For those that didn;t know - a greenline 1.6 can tow a decent size caravan (http://tinyurl.com/kmesqhj)

 

BUT...

 

Has anyone here done it?

What MPG do you go down to?

 

Where did you get the tow bar from and how much did it cost you?

 

Anything else I should know?

 

Thanks

I towed a large trailer filled with dirt (total weighed 2500 kg - to much, I know) but my Greenline pulled away nicely.

 

In my opinion there is only one option regarding which towbar to buy: the OEM Skoda one. Buy it from Skodateile.cz or similar,

that is the cheapest way. It fits the car, the eletronics fits the cars (you will get interaction with parking sensors, trailer stability

and blown-bulb alarm for the trailer) and it´s impossible to see the car is towbar equipped, when the neck detaches. I fitted mine

myself in a few hours.

Just a word of warning,

 

The 1.6TD will tow ok due to it's torque but doing it all the time you will tire the clutch and and engine,

 

It's well known in the trade that small engines asked to do big engine things are ok for a while before they lose their horses at around 50k, it'll also work the turbo harder, in some ways that's good as it will help clean it but it could also knacker it fast as well, one reason a lot of turbos are failing early anyway is someone chose to fit a small turbo on the 2.0 engines that should really have had a larger turbo,

 

Just so you know the risks.

I've a 2.0CR estate and tow a caravan of 1350kg (about an 85% towing match) and can't say I'd fancy towing with less power than that for the weight especially if the car is reasonably loaded with bodies and luggage.

 

I stick to the speed limits when towing (unlike a lot of caravanners who wouldn't know a speed limit or a towing mirror if it hit them) but don't like to dawdle and often overtake slower traffic on single carriageways when it's safe to do so.  I can imagine doing that with the 1.6 could be a bit of a struggle.

 

FWIW on a typical tow combining a range of motorway and A roads I return about 30MPG - about 5 less than when towing solo on my regular commute.  My towbar is a Witter detachable fitted by the local towbar specialist just over two years ago and was £599 including recoding the car to enable the various functions (A frame in the reversing display, fog light disable etc.)

The problem you have is that you are seriously restricted on the vans you can choose. Certainly during the last 10 years from the Bailey perspective the 85% kerb weight of the Superb 1.6tdi puts you in 2 Berth territory. There are very few 4 berths that come in around that figure.

But if that is all you need then happy days.

Thanks all

I am looking at a Swift Utopia - 1111kg 4 berth - its long, but very light for its size.

Anyone know if a fixed towbar will constantly set off the reverse sensors?

My sensors have no problems with the tow bar. But you can simply test this yourself: Turn on the ignition (do NOT start the engine), put gear in reverse, sit in the boot (with the boot lid open), and move a steel bar (or wooden stick) around behind the rear bumper. Now you can precisely pin-point the area in which the sensors will be triggered.

For all the time your going to be reversing with the van I wouldn't worry about the sensors activating, due to them only working in reverse

One thing to consider is ground clearance as the Greenline is lowered.  My Greenline occasionally touches speed humps etc.without a trailer.    If you have a van on the back take care with your nose weight to be  sure that the rear of the car is not much lower than standard or you could experience some grounding.

The Greenline is only lowered 15 mm., so I don´t think it makes that big a difference.

 

The OEM parking sensors are disabled when a trailer/caravan is attached. That´s a built in function in the OEM electronic box for the towbar.