How good at towing is this model Yeti?

[Digemdeep]

Hi,

 

I'm new to the forum, as I am considering buying my first Skoda, a Yeti 2 x 4  2015  2 litre diesel   110 bhp.

My question is will this be ok towing my 1250 kg caravan.   Will it cope with hills etc.   I currently tow with a 2004 mondeo 130 bhp TDCi.

I don't really want a 4 x 4.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Ryeman]

Compare the torque rather than bhp.

[logiclee]

Is that 1250kg Miro or 1250kg mtplm?

[Llanigraham]

It will cope, but you are getting towards the upper end of it's (sensible) towing capability, and I suspect would be using the gears a lot.

[Ryeman]

I guess you have to discount the vans weight by the 2WD's lower weight which may bring it back closer to ~1100

But then that introduces other total weight calculations of course.

Edited 28 June, 2016 by Ryeman

[Urrell]

This Youtube clip shows the Greenline so yours will be at least as good.

[VAGCF]

If it was me I'd be going for a more powerful version.

 

And even though you don't want it, the 4x4 which may be useful in fields etc. But also it will be (if a manual) 6 speed rather than 5 which has obvious advantages for towing.

 

Even when not towing I find I'm caught between gears sometimes and wished I'd got 6.

[marcusthehat]

I say , yes it will, be man enough to tow 1250Kg, from experience in a 1998 110TDI Galaxy, or even our current wee squirt of a 105 TDI Octavia.

Brain is more useful than brawn when towing.

[eribaMotters]

Hi,

 

I'm new to the forum, as I am considering buying my first Skoda, a Yeti 2 x 4  2015  2 litre diesel   110 bhp.

My question is will this be ok towing my 1250 kg caravan.   Will it cope with hills etc.   I currently tow with a 2004 mondeo 130 bhp TDCi.

I don't really want a 4 x 4.

 

Thanks in advance.

The tow limit is 1500kg, which I would not like to do.

With my 110bhp 2014 2x4 I tow 900kg at present and it's a breeze.

My new van on order is 1200kg and I foresee no problem.

I have towed 1300kg with a 100bhp Touran diesel [shares Golf floorpan] to the south of France. It was no gazelle but it was a very stable tow.

More bhp would always be nice, but it is not essential.

I think you need to consider what % of your driving is towing.

 

Colin

[keeff69]

We towed for two years with a 2013 Yeti 110 bhp Manual 2 litre diesel 2wd.  Our Eriba caravan has a mtplm of 1300kg, and is a bit more streamlined than most British vans.

 

We had no problems at all with this arrangement during many trips to Belgium, Germany, Austria, France and all over the UK.  I use cruise control much of the time and occasionally needed to drop down from 5th to 4th on long hills.  Fuel consumption was always in the range of 36 to 40mpg.  We were always struck with how stable the Yeti tows compared with previously owned Octavias.

 

We have recently bought, secondhand, a 2015 Yeti SEL 4x4 150bhp SCR 2 litre diesel and last week had our first trip with it.  Found it to be a very similar tow, with fuel consumption at 35mpg, but it held 6th gear easily on Norfolk and Suffolk roads.

 

Keith

[logiclee]

Assuming the 1250kg is the MTPLM weight of the caravan and you have experience then you'd have no problem with the 110 TDi Yeti.

 

The Yeti has a 1377kg kerbweight so your towing ratio is 91%, some way above the 85% recommended towing ratio for new towers but below the 100% recommended ratio for experienced towers. And below the 1500kg tow limit.

 

The Yeti has a short rear overhang so resists pitching, has well damped firm suspension and handles well which all aids towing stability.

 

The 110 model has a lot less torque than the 140 but there's still sufficient on tap for 1250kg in my opinion.

 

If 1250kg is the caravans MIRO figure then no you need something heavier and more powerful. 

