How much weight can I really tow with a TDI?

jettawreck

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Location
Northern Minnesota-55744
TDI
2001 Jetta and 2003 Jetta
Well, there you go.
An accident waiting to happen. There's no way that is capable of stopping in a reasonable distance in any sort of emergency situation, even on ideal road conditions.
The front valance on the towed car pictured wouldn't survive 20 miles on the roads around here.
Best of luck.
 

belome

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 8, 2010
Location
Mid MI
TDI
2002 Jetta GLS TDI 5-speed
I wonder what the front valance looked like when he got it there?


edit - I see this was pointed out already, I didn't see page three yet. LOL
 

atikovi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2002
Location
Suburban Washington DC
You can adjust the width of it and it's loaded by a pair of ramps. Just like a 747 plane has a narrow set of wheels up front, the the wheels of the vehicle at the rear keep it stable. Best part is it comes apart and I can put the pieces in the bed of the pickup or trunk of a car so it's not bouncing all over the road running empty.
 

TDIfor

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2003
Location
Logan, Ohio
TDI
'02 NB Double Yellow
Is the other car driveable? What if you hired a friend/relation to drive the car up and back, and you tag along in YOUR car to ferry the other driver?
 

vwdieseling

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2012
Location
Lima Ohio
TDI
Beetle, more bugs
Did pull about 2400lb total with a 4 cyl 5-speed Ranger from Wisconsin to DC. Was a little slow through the PA and MD mountains but had no issues. With 110 HP and not much more torque. Do have a Durango I could use but it probably gets almost as bad mileage as the tow truck.


Like I said just my thoughts. I had a couple Ford 4 cylinder cars overheat when towing weight. My father is 74 and he has pulled farm equipment, semi trailers, and car trailers. He and I always think in different directions. He hates seat belts and thinks that the cars built in the 1950s were safer because of the extra steel. He also believes in road power to prevent accidents, old V8 school. None of those things I feel are right, but I do think a little power for towing is good. When I was in the Army the 2.5 tons only had Continental multi fuel six cylinders rated for 135 BHP. (I defiantly would stay clear of anything with a VW automatic.) Like I said I don't tow with my cars I'm not a VW diesel tow expert. I've read posts on this forum where a few members had overheating issues when pulling the U Haul trailers. These lead to blown head gaskets. What I'm saying is if you think it's right try it. but I would watch my engine temp and defiantly get a car with a manual transmission. Also remember the Ford Ranger's geared to haul with the engine speed and gearing synchronized. While the MK 4 is a passenger vehicle designed for commuting people.
 
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Ironman11142

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Location
Orlando, FL
TDI
2012 White Jetta TDI 6M
Did pull about 2400lb total with a 4 cyl 5-speed Ranger from Wisconsin to DC. Was a little slow through the PA and MD mountains but had no issues. With 110 HP and not much more torque. Do have a Durango I could use but it probably gets almost as bad mileage as the tow truck.
and why did you put rear wheels on dolly? low clearance on front of the car....:eek:
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
Haven't got the car but can pick one up at an auction easily, just finding a wagon with a hitch already installed may take a little time. Would prefer a manual especially if it has higher miles so as not to strain the automatic transmission.

And it's one day up and the night back so I could work around the weather.



If a 5,000 pound pickup can tow 8-10,000 pounds, this shouldn't be much of a stretch. Junk the car? It's 2013. Sell it here? Got to take it there for a salvage inspection before I can sell it here, at least for the price I want.
Not to be too critical, but pick a car up at auction and drive it 500 miles?
Sounds like a plan to fail:)
Maybe rent a suitable SUV or small pick-up?
 

atikovi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2002
Location
Suburban Washington DC
Not sure what you mean by rear wheels on dolly, but the picture was taken before I aired down the back wheels of the car on the dolly. Then the nose was far enough from the ground not to scrape.

Not to be too critical, but pick a car up at auction and drive it 500 miles?
Sounds like a plan to fail:)
Well, I'd check it out and service it before the trip.
 
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curtludwig

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Location
Winchendon, MA
TDI
1998 Jetta, 2005 Golf
and why did you put rear wheels on dolly? low clearance on front of the car....:eek:
I thought about that too, then I thought "mid engine car".

I bet the angles wouldn't be any better if it was the other way. A lot of the gas stations here have quite steep approach and departure angles, that setup would be, Difficult...
 

curtludwig

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Location
Winchendon, MA
TDI
1998 Jetta, 2005 Golf
Really? The Lotus is a MUCH lighter car. The angles were tough but the weight was a better match.

I towed my Jetta home with my Ranger but thats an easy match. Towed an MB 190D one time with the Ranger, that was a stretch, especially when it started snowing. :(
 

bollweevil

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Location
Blue Grass Region, Ky
TDI
98 beetle tdi
Back in the 70's, my Family with our big Olds 98 and airstream flipped over on I-75,
so I've experienced first hand the danger of speed, other drivers, and a big load.

Not much fun sliding down the highway upside down !!

I may or may not worry about traffic laws. May have driven my lambo 260 km/hr
or crossed a double yellow line a time or two in my CSL.

But I do worry about safety and towing a big load a mile or two at 20 mph
is a lot different than a highway trip !!
 

vwdieseling

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2012
Location
Lima Ohio
TDI
Beetle, more bugs
Back in the 70's, my Family with our big Olds 98 and airstream flipped over on I-75,
so I've experienced first hand the danger of speed, other drivers, and a big load.

Not much fun sliding down the highway upside down !!

I may or may not worry about traffic laws. May have driven my lambo 260 km/hr
or crossed a double yellow line a time or two in my CSL.

But I do worry about safety and towing a big load a mile or two at 20 mph
is a lot different than a highway trip !!

