TOWING WITH A VW TIGUAN

[Piglet]

As above, I have the chance of buying a VW Tiguan, 2ltr diesel, 190bhp. Anyone tow with one of these and if so is it beefy enough and legal to tow up some pretty steep hills. I at the moment drive a 2.5 ltr diesel manual pick up

 

[Annagain]

There have been several people on here who have towed with Tiguans very happily. If you did a search for Tiguan, you'd probably find the posts pretty easily.

There are several different models with different towing capacities though so check exactly how much you would be able to tow with it. What trailer do you have and how much do(es) your horse(s) weigh?

This list should give you an idea of capacity (and illustrates how important it is that you check your exact model as there are so many different capacities) Volkswagen Tiguan Towing Capacity & VW Tiguan Weight Limit Information

 

[Tiddlypom]

What are you planning to tow? I notice that you are in Devon. As a native Devonian now in exile who knows just how vicious Devon hills are, I'd always suggest getting the beefiest tow vehicle that you can, and a Tiguan is not such a vehicle.

 

[Hallo2012]

i had the 2WD one and it happily towed 2 x 13hh in a LW trailer ON THE ROAD but it was completely utterly useless off road.

 

[J_sarahd]

I tow (quite infrequently now) with a Tiguan - not entirely sure on the make off the top of my head but it’s a pretty basic model. It does struggle up-hill sometimes so I’d echo Tiddlypom and get the beefiest vehicle you can get if you’re in a hilly area

 

[sportsmansB]

I had a 4wd one and blew the turbo while towing (had to limp to edge of dual carraigeway) - this was with one 16.3h horse in a 505
I wouldn't, to be honest- just get something more powerful if you want to be confident that you won't get stuck

This was an older one (I think 2012) but happened in around 2016 so it was a fairly fresh vehicle

 

[archiesmum]

I have a 4motion DSG with a 2200kgs capacity and it happily tows up and down the Devon hills with ID mares and foals in an Ifor Williams trailer. My ID mare at her heaviest was 825kgs and it towed her in a Bateson trailer without a struggle. The DSG makes towing a piece of cake ?

 

[Piglet]

Thank

There have been several people on here who have towed with Tiguans very happily. If you did a search for Tiguan, you'd probably find the posts pretty easily.

There are several different models with different towing capacities though so check exactly how much you would be able to tow with it. What trailer do you have and how much do(es) your horse(s) weigh?

This list should give you an idea of capacity (and illustrates how important it is that you check your exact model as there are so many different capacities) Volkswagen Tiguan Towing Capacity & VW Tiguan Weight Limit Information

Thank you, I have a Nugent trailer and my horse is approx 600kgs

 

[Piglet]

What are you planning to tow? I notice that you are in Devon. As a native Devonian now in exile who knows just how vicious Devon hills are, I'd always suggest getting the beefiest tow vehicle that you can, and a Tiguan is not such a vehicle.

Thank you, at the moment I tow with an old Ford Ranger 2.5 manual truck

 

[Piglet]

I have a 4motion DSG with a 2200kgs capacity and it happily tows up and down the Devon hills with ID mares and foals in an Ifor Williams trailer. My ID mare at her heaviest was 825kgs and it towed her in a Bateson trailer without a struggle. The DSG makes towing a piece of cake ?

What is a DSG?

 

[Annagain]

Thank

Thank you, I have a Nugent trailer and my horse is approx 600kgs

I've just looked the trailer up and it weighs 1080kg so you'll be towing 1680kg. I assume you're not planning on taking other horses? Most of the models have a 2200kg capacity or greater so you'll be well within the legal limits of the car. I would imagine that those with the greatest capacities would cope well even with Devon's hills, although I've never towed with one myself. You do need to make sure of the exact model and its capacity though. It's on the car's V5 if you want to be 100% certain.

 

[sbloom]

What is a DSG?

The VW version of an automatic gearbox, I think it has two clutches (I have a DSG Caddy van).

 

[Piglet]

I've just looked the trailer up and it weighs 1080kg so you'll be towing 1680kg. I assume you're not planning on taking other horses? Most of the models have a 2200kg capacity or greater so you'll be well within the legal limits of the car. I would imagine that those with the greatest capacities would cope well even with Devon's hills, although I've never towed with one myself. You do need to make sure of the exact model and its capacity though. It's on the car's V5 if you want to be 100% certain.

Thank you for that info really appreciated, I only ever tow with 1 horse and having the 190 bhp it will hopefully be “man” enough. I am selling my every day vehicle and the truck to have just the 1 vehicle so also looking for fuel economy for every day use

 

[phizz4]

http://www.towingcapacity.co.uk/
Check your towing capacity here. The 190 bhp is enough power, it's whether the car is heavy enough to stop the tail wagging the dog.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

The VW version of an automatic gearbox, I think it has two clutches (I have a DSG Caddy van).

