Has anyone any experience yet of towing with a Yeti?

The spec says up to 2000kg, and for a 1500kg car this is not within acceptable limits.

Some 'vans these days with double axles are under this yet would seem to be just too much for the Yeti.

Any guidance would be appreciated, and comments about towing anything else (like horse trailers?).

Thanks.

Hi hatband,

You may want to look at these threads as well...

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/154315-towbar-costs-again/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/158417-two-p-buttons-what-does-the-2nd-one-do/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/156810-towing-mirrors/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/156550-clever-little-monsterand-not-so-clever/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/146823-tow-bar-cost/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/148069-towing-experience/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/152759-what-exactly-is-towbar-prep-in-a-yeti/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/150226-no-towing-bar-for-spanish-12-yetis/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/143591-towing/

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/140365-tow-bar/

Best wishes

Lady Penelope :sun:

I not tried towing anything with a Yeti although I used a Scout TDi140 quite a bit in 2007 to pull a car trailer with a Caterham and some spare wheels and a few other bits and that had no problems what so ever.

But I realise a Caterham doesn't weigh much at all but that is the only experience I've got.

I imagine the Yeti with the right engine would make an excellent towcar?

Maybe you find something in this test by swedish caravan magazine (Yeti 140 TDI 4x4)

(Google translation)

Husvagn & Camping

Edited 13 April, 201016 yr by Helgestahill

Has anyone any experience yet of towing with a Yeti?

The spec says up to 2000kg, and for a 1500kg car this is not within acceptable limits.

Some 'vans these days with double axles are under this yet would seem to be just too much for the Yeti.

Any guidance would be appreciated, and comments about towing anything else (like horse trailers?).

Thanks.

I don't get why you think the figures are unacceptable? 2 tonnes limit is in line with a lot of the competitors (Freelander/Tiguan/Sportage) and where does the 1500kg figure come from?

Towing ability is one of the things I have been looking at, and the Yeti figures for a 140 diesel 4x4 compare well with the FL and Kia. The main difference is in the towball weight limit, where the FL is far superior at 100kg.

2000kg towing limit is for a trailer not a caravan. Legally I think a towed caravan cannot weigh more than the towing vehicle even if the towing vehicle is capable physically of towing more.

No, there is no legal difference; a caravan is by legal definition a trailer.

The law now states that you can tow up to the limit as specified by the manufacturer, subject to certain specific speed limits. Are you getting confused with the suggested limits of the Caravan Club that a caravan should not exceed 85% of the towing vehicles weight.

Just a note that the 2000Kg limit does not apply to early production Yeti's (before WK45/09), mine has a limit of 1600Kg. Fortunately I'm not planning towing

2075 kg = gross weight

3675 kg = gross weight with trailer (braked)

therefore max trailer = 1600 kg

Trailer un-braked 650 kg

TP

No, there is no legal difference; a caravan is by legal definition a trailer.

The law now states that you can tow up to the limit as specified by the manufacturer, subject to certain specific speed limits. Are you getting confused with the suggested limits of the Caravan Club that a caravan should not exceed 85% of the towing vehicles weight.

Thanks for clarification Llanigraham .I thought that the maximum towing weight of 100% of towing vehicles weight quoted by the Caravan Club was mandatory.Inexperienced towers were recommended not to exceed 85%

I would not be happy towing 130% over long distances and fortunately this would not arise as my existing van is 1150 KG and any new one would not be more than 1500KG.

it gets more and more confusing... ... ... I will just choose a van i fancy, and see!

Tomorrow I get my car. Then I will run about 2500 km (1553 mile) before I hang on the trailer. Then I'll be back with my towingexperiences

I remember another post with regard as how to decipher build dates etc from the description on the plate TMBKF7---------.

I have looked for over a hour with no success anyone the remember post?

Hi,

I've put a VIN code guide in the Tech Guide section My link . Also had discussion in the past with Ray_Green on identifying the manufacturing dates stamped on components, which will give an indication of the period your car might have been built My link

Also when a Skoda is delivered to the dealer there is a large 'build sticker' in the windscreen which gets binned on PDI. In small text at the top of that is the date and time of production sign off.

Hope that's of help,

TP

TP thanks first link was the one I was looking for, I have my VIN number so it was good to confirm dates factory etc.

Just looking forward to getting car next Thursday/Friday.

If you passed your driving test after 1997 then legally you cannot tow anything that weighs more than the car unless you take the separate B+E test.

If you passed your test before 1997 then you will already have the B+E entitlement meaning you can tow anything up to the gross train weight for the vehicle.

However instability (snaking) is a real problem if you tow above 100% of the vehicle weight at speed, and very few people would recommend it. In additional, the general advice is to not tow above 85% of the vehicle weight until you are experienced at recognising the signs of an impending snake and know how to deal with it.

There's lots of good advice on towing caravans over at http://www.caravantalk.org.uk/

However instability (snaking) is a real problem if you tow above 100% of the vehicle weight at speed, and very few people would recommend it. In additional, the general advice is to not tow above 85% of the vehicle weight until you are experienced at recognising the signs of an impending snake and know how to deal with it.

And this is what happens when a van snakes! This happened right in front of me going to Devon one year - not a pleasant thing to see happen - (the van was the inexperienced driver's dad's and FAR too big for the BMW). My friend with me in my car works for the London Ambulance service and insisted his blue light go with us. Hence my car having a blue light on the roof!

The guy moved slighter over to avoid a parked AA van on the hard shoulder (that you can see in the distance of the second picture) and his caravan just started to snake when he returned to the slow lane... There were about 6 cars ahead of us that all braked like mad to avoid his swinging van... It rammed him into the armco (the bent steel clearly visible on the second picture as well as his brake/skid marks). Thankfully the driver, his wife and their baby were fine... though the baby had smashed side window glass all over its face - though did not even wake up and was unaware of the accident!!!

Edited 16 April, 201016 yr by 900000

That is SUCH great advice. I've been towing caravans for over 40 years, but was interested in the Yeti's ability.

Thanks for the link to caravantalk.

Just a note that the 2000Kg limit does not apply to early production Yeti's (before WK45/09), mine has a limit of 1600Kg. Fortunately I'm not planning towing

There is a 3500 kg maximum vehicle plus trailer weight limit on a regular driver's license - in Continental EU at least.

Its very complicated this whole towing thing.

But simples

(i) Stuff the Caravan club advice.....read the veh plate for the permitted masses

(ii) One needs to perm ones driving licence with the vehicle and trailer

Pre 1997 drivers ( our old Blue...was that NI only.... licence) used to be allowed 12000kg gross train weight , ie a 7.5tonne truck pulling a 4.5 tonne trailer ( but trailers on overrun brakes limited to 3500kg).....but post 1997 limited to 8250 GTW, so only a 750 kg trailer behind a 7500 truck or any permutation thereof, depending on the plated weights for the vehicle.

FOR post 1997 car licence hiolders

A 3500 plated veh is limited to a 750 trailer

Below 3500 kg plated veh weight limite to a total of 3500kg for both towing vehicle and trailer....... subject to plated limits

and I believe that the trailer cannot outweigh the unladen weight of the towing vehicle

So

ITS complicated

The first trip with car and caravan. The caravan weight is about 1200 kg. Impressed by the consumption 8,5l/100km ( 33,22 mpg)