 

Lee

[skippy41]

SWMBO, is about to get the 2012 model 4x4 CR version, we asked to tow test it before we decided, tows our 1450 MTPLM van as if it wasn't there.

the 85% rule isn't actually a rule, its just a guide for the inexperienced,  Skoda themselves give the maximum tow weight, of the 4x4 version as 2000 KG not that anyone would be daft enough to go to that, but there is always one somewhere.

so there is plenty of room for manoeuvre  up to 1500KG

[logiclee]

SWMBO, is about to get the 2012 model 4x4 CR version, we asked to tow test it before we decided, tows our 1450 MTPLM van as if it wasn't there.

the 85% rule isn't actually a rule, its just a guide for the inexperienced,  Skoda themselves give the maximum tow weight, of the 4x4 version as 2000 KG not that anyone would be daft enough to go to that, but there is always one somewhere.

so there is plenty of room for manoeuvre  up to 1500KG

 

Your towing ratio at 1450kg is 105% which is not recommended by both major Caravan Clubs or the National Caravan Council even for experienced towers. The maximum tow weights are set by the manufacturers for the ability to pull away on a gradient and do not consider stability at speed or the type of trailer.

A heavy builders trailer is a totally different towing experience to a high sided caravan with a high centre of gravity. Vehicle manufacturers do not consider the ability to control a snake and you will see many larger 4x4's have a max tow limit of 3500kg which for some is nearly 200% of the kerb weight.

 

Hence nearly all the clubs and manufacturers echo the 85% recommendation for new towers and up to 100% for experienced towers. 

 

Advising someone to tow a caravan over 100% goes against every professional body in the caravan industry including those that make a living manufacturing them.

 

Lee

[skippy41]

Your towing ratio at 1450kg is 105% which is not recommended by both major Caravan Clubs or the National Caravan Council even for experienced towers. The maximum tow weights are set by the manufacturers for the ability to pull away on a gradient and do not consider stability at speed or the type of trailer.

A heavy builders trailer is a totally different towing experience to a high sided caravan with a high centre of gravity. Vehicle manufacturers do not consider the ability to control a snake and you will see many larger 4x4's have a max tow limit of 3500kg which for some is nearly 200% of the kerb weight.

 

Hence nearly all the clubs and manufacturers echo the 85% recommendation for new towers and up to 100% for experienced towers. 

 

Advising someone to tow a caravan over 100% goes against every professional body in the caravan industry including those that make a living manufacturing them.

 

Lee

Why would Skoda themselves quote a 2000kg max tow then , it would be totally illegal for them to quote that if it wasn't capable and actually tested by them,, given that it has the 2ltr cr 140 engine and 4 wheel drive when required, we have been towing the van with a 10 plate 1.9 tdi 105 superb for the last 3 years without any problems the superbs max tow is 1600 KG

[logiclee]

Why would Skoda themselves quote a 2000kg max tow then , it would be totally illegal for them to quote that if it wasn't capable and actually tested by them,, given that it has the 2ltr cr 140 engine and 4 wheel drive when required, we have been towing the van with a 10 plate 1.9 tdi 105 superb for the last 3 years without any problems the superbs max tow is 1600 KG

 

Skoda and other manufacturers quote max tow for the ability to pull away on a set gradient, sometimes they quote two figures for two different gradients. That's why the Yeti ranges from 1200kg to 2100kg max tow depending on engine and drive train although the kerbweights only differ by less than 250kg. Manufacturers can reduce this limit if the vehicle has specific issues such as gearbox cooling on some models.

 

They do not quote on stability as they do not know what type of trailer you will tow. It may be perfectly stable to tow a 1800kg twin axle builders trailer behind a yeti. They are relatively small, have little drag, are not caught by cross winds and the centre of gravity is low. Caravans are the opposite, long, tall, severely effected by wind and have high centres of gravity, they are unstable and prone to snake hence why all the leading figures in the industry sign up to the 85%-100% recommendation to prevent the tail wagging the dog.

 

Regards

Lee

[JCP]

Reading this thread it seems that what is physically possible is only one of the factors you should be considering. The fact that a given vehicle may successfully drag a particular load but you should also have in mind the safety of yourself and other road users if you are reduced to slow and awkward progress so are those behind you and if at normal highway speed you fall victim to any loss of control those around you are literally impacting on others. I've seen it happen and watched a caravan explode all over the place on a dual carriageway. So you should consider the convenience and safety of others before attempting marginal or theoretical decisions.

[ernieb]

Reading this thread it seems that what is physically possible is only one of the factors you should be considering. The fact that a given vehicle may successfully drag a particular load but you should also have in mind the safety of yourself and other road users if you are reduced to slow and awkward progress so are those behind you and if at normal highway speed you fall victim to any loss of control those around you are literally impacting on others. I've seen it happen and watched a caravan explode all over the place on a dual carriageway. So you should consider the convenience and safety of others before attempting marginal or theoretical decisions.

