I am wondering if it is possible to fit a tow bar to an Octavia vrs, estate or hatch for caravan towing.

I cant say I have ever noticed one towing  only non vrs models.

My local skoda garage eventually said yes but say they have never fitted one, I also know that the vrs models have reduced ride height.

Thanks in advance.

 

I've got the factory fitted one on my vRS others on the forum have had aftermarket ones fitted so I'm sure that someone will come along with a suggestion.

 

It is best to ensure that the quote includes the proper electronic interface, so that the car modules know that you are towing, you may be lucky and if yours was second hand that the previous owner ticked the Tow Hitch Preparation option.

 

A properly integrated tow bar will identify to the ABS and Stability Control Programming that you are towing.

 

 

15 minutes ago, Gti Jazz Blue said:

I've got the factory fitted one on my vRS others on the forum have had aftermarket ones fitted so I'm sure that someone will come along with a suggestion.

 

It is best to ensure that the quote includes the proper electronic interface, so that the car modules know that you are towing, you may be lucky and if yours was second hand that the previous owner ticked the Tow Hitch Preparation option.

 

A properly integrated tow bar will identify to the ABS and Stability Control Programming that you are towing.

 

 

Hi Gti jazz blue, appreciate your response and advice, is your tow hitch a removable swan neck  a folding one or fixed.

I note you have the petrol vrs, do you tow a caravan?

Thanks.

First question is how heavy is the caravan you're looking to tow?

14 minutes ago, kentdale said:

Hi Gti jazz blue, appreciate your response and advice, is your tow hitch a removable swan neck  a folding one or fixed.

I note you have the petrol vrs, do you tow a caravan?

Thanks.

 

Factory fit option is removable I only use mine for a Bike Rack - towed a small box trailer once to the dump. 

 

I would go by the usual 85% rule to work out what size Caravan you could safely tow - there is plenty of guidance on the subject online.

14 minutes ago, tunedude said:

First question is how heavy is the caravan you're looking to tow?

Hi tunedude, its 1200kg all loaded, plus light items in car a wife and two hounds.

We tow with a13 yr old volvo xc 70 d5 which has a manual box, loooads of torque and good on fuel but just rolled over 100,000 mls, the tax is the bug bear at £325 yr.

Previously had mk 1 elegance octy 130 pd and used that to tow a small van then mrs wanted a shiny big van hence the volvo, since downsized the van tho so its a bit over kill but love the space and comfort.

Thanks

Edited 8 November, 20196 yr by kentdale
addition of text

10 minutes ago, Gti Jazz Blue said:

 

Factory fit option is removable I only use mine for a Bike Rack - towed a small box trailer once to the dump. 

 

I would go by the usual 85% rule to work out what size Caravan you could safely tow - there is plenty of guidance on the subject online.

Hi again I should have said I have owned a c van for 15 yrs , but you are correct on the 85% rule, I have seen loads of miss matched outfits on the roads that defy logic and common sense never mind safety.  

Martin.

I have a detachable Westfalia on my 245 estate. Only recently fitted it and purchased a caravan. 

 

Posted this photo in the 245 thread already... Going away next week! 

 

 

Hi Swirly 182, looks very smart, love the bright red, is it the metallic velvet one.

We have the Adria Altea four 4 in bright green with kaleidoscope sides, its a lot like marmite.

what does the car tow maximum (braked).

Can show the Mrs this!

Cheers.

Edited 8 November, 20196 yr by kentdale
addition of text

Wow! Never seen one of those before. Limited edition is it? 

 

Octavia is 1600kg or 1800kg max depending on the incline i think. This is gearbox / clutch rating I believe? 

 

With the car loaded realistically and the MTPLM of the caravan, the match is 87%. Although this rule has been around for decades and things have moved on. If you can achieve 85%, great. If you're between 85 and 100% I wouldn't worry too much as long as common sense is applied whilst loading and towing. All in my opinion of course. 

Do you have an Octavia vRS, your profile lists the Volvo, but a Fabia vRS? Or are you looking to buy one?

