Hi,

I’m looking at the Skoda Octavia combi with a view to towing a single horse box. 

The box will be 767kg unladen and including a Connemara pony, brings us up to about 1300kg.

 

I noticed that many of the 1.6L Diesels have a towing capacity of 1800kg.  I’m looking at 2016 models onwards.

 

I wondered if anyone on here tows a horsebox with a 1.6 diesel and if so, purely in terms of the engine size, how do you find the pulling and stopping capability.

 

Any thoughts / advice welcome

I'd check your licence to see if you can tow a trailer first.

In the process of getting ready for trailer test so just looking at vehicles for now 

Edited 17 May, 20197 yr by ReelyWheely

1 minute ago, ReelyWheely said:

In the process of getting ready for trailer test so just looking at vehicles now 

I'll be hiring a jeep from my instructor for actual test so I'm just trying to research capabilities before deciding yada yada

7 minutes ago, ReelyWheely said:

In the process of getting ready for trailer test so just looking at vehicles for now 

Good man.

I would reconsider.

 

The 1.6TDi manual has a 5 speed box with a tall first gear and widely spaced ratios, not ideal for towing.

 

The Octavia has a fairly long rear overhang and low 75kg maximum nose weight which can cause problems for caravans and horseboxes.

 

And your outfit will be nearly a 100% match which is not ideal for an inexperienced tower.

 

Lee

 

 

i'm pretty sure you could tow with it but it wouldn't be an experience I would want to put myself through

 

18 minutes ago, logiclee said:

I would reconsider.

 

The 1.6TDi manual has a 5 speed box with a tall first gear and widely spaced ratios, not ideal for towing.

 

The Octavia has a fairly long rear overhang and low 75kg maximum nose weight which can cause problems for caravans and horseboxes.

 

And your outfit will be nearly a 100% match which is not ideal for an inexperienced tower.

 

Lee

 

 

Would a 2.0l be better or is nose weight issue just making the Octavia a non runner? If you'll excuse the pun! 

 

Just really trying to avoid SUV types as not really in the budget and well....I just don't like them to be honest. 

 

 

 

47 minutes ago, ReelyWheely said:

Would a 2.0l be better or is nose weight issue just making the Octavia a non runner? If you'll excuse the pun! 

 

Just really trying to avoid SUV types as not really in the budget and well....I just don't like them to be honest. 

 

 

 

 

Towing 1300kg as a new tower I'd be looking at a Passat / Superb / Mondeo if you want a "Car" .

 

I tow 1460kg. Used to be with a Passat and now a Jag XF.  The Passat was 140PS/320NM and 1500kg and it never felt comfortable. The Jag is 200PS/450NM and 1800kg with an 8 speed box and is much more relaxed.

 

We had a 1.6TDi Octavia but at 105PS/250NM and 1320kg I wouldn't have dreamed of towing 1460kg with it. The Max tow figure is derived from the ability to pull away on a slope and not really any indication of stability or performance. That's why some 4x4's have a 3500kg tow limit.

Edited 17 May, 20197 yr by logiclee

I tow 1300kg regularly with a MkII 4x4 octavia 1.9 TDI. Despite having a 6 speeder with close ratios compared to the 5 speed 2wd it was very underpowered but now tows very well mapped to 140bhp from the original 105. 

 

If you want to tow 1300kg with a MK3 and also considering its a horse box so will be in and out of fields etc I'd go for a 2.0 TDI 4x4/Scout. Rated to 2000kg so 1300 isn't going to stress it at all and the 4x4 system gives it a fair bit of extra weight over the 2wd model. The Scout also comes with heavier duty springs and dampers as part of the rough road pack. 85% guide for a Scout is pretty much bang on 1300kg. 

 

Stability wise is the trailer single or twin axle. I'd prefer to tow 2T on a twin axle to 1500 on a single. 

If you are going to shows, don't get a 2wd. First time on wet grass and you'll never get off. If you are just going down the farm, or only taking to places that you know in summer where you won't get stuck, 2wd might be ok. But personally, even then I would get closer to 2.0 and an automatic. If you are towing near the limit with a manual, you will wear your clutch out very quickly when pulling away on inclines. I knackered the clutch on a 2 litre Kia 4x4 dropping a horse off that we'd sold. Narrow country lane, steep incline, car coming the other way. Having to stop then pull away again. And that was a single horsebox with one 13hh horse (well, pony technically) in the back.

 

So, automatic for ease of towing

2 litre for less stress on the engine and easier towing

4x4 if you are going to shows so you can get home again

 

Just my 2p.

 

 

19 minutes ago, NikTheGeek said:

If you are going to shows, don't get a 2wd. First time on wet grass and you'll never get off. If you are just going down the farm, or only taking to places that you know in summer where you won't get stuck, 2wd might be ok. But personally, even then I would get closer to 2.0 and an automatic. If you are towing near the limit with a manual, you will wear your clutch out very quickly when pulling away on inclines. I knackered the clutch on a 2 litre Kia 4x4 dropping a horse off that we'd sold. Narrow country lane, steep incline, car coming the other way. Having to stop then pull away again. And that was a single horsebox with one 13hh horse (well, pony technically) in the back.

 

So, automatic for ease of towing

2 litre for less stress on the engine and easier towing

4x4 if you are going to shows so you can get home again

 

Just my 2p.

 

 

Take Nicks sound advice. After some years towing a horse box with a Subaru and finally killing a lovely car we went down the Toyota 3.0l D4D Auto route. Nine years of trouble free motoring, Steer clear of Land Rovers unless you've got deep pockets. I personally would not touch a car with a tow bar on unless I new the history.

 

Not all is simple I have to say and with the departure of the Land Cruiser and trailer My other half has purchased  £31k Equitrek  vehicle, much to my saying what a waste of money.

 

The answer is to get rid of the horse!

That is way underpowered and too light for the job. Pretty much what the others have said. You need more torque to get it moving  and a better trailer/towcar weight ratio for stability. The last thing you want is the tail wagging the dog and ending up upside down on the motorway. 

 

I tow a 1250kg twin axle flat front box trailer with a Superb 280 4x4 DSG and that isn't a bad combo, so there are cars (as opposed to a soft/off roader) that are good towcars. My dad tows a 4.5m caravan with a 240ps DSG Mondeo estate and has no issues with that either.