VW Tiguan 2018 Factory Fitted Towbar

ajwgoodi
ajwgoodi Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited February 2019 in Towcars & Towing #1

I am looking to purchase a 2018 VW Tiguan with a factory fitted swivelling towbar but there seems to be some debate as to whether this is compatible with the Alko Hitch (my caravan is a 2016 Swift Conqueror 480) Can anyone please advise? Many thanks

Comments

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2019 #2

    Car manufacturers are well aware of the clearance necessary for an AlKo hitch. It would be a serious oversight if VW didn't take it into account in the design, which I cannot imagine. The easiest thing to put your mind at ease is to find such a car at a dealer and measure the clearance to the bumper which should be 75mm to the centre of the ball.

    The clearance issue with respect to the Tiguan was raised due to concerns in service and AlKo did carry out tests which revealed that it was adequate under all conditions. In fact, there is even a test report covering the subject issue. However, it's in German:

     https://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/Attachment.html?attachmentId=706288

  • ajwgoodi
    ajwgoodi Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited February 2019 #3

    Many thanks for taking the time to reply to my post and for the comments and advise - very helpful and much appreciated Kind regards

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited February 2019 #4

    Do make sure that they wire it up for the caravan, as otherwise you will only get wiring for a commercial trailer, preventing you using the fridge on tour.

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2019 #5

    I have a 2017 Mk2 Tiguan with factory towbar, and tow a 2013 Swift. Yes it is closer to the bumper than my previous car, but I have had no issues, and the rear camera is a benefit (although I always use my mover for both hitching and unhitching for greater control which is especially useful if the hitch has compressed)

    The operation is so easy, and I can confirm that ALL the pins necessary for the caravan are fully wired as delivered,

    It also integrates with the car alarm - if the caravan is unhitched whilst parked, the car alarm will go off.

    The Satnav also recognises the caravan is hitched, and modifies the speed limits to those required for towing.

    Its a brilliant piece of kit, and  has100kg noseweight limit

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2019 #6

    A VW forum member added this photo, when I and others were concerned about clearance. It looks tight, but in reality its fine

  • ajwgoodi
    ajwgoodi Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited February 2019 #7

    Thank you for the posts, information and espcially the picture All very helpful and reassuring Much appreciated Kind regards

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited February 2019 #8

    If the car has LED lights the car alarm will not operate due to technical reasons, according to VW.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited February 2019 #9

    I've only towed once with mine and its fine using a mover, only thing to watch is that you don't unhitch with a compressed hitch as the damper will touch the bumper, on my SEL.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2019 #10

    It's a known fact that after reversing you should pull forward a little to expand the damper to stop this happening but I still forget sometimes.

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2019 #11

    xtrailman - glad you warned me, mines an SEL with LED lights, but I haven't tested if the alarm works, but next time its hitched I'll double check.

    I have noticed that the ATC takes slightly longer to activate on hitching up, than it did with my previous Mondeo, but it always does after 2-3 seconds.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited February 2019 #12

    I know this myself but obviously still forget on occasion.

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited March 2019 #13

    xtrailman - just looked over the manual, and my reading of the alarm function is that it doesn't detect unhitching tha caravan, if the caravan has LED rear lights (which my Swift hasn't), rather than the LEDs on the car, but will obviously check next time I hitch up (could be a while though)

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited March 2019 #14

    I have a 2017 Conqueror with led lights, sorry I didn't make it clear in my last post.

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