 

Non-vRS Octavia's are very softly sprung at the rear which can be problematic for towing, but it is possible to add assistance kits and/or stiffer springs.

 

The road tax on the Volvo seems quite reasonable for its age and size. There aren't many better cars out there for towing than an XC70.

1 hour ago, silver1011 said:

Do you have an Octavia vRS, your profile lists the Volvo, but a Fabia vRS? Or are you looking to buy one?

 

Non-vRS Octavia's are very softly sprung at the rear which can be problematic for towing, but it is possible to add assistance kits and/or stiffer springs.

 

The road tax on the Volvo seems quite reasonable for its age and size. There aren't many better cars out there for towing than an XC70.

Hi silver 1011, being a Yorkshire man York is a regular place we visit .

I have a lemon yellow mk1 fabia vrs that previously my son owned, needs a head gasket  and suprficial rust sorting when I get time.

We have owned the volvo for 11 yrs and yes it tows very well although it's a bit noisy from the d5 engine but it's not a bad noise.

Looked at superb hatch and octavia boot size, and either would be really good  but no where as heavy as the old tank tho.

Really liked our 54 plate mk 1 elegance 130 pd, pretty rapid motor in its day.

Martin 

Hi there, I have a 66 plate VRS Tdi hatch at present and have a detachable swan neck bosal/oris bar on it, we have a 4 berth van that is 1475kg mtplm and it tows it with no issues at all, I'm 99% going to be getting a facelift VRS hatch next week , a tdi again but a DSG this time and I will be putting another Bosal bar on that, it's not coded in though and when I put the car in reverse I need to mute the reversing sensors, but I don't mind doing that as the bar and fitting will be circa £400.

 

Cheers

1 hour ago, Swirly182 said:

Wow! Never seen one of those before. Limited edition is it? 

 

Octavia is 1600kg or 1800kg max depending on the incline i think. This is gearbox / clutch rating I believe? 

 

With the car loaded realistically and the MTPLM of the caravan, the match is 87%. Although this rule has been around for decades and things have moved on. If you can achieve 85%, great. If you're between 85 and 100% I wouldn't worry too much as long as common sense is applied whilst loading and towing. All in my opinion of course. 

Hi swirly 182, yes it was a celebration of Adria being in uk for 50 yrs,one like it was on display at the caravan show in the nec, 2014, it could be bought in loads of colour combinations,  we chose  the same and had to wait 9 months for delivery.

Get some funny looks when towing tho.

Only 2 like this in uk, not available any more.

Martin

Just now, esoxecosse said:

Hi there, I have a 66 plate VRS Tdi hatch at present and have a detachable swan neck bosal/oris bar on it, we have a 4 berth van that is 1475kg mtplm and it tows it with no issues at all, I'm 99% going to be getting a facelift VRS hatch next week , a tdi again but a DSG this time and I will be putting another Bosal bar on that, it's not coded in though and when I put the car in reverse I need to mute the reversing sensors, but I don't mind doing that as the bar and fitting will be circa £400.

 

Cheers

Hi escoxecosse, good to know, I would prefer a petrol one but know that a tdi would be the one I would end up with, never tried a DSG box tho, I have read that they can be a bit hesitant in stop start driving.

Martin.

Just to mention, as it does seem to get overlooked, if you passed your test after 1997 you can only have a car and caravan combo with a theoretical max of 3500kg or less.

 

I would legally be able to tow a larger caravan with my vrs than with my wife's diesel Mazda, despite that car being able to tow more, just because the Octavia is lighter.

 

Which is annoying as it's actually less safe, plus only the Mazda has a tow bar fitted...

 

 

Why is the Mazda less safe? 

11 minutes ago, Alex-W said:

Just to mention, as it does seem to get overlooked, if you passed your test after 1997 you can only have a car and caravan combo with a theoretical max of 3500kg or less.

 

I would legally be able to tow a larger caravan with my vrs than with my wife's diesel Mazda, despite that car being able to tow more, just because the Octavia is lighter.

 

Which is annoying as it's actually less safe, plus only the Mazda has a tow bar fitted...

