I own a 1 year old 1.4tsi hatch. Wasn't the original plan but we are strongly considering getting a caravan. We are 2.4 children so will need to be at least a 4 berth. If we stick to the recomendation of 85% kerb weight then we are very limited. So I was wandering what makes and models of van you are pulling and any issues.

I own a 1 year old 1.4tsi hatch. Wasn't the original plan but we are strongly considering getting a caravan. We are 2.4 children so will need to be at least a 4 berth. If we stick to the recomendation of 85% kerb weight then we are very limited. So I was wandering what makes and models of van you are pulling and any issues.

 

In Denmark the max you are allowed to tow with 1.4 TSI is 1500kg. I don't know if it is any different in the UK.

 

I tow a 1100kg caravan without any problems (it probably weights a tiny bit more with all the stuff my wife brings...). I would not hesitate to tow the max of 1500kg. 

 

You have to shift down going uphill or if you want to overtake on the motorway. I have the DSG so I really don't notice. 

 

It is a bit thirsty while towing -- I get around 8-9 km/L. 

I don't tow with mine but considered fitting a tow bar except they are so damned expensive to fit here in Australia compared to amost every other car brand.

 

From memory the towbar download allowed on the Octavia is about 75kg so I think you would be better off limiting the towing weight to about 1200 kg rather than the max for any long journey or at any real speed.

Many years back I used to borrow a relatives folding trailer camper.  That was much lighter, could be put up in about 10 minutes and had minimal effect on fuel consumption or handling at legal speed limit on the flat.

I even think it improved the aerodynamic performance of the Austin Maxi I had at the time (it would not have been hard).

 

I would have a nose around a couple of the caravan forums if I were you.

My caravan is 960kg ex-works (albeit a 2 berth) and pulled it with my 1.4 DSG Estate.  Add in the stuff that was in it and it was probably 11-1200kg; no problem half way across England and down to Le Mans last year.

I tow a Lunar Solar 525 2003 model. I think its 1400KG all up.

 

Octy III VRS Tdi Estate. I have no problems towing it.

I tow a Swift Challenger Sport 514 upgraded to MTPLM 1500kg ,

Tow car Octavia III Scout 150ps manual, no problems whatsoever

Edited 26 October, 201510 yr by Williami33

With due respect the towing capabilities of a diesel and AWD are not really comparable with a much lighter 1.4tsi fwd .

1500 kg is certainly possible but I would like a little margin for error especially for the inexperienced

Just giving info on what I tow and with what. No harm in that.

Just giving info on what I tow and with what. No harm in that.

 

Well yes, but the towing capacity of the diesel Scout is 1800 kg and the 1.4tsi is 1500 kg and the OP may not realise that.

I don't have a Diesel Scout. But whatever . Seems trying to be helpful gets your wrists slapped.

Thanks for the feedback feel better that I should be good upto the 1300kg unladen/kerb weight

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I'm quite happy to get my wrists slapped.

My Scout 150 will be pulling a Lunar Quasar 524 weighing in at 1400kg max. The vectra it replaced handled it well so it should all be good.

We tow an old Avondale 4 berth that comes in at 1050kg MTPLM with a 1.6 diesel.  Tows great to be fair to it, especially considering we don't use a stabiliser.  Sits at 60 to 65mph stable.

I'm quite happy to get my wrists slapped.

My Scout 150 will be pulling a Lunar Quasar 524 weighing in at 1400kg max. The vectra it replaced handled it well so it should all be good.

Hi Paddy I have a Lunar Quasar 525.

Skodafang is that with the rear dinette? Would probably suit us better now with growing kids.

Was at the caravan show a couple of weeks ago. Very tempted by the 586! Just need to find the money tree

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Skodafang is that with the rear dinette? Would probably suit us better now with growing kids.

Was at the caravan show a couple of weeks ago. Very tempted by the 586! Just need to find the money tree

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Yep rear dinette with bunk bed. Money tree would be ace mate.

Its bad practise to tow above 100% ratio  even if your car has the towing capacity  , any caravan when fully loaded should weigh around 90% of your cars kerbweight for a safe towing match.

Depending when you passed your test also puts restrictions on what you can tow .

 

eg.   Swift caravan   MIRO 1425kg  -  MTPLM 1600kg

       

 Ford Mondeo     kerbweight 1625kg -    MAM  2100kg (cars fully loaded weight)

                                                            ---------------------------

                                                                        3700kg     =      Licence upgrade if passed test after 97       

Well I've gone and done it just brought a Bailey Discovery 300 (2004) with MTPLM of 1156kg

So car MAM of 1805kg + 1156kg is 2961kg well inside max of 3305kg and below my licence max of 3500kg

Car kerb weight of 1250kg and caravan of 1156kg so only 92% just about the best 4 birth I could find.

Need to ask about tow bar but will start a new thread.

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Has anyone experience of towing with a vrs tdi? We've taken the plunge and bought our first caravan. Have to wait to March to pick it up. I know on paper it should be a good tow car with the power available but would like to hear any first hand experiences.

With due respect the towing capabilities of a diesel and AWD are not really comparable with a much lighter 1.4tsi fwd .

1500 kg is certainly possible but I would like a little margin for error especially for the inexperienced

 

Probably to the surprise of many people, according to its torque curve and its well suited gearbox, the 1.4 TSI has better ability for towing than the 2.0 TDI 150.

MPG will be lower, for sure, but for all dynamic aspects it will be better as it brings more torque to the driving wheels than the equivalent diesel in 4th, 5th and 6th gears.

Max trailer load is however a bit lower, I guess this might be due to brakes system dimensionning.

Has anyone experience of towing with a vrs tdi? We've taken the plunge and bought our first caravan. Have to wait to March to pick it up. I know on paper it should be a good tow car with the power available but would like to hear any first hand experiences.

I tow with a VRS TDI . All up caravan weight is 1500 KG plus. Don't have any problems except wheel spin on grass.

 

Its a good tow car !

I tow with a VRS TDI . All up caravan weight is 1500 KG plus. Don't have any problems except wheel spin on grass.

Its a good tow car !

Thanks, our caravan is just under 1400kg max weight so reckoned it should be a fairly decent match. The wheel spin doesn't surprise me, I've found the car to be quick enough to do that all on it's own on a road never mind grass with a caravan on!

Thanks, our caravan is just under 1400kg max weight so reckoned it should be a fairly decent match. The wheel spin doesn't surprise me, I've found the car to be quick enough to do that all on it's own on a road never mind grass with a caravan oSlo

Sloped grass throws up all sorts of challenges !

I tow an Elddis Affinity 482 1350 kg with my black edition combi with no problems. Previously towed with a Yeti and a Land Rover Freelander 2 and I find both Skoda's a smoother tow than the Freelander.

 

Picked up our 1st caravan today, an Elddis Avante 554, weighing in at just over 1220kg unladen. Towing with a 2016MY vRS tdi hatch manual. My first time towing so nothing to compare it to, but found it very easy and the car very quickly helped to settle my first time nerves! Very stable, smooth and plenty of pulling power. In case anyone interested; I had a TowTrust removable tow bar fitted, fully coded etc and all worked well e.g. reverse sensors deactivated and showing the picture of the car and trailer on the screen when reversing etc. So very happy with it all!