) to 2T. I tow a 17.2hh 720kg horse and Ifor 511. It doesn’t tow any better than the Q5 I had did - I have towed 5 hours to the nationals and used to have an HGV, would never go back. My husband says on the road it doesn’t make any difference, in a wet field you may struggle. I am from the old school when I remember being towed as kids with the family Volvo towing a rice trailer - we all survived the 80’s

 

[MellissaGJ]

Adding that I get 40 mpg normally and 25 mpg towing with my Q7- it’s a 2t car but it’s the mild diesel hybrid. I got similar with the Q5 but had that remapped and it towed better with more power after that. The tiguans are the same as the Audis and if you get the 4wd it’s similar and you don’t mess around with any settings- it switches between 2wd and 4wd as the car senses it needs it. Just to add that having spent many years staying in my lorries at shows I had to be towed out on several occasions with my lorry, but car and trailer never! Hope that helps

 

[gallopingby]

Adding that I get 40 mpg normally and 25 mpg towing with my Q7- it’s a 2t car but it’s the mild diesel hybrid. I got similar with the Q5 but had that remapped and it towed better with more power after that. The tiguans are the same as the Audis and if you get the 4wd it’s similar and you don’t mess around with any settings- it switches between 2wd and 4wd as the car senses it needs it. Just to add that having spent many years staying in my lorries at shows I had to be towed out on several occasions with my lorry, but car and trailer never! Hope that helps

So how many tow with a Tiguan and a light weight 2 horse trailer with one or two ponies? I always thought the Tiguan was a little light to tow with so l only use it for normal car stuff and the ponies currently go in the lorry but it would be handy to get a tow bar put on for local events.

 

[MellissaGJ]

So how many tow with a Tiguan and a light weight 2 horse trailer with one or two ponies? I always thought the Tiguan was a little light to tow with so l only use it for normal car stuff and the ponies currently go in the lorry but it would be handy to get a tow bar put on for local events.

Hi Gallopingby the capacity varies depending on model (and age). The capacity is in the handbook or you can probably find it online for the model you are after. My Q5 was the 2.0tdi 2013 and was the last of the 2.4t capacity ones. When I treated myself to my new car Audi (all the same group as Volkswagen) reduced the capacity and tweaked the chassis of the cars from about 2020 onwards. So I went for a Q7 with a 3.5t capacity just in case I decided to go for an equitrek or something. Whatever the manufacturer states is the safe capacity is that- they know more than we do so you can look for the relevant car you are considering. I have an HGV licence from 2007, and wouldn’t go back now. I love the car and trailer, so I have a lovely car instead of a lorry and crap car

 

[cmkeventing]

So how many tow with a Tiguan and a light weight 2 horse trailer with one or two ponies? I always thought the Tiguan was a little light to tow with so l only use it for normal car stuff and the ponies currently go in the lorry but it would be handy to get a tow bar put on for local events.

Im looking at buying a Tiguan to be my first tow car. You need the specific 4 wheel drive (which is the 4motion) and 2L engine not the 1.5L. Even then there is a difference in HP. For the 2018/2019 models (afraid I havent looked at others as thats the years I want) there is a 150hp variant that tows around 2T and then a 240hp variant that tows 2.5T (and might have been a different HP in between...) For me when Im looking Im making sure its the 2L 4motion diesel with the higher HP. Hopefully that helps! Im hoping my stressing can help someone

 

[sportsmansB]

I had a 4wd Tiguan and ended up blowing the turbo on it towing one horse in a 505.
But it was a few years ago (it was maybe a 2012 model) and my friend does have one of the higher BHP newer ones and says its fine.
I currently have a BMWX3 which even though it is a 2.0L engine feels much more powerful and stronger. I get about 46mpg with it for every day driving. It has 4wd but you only feel it kick in when you need it.