DSG are lovely gearboxes, very smooth and usually reliable. Ideal for towing. Just need to service them every 35,000 miles.

Quite a few friends tow with Tiguans.

 

[leflynn]

I have VW Tiguan (12 plate 140bhp) and it tows an ifor and a 15.1 tb with no issues up and down some beefy Northumberland/Cumbrian hills and across some boggy fields

 

[Michen]

I loved my Tiguan but I was VERY grateful for my Touareg for steep exmoor hills. No way would I have wanted to be in anything less.

 

[Piglet]

I have VW Tiguan (12 plate 140bhp) and it tows an ifor and a 15.1 tb with no issues up and down some beefy Northumberland/Cumbrian hills and across some boggy fields

Thank you that is encouraging to know ? mine will be 190bhp

 

[Piglet]

Yup that is my my main concern, I will
contact the guy who serviced my trailer

http://www.towingcapacity.co.uk/
Check your towing capacity here. The 190 bhp is enough power, it's whether the car is heavy enough to stop the tail wagging the dog.

Y

 

[Inda]

I bought the 2.2l diesel dsg in 2021 and had no issues with the steep hills to and from the yard. I love it

I do accept though it can only pull one horse though, takes my 480kg in a 506 with no effort needed

 

[BMA2]

Sorry to revive an old thread...

Apparently there are some Tiguans 21-24 that can tow 2.5kg...although so far some VW garages have confirmed and others have said differently. Which is flipping helpful.

I have a IW 510 and usually 1 horse. There might be occasions it has 2 but we'd be talking about a 16.2hh TB type and a 15hh Connie type.

Would be my everyday car so I reckon a Touareg will bankrupt more than the horse does...

I'd be towing probably twice a month. For a max of an hour in each direction at best guess...so I'm not running across the country. What's your thoughts?

 

[ditsyponies]

Sorry to revive an old thread...

Apparently there are some Tiguans 21-24 that can tow 2.5kg...although so far some VW garages have confirmed and others have said differently. Which is flipping helpful.

I have a IW 510 and usually 1 horse. There might be occasions it has 2 but we'd be talking about a 16.2hh TB type and a 15hh Connie type.

Would be my everyday car so I reckon a Touareg will bankrupt more than the horse does...

I'd be towing probably twice a month. For a max of an hour in each direction at best guess...so I'm not running across the country. What's your thoughts?

Hey, I have a VW Tiguan 2016 with 2.2T capacity and tow a cheval liberte trailer. I would happily tow my 15h connie in it all day, regularly take her out weekly. However I wouldn't tow two big horses with it, it just isn't powerful enough - max I would go would be 15 minutes but it would be tight. If you do find one for 2.5, you should be okay just double, triple check as I bought mine thinking it was 2.5 and it isn't, the V5 will say. Hope that helps.

 

[BMA2]

Fab. It's amazing how unclued up the dealers are

 

[BMA2]

Thanks.
90% on my driving is within about a 5 mile radius so I'm a bit concerned re MPG and the Touareg.

Most of the time it will be trailer plus just mine which would be well under 1,700

IF I put in a pal that would make me about 2,200 max

I just don't want to strain the vehicle but also I don't think a 3.0l beast is going to enjoy my 5 min trips to school, work and yard and it'll make me pay

 

[9tails]

It doesn't really matter how far or how often you tow two, if the vehicle isn't capable of towing them up a steep hill that's within that five mile radius it's not capable and you're then stuck at the bottom with two up and a queue of traffic behind you.

 

[BMA2]

So do you don't think it will get up a hill if it was 2.3 and the car is only able to pull 2.5?

 

[Sealine]

I know someone who bought a Tiguan for towing a 511 with one horse. It was her first time towing and she went to pick up her new horse. 20 mins into the journey it died on her going up a hill. The RAC came out and told her she could limp the car home but not to tow with it. I think it was the clutch that went. The horse and trailer had to be rescued by a friend. She replaced the Tiguan with a Kia Sorento.

 

[9tails]

So do you don't think it will get up a hill if it was 2.3 and the car is only able to pull 2.5?

It will struggle, no doubt about it. It may blow the turbo, it may burn out the clutch. It may not do it the 1st time or the 50th time but it's too close to its maximum to add that pressure and expect it to last.

 

[HopOnTrot]

I tow with a 3l Discovery and I can tell you I am very grateful for it when I’ve had to follow cyclists up a hill at 5mph because I can’t overtake.

I’d rather have lower fuel economy and feel confident in my car.

I used to tow with a 2l VW Amarok and found the auto gear box crap, not sure if it’s the same as the Tiguan. I only tow with one pony who weighs under 400kg and it didn’t have the grunt the Disco does.

I would look at the Toureg (sp?) they’re cheap to run and have a bit more power I think.

 

[BMA2]

OK...

So does anyone have a Touareg and do short trips.

What sort of MPG do you get

(braces herself)