I 75 can be nasty at times. I've seen trucks with their trailers tipped over. A few people I worked with were Killed on it. I drive it everyday to go to work.
 

bollweevil

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Location
Blue Grass Region, Ky
TDI
98 beetle tdi
Ann Arbor medical center saved my Dad's life. He shielded me and injured his head and arm - scraped the road as the car slid on its roof. This was a big heavy Oldsmobile 98. Probable 1971. I can't imagine one of our light tdi's sliding upside down on an interstate our family of 6 survived !! Don't tow a load heavier than your tdi !!

And yes, police can stop you for any unsafe driving. And they should !!
 

vwdieseling

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2012
Location
Lima Ohio
TDI
Beetle, more bugs
Ann Arbor medical center saved my Dad's life. He shielded me and injured his head and arm - scraped the road as the car slid on its roof. This was a big heavy Oldsmobile 98. Probable 1971. I can't imagine one of our light tdi's sliding upside down on an interstate our family of 6 survived !! Don't tow a load heavier than your tdi !!

And yes, police can stop you for any unsafe driving. And they should !!
What gets me I've seen guys pulling single axle trailers that were swaying right and left in the lane. I've seen items fly off of these trailers as well as from the back of flatbeds on I 75. All of these items fly into traffic behind them. I'm 50 the Olds 98 was a classic and some had 455 CI V8s I believe. My friends had a 400 Rocket a good engine. As a matter of fact was one of GMs high end heavy duty cars, like a Lincoln Towncar. From Michigan to Florida and a lot of traffic at high speeds. I'm glad you got out alive and I commend the sacrifice of your dad who shielded you. Here in Ohio our State Patrol lets too many go that are doing unsafe towing.
 

sebastien

Active member
Joined
Jan 8, 2007
Location
Montreal
TDI
New beetle
Normaly there is a spec from the car builder. There is a max weight of the car and a total weight including every thing in the car and in tow. It is illegal to go over that number but the cops dont know anything about it. The guy's that know are the truck inspector's but since you are not a comercial truck they dont have the right to do any thing.

I had a big 20feet box truck w5500 with a trailer with a second w5500 truck on the trailler. Past 3 hours a the scale because the inspector said it looked wrong! Finaly after 3 hours and 5 inspectors 3books and a call to GMC they had to let me go. I was 25pounds Under the limit. I did not add any fuel before i was back to Canada!
 

bollweevil

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Location
Blue Grass Region, Ky
TDI
98 beetle tdi
one of my favorite videos ... it's old but still funny :)
Yes, exactly: Be careful what you tow doesn't tow you !!!

And I don't know the difference between a heavy Olds 98
sliding upside down on an interstate vs. a tdi sliding on it's roof.
I know we don't want to find out !!!! I do know why riding in a
travel trailer is prohibited - our Airstream only had the platform
left - everything above was strewn along the interstate -
We never were a member of the Wally-Byam club since,
as our trailer was a total loss.
 

vwdieseling

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2012
Location
Lima Ohio
TDI
Beetle, more bugs
one of my favorite videos ... it's old but still funny :)

Eleven years ago I pulled a single axle trailer with a Ford Escort that had a 2.0 L gasoline. I had several transmission casings in the trailer which were tied down with binders. I took fairly flat state routes with a maximum speed of 55 MPH. I estimate the load at about 700 lbs. max. I only had about 60 miles to tow them, and what you know temp gauge after 40 miles shot up the wall. Seemed about like your video. Its funny when we are hard pressed to tow things what we feel can work.
 

vwdieseling

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2012
Location
Lima Ohio
TDI
Beetle, more bugs
Yes, exactly: Be careful what you tow doesn't tow you !!!

And I don't know the difference between a heavy Olds 98
sliding upside down on an interstate vs. a tdi sliding on it's roof.
I know we don't want to find out !!!! I do know why riding in a
travel trailer is prohibited - our Airstream only had the platform
left - everything above was strewn along the interstate -
We never were a member of the Wally-Byam club since,
as our trailer was a total loss.

The 1971 Olds Delta 98 would have been big enough to handle any travel trailer of the time. There must have been some other factor. Possibly the trailer brakes failed or excessive speed.
 

Geordi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2002
Location
Somewhere between Heaven and Hell. But it is reall
TDI
14 JSW DSG, 03 Wagon 01M, 400k and IPT performance auto!
Wind can (and does) flip fully-loaded semis weighing in at 80,000 lbs... So it is nothing to trifle with.

As for the trailer being heavier than the towing vehicle - PLENTY of rigs are this way without problems. This is not to suggest that it is a safe setup in the case of a VW, but the most extreme example is the mobile home mover. Many tens of tons, being pulled by an extremely short wheelbase truck and ball hitch.

What makes that setup safe? The trailer brakes. I have pulled many very heavy things with my Jeep Liberty CRD (former vehicle) and with my Jetta TDI wagon... But the ability to stop them is more important.
 

Schwimmwagen

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2002
Location
Kelowna, BC
TDI
2013 GSW TDI bone stock waiting for warranty to expire...
I'd say go for it as long as you don't exceed 80 km/h, or whatever that is in imperial. After seeing Polo's and Golf's TDI's towing tandem axle RV's on the Autobahns, I don't see a problem. However, over there, 80 km/h is the limit max speed for any vehicle towing anything.
 

jayoldschool

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2013
Location
Ottawa
TDI
00 Jetta
I don't know how relevant, but everyone likes pictures. You can tow big loads with a car that is properly prepared. That Cadillac is rated for 7000lbs (which is more than the car weighs), equipped with a class 3 hitch, and electric brake controller. This was towing home one of my projects. Note that some states/provinces/areas are VERY strict about not towing weights above the factory rating for the tow vehicle. Check your owner's manual.



 
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