 

 

Hi Alex w, it feels as tho I passed my car test just after the law to have a car preceded by a flag waver, 

15 minutes ago, Swirly182 said:

Why is the Mazda less safe? 

The Mazda is safer as it's heavier, by about 200kg.

The heavier the car in relation to the caravan, the better.

 

However, due to the lower weight of the vRS I can legally tow a larger van before the 3500kg limit is reached.  

This became apparent we borrowed my in laws caravan and I realised the max train weight was (theoretically) about 80kg too high.

My father in law towed it to the site however, ironically with a Mazda 6 also.  But he is allowed to due to paying his test about 20 years prior to me. 

I would be way under the limit and totally legal with the vrs though, however I don't have a tow bar on that car and I wouldn't be the right side of the 85% ratio.

Ok, got you. The 3500kg rule makes sense for 17 to ~24 year olds? But it prevents me (34) from buying a Volvo V70 or similar and having a more stable and potentially safer tow car, unless I pass the trailer test. Having said that, recently I watched dash cam footage of a Nissan Patrol LWB rolling 3 times after snaking with a single axle caravan, not too dissimilar to mine. Obviously driving too fast and possible incorrect loading. 

 

I had never towed anything before picking up the caravan (pictured) so I was apprehensive heading on to the motorway. But the Octavia felt more than stable and easily coped with the inclines at 55 to 60mph in 6th. Fuel economy on the other hand............. 

Hi Swirly 182, I remember the first time towing an old Lunar caravan with our Octavia hatch , pulled it ok  but like you pretty apprehensive first trip to near Skipton, bit narrow section of road after leaving the m6 to Kirkby lonsdale, 

When we collected our Adria from the dealer we had a complementary stay nr Pontefract,  a couple who collected there new Adria earlier that day went to same site and destroyed the side of the brand new van on the entrance gate pillar, just use good well adjusted towing mirrors and take yr time and watch the van swing.

It's easy done , I nearly had the same type of incident in Normandy as the site entrance was wide but had a pair of big stone entrance pillars with  large top corbels.

Regards 

Martin

On 08/11/2019 at 22:29, Swirly182 said:

Ok, got you. The 3500kg rule makes sense for 17 to ~24 year olds? But it prevents me (34) from buying a Volvo V70 or similar and having a more stable and potentially safer tow car, unless I pass the trailer test. Having said that, recently I watched dash cam footage of a Nissan Patrol LWB rolling 3 times after snaking with a single axle caravan, not too dissimilar to mine. Obviously driving too fast and possible incorrect loading. 

 

I had never towed anything before picking up the caravan (pictured) so I was apprehensive heading on to the motorway. But the Octavia felt more than stable and easily coped with the inclines at 55 to 60mph in 6th. Fuel economy on the other hand............. 

 

That's why I got my trailer licence nearly 7 years ago. Whilst I'm not planning on towing anything stupidly big, I wanted to get the lessons and the practice in with a full sized trailer. My motorbike on it's trailer can produce a weave if the wind is up at motorway speed, so it's good to have the experience and knowledge of knowing what to do.

Been to the lakes for our first outing in the caravan. Although the Octavia seemed to pull ok - stable etc. it returned 23mpg on the way there. This would mean less than 300 miles to a tank! 

 

Can anyone comment on what the diesel Octavia's return whilst towing?

Hi Swirly 182, that sounds OK  to me especially for a petrol and a family sized van, even my d5 volvo likes to drink when towing what has the aerodynamic of a shed, have seen as low as 9 mpg in the black forest on hilly second gear hair pin roads, and that actually lasted for 10 slow miles, brought a tear to my eye, normally  the mpg is what you get, it pulls in 6th gear at 60 mph and 1800 revs without any strain,have to drop a gear or two on inclines of course.

I can't remember how our Octavia 130 pd did when towing.

 

 

Edited 15 November, 20196 yr by kentdale
Miss spelling

23mpg from a 245 with a caravan on the back seems good to me!

 

I would have guessed high teens myself.

 

I suspect some people get that without a caravan.