As JCP has said its about how comfortable you feel when towing a particular combination. Whilst I don't tow now I did for many years starting with some family cars which although meeting, just about, the 85% rule felt really uncomfortable to drive. For a number of years I had an Izusu Trooper 3.5 diesel and frankly you could tow most things in any weather or road conditions.

I do think the 85% rule is a good place to start and having seem a car/van combination snake out of control and roll both into the side of the road it's not an experience I'd want to see repeated. Luckily the driver and passengers emerged ok. I have also seen a LR Disco towing a low trailer with a cement mixer on board it too started to snake out of control and took the combination into the hard shoulder both the right way up but it must have been very uncomfortable. I did stop and the driver felt his heavy powerful Disco more than capable but I think a combination of road cambers and side winds decided otherwise.

Proper caravan loading, nose weight and coupling height, are as important as the car van combination.

[VAGCF]

Reading this thread it seems that what is physically possible is only one of the factors you should be considering. The fact that a given vehicle may successfully drag a particular load but you should also have in mind the safety of yourself and other road users if you are reduced to slow and awkward progress so are those behind you and if at normal highway speed you fall victim to any loss of control those around you are literally impacting on others. I've seen it happen and watched a caravan explode all over the place on a dual carriageway. So you should consider the convenience and safety of others before attempting marginal or theoretical decisions.

Post No. 8 would tend to disagree with this.

[gumdrop]

Just got back from Wales towing my Bailey Orion 1076kg and it was fine,

towed my Eriba 1000kg Troll with the previous Yeti and again it towed well.

handling is very good mpg around the 37 mark. I had considered the

Celtic Tuning kit to take it up to 150ps but towing is a pastime not a full

time occupation.

Solo it flys, handles beautifully and gives good fuel economy, I love it!

 

PS the new one is about 4months old

Edited 30 June, 2016 by gumdrop

[skippy41]

http://www.towcar.info/

[GreenlineIIEstate]

http://www.towcar.info/

 

That's a good one which doesn't use Skoda's quoted kerb weight but adds a driver (75kg) to that figure.

 

Some don't and give an incorrect result.

[marcusthehat]

Post No. 8 would tend to disagree with this.

Sigh,

I cannot offer advice to those who should not be driving, let alone towing, as a 57 year old farmers son, who was taught/larned to "think" from an early age.

Which has resulted in 39 years accident free (bar minor dings) driving, mostly piddly FWD cars, but towing heavy trailers, and whilst not having towed a caravan, try a cattle trailer with a couple of fat cows therein, "live" loads are so much more interesting, I found.

So this "stability" issue, ensure the caravan is properly balanced, it should be possible  to lift the towball with ones back, if needs be levering over ones knee, if one gets an involuntary uppercut, too light, if the towball cannot be lifted, too heavy.

Simples so far.

Check the "yock" sits reasonably level, does it look "right", if it looks right, it will fly right (old RAF truism)

Then check tyre pressures, then check stability, on a clear stretch of road, always be "sensing" owt untoward.

Slow up and drive slower if the wind or HGV's are causing instability.

If necessary park up until the (exceptionally strong) wind abates.

Towing is harder, requiring more concentration than normal driving, especially if inexperienced.

It should not EVER be assumed to be a relaxed experience.

If one cannot grasp these essentials, one should not be towing, (but I suspect many cannot, but still tow)

But feel safer in a big heavy powerful 4WD vehicle, cos then when they are involved in a crash or mishap, hey it warney their fault, how could it be!

Cheers

Marcus

Edited 1 July, 2016 by dieseldogg

[PirateSyrett]

Hi there,

+1 for the Yeti as a rock solid tow vehicle. Our 170 Yeti 4x4 has a max tow weight of 2100kg and it tows our boat (2050kg on its trailer) with ease. Long hills (up or down) are not a problem even at a 100% provided you work the gear box and momentum sensibly. The gearing works well apart from 1st which could do with a lower ratio at this weight and a clutch that's more progressive - but then again our car's only 12 months old so we expect it to get better with more use.

Our Yeti's in this picture if you look closely!

Edited 2 July, 2016 by PirateSyrett

[Defenderben]

^^^^The outboard motor looks to be bigger than the Yeti, never mind the huge boat!

Edited 2 July, 2016 by Defenderben

[Ryeman]

The distance from the ball to trailer wheels look very towing friendly.