towing a track civic with golf tdi


lyle robb

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im currently building a civic for track use and intend to tow it with my golf tdi. could anyone tell me if it would be upto the job? will be using a car transporter. cheers
 
do you not need a jeep/large van to legally tow a car transporter in the uk?

i know that their laws are a lot stricter than irish laws that could see you towing with a pack of llamas
 
im not 100% sure mate. i do have a licence to tow a trailer but not sure if the golf would be upto the job? just dont want to hire a van evry track day.
 
Depends on golf model.
I think highest tow capacity on a golf is 1.5ton braked
So by the time you got trailer and car you'd be over that I'd say...?
 
its the gttdi 115 i have. was thinking whether it would be legal or not. prob not.lol
 
do you not need a jeep/large van to legally tow a car transporter in the uk?

i know that their laws are a lot stricter than irish laws that could see you towing with a pack of llamas

Pictures please, when it happens. :p

I would say the golf wouldn't handle it, also depends on the kind of trailer some are very light compared to others.
 
I recall something about the trailer with the civic on cannot be heavier than the towing car. i.e. your golf approx 1400kg. - civic 1000kg + trailer 200kg = +200kg.

I would deffinately read into this further though.

And in terms of pulling power, I am sure your golf could do the job. I just wouldn't expect it to have much go once hitched up.
 
You can legally tow 1400kg braked and 600kg I braked with the golf. According to parkers

Depends how much your car and trailer weighs to say if you can or not :)
 
I thought you can toe up to 3.5 tonnes. I have defenatly seen cars toeing trailers and cars. im guessing it will be fine as its not over loading the rear axel as such.
 
You can definatily tow a car trailer with a car...

Me and My dad towed my Ek4 on a trailer up to Newcastle for the buyer to then call me when we were 10 minutes away to tell me he couldn't have it Anymore, (

That person was Dan K And he still hasn't paid me for the money he owes me for the fuel ( 540 MIle round trip ) , trailer, deposit and my time... Arsehole !!!!! I digress lol..

anyway here are some pics.. however this Saab had self levelling suspension and was 2.3T Which was quite heavily tuned and gave 325Hp and 460Nm ;) so towing was easy

we found we had to play with the car alot to get it to travel well.. As in moving it forward 1 inch at times made a hell of a difference.. WE spent a long time trying to get the EK4 balanced on the trailer so it didn't bounce the car like crazy.. It is definitely do able though. :nice:



 
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^^scary
being a SAAB takes it to a whole new level of scary. lol
 
was good fun Lol, well under the weight limit so wasn't too bad ;)

You had a longer wheel base as well, not sure about a golf.
I personally would hate to encounter the dreaded tank slapper motion in a short wheel base tow vehicle. I am sure in a short wheel base unibody car like the golf it would be a hand full/white knuckle moment. :nerv:

You know as long as the driver is slow and very smooth Im sure he will be fine.
 
I personally wouldn't want to do it in a golf.. sure it would be fine, with a car towing a car trailer i'd definitely advise taking your time to get the car on the trailer perfectly balanced...

If you aren't going to far then careful slow driving and you'll be fine
 
Very true about moving the weight to balance it out, ideally you want to tow the weight, not just take the weight of the vehicle.

I've towed a civic and trailer with an Audi 80 before. The trailer was unbraked and had a hell of an amount of momentum.
 
I thought you can toe up to 3.5 tonnes. I have defenatly seen cars toeing trailers and cars. im guessing it will be fine as its not over loading the rear axel as such.

Try and tow 3.5ton with a golf, I bet it wouldn't be a nice experience.

As I said, your legal limit is 1.4ton, that's why Volkswagen state you can tow.
As you have your towing license that's fine.
As long as your track car being towed and trailer fall under 1.4ton, if they don't its illegal
 
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Many people tow illegally and do not even realise.
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/driving-licence-rules-and-what-you-can-tow

A trailer for a 1000kg car weighs approx 450-500kg on its own. A lot of vehicles that you think look capable are not up to the job, including plenty of 4x4 stuff. I tow mine on a Mondeo diesel estate, braked towing weight of 1800kg, plenty of torque and at 70 I still get 47mpg. As somebody has said you do not want to be at the limit of your tow vehicle, mine weighs approx 980kg with half a tank of fuel in it & my trailer is 500kg, gives room for carrying spares/tools etc. Ideally you want the lip of the car just at the end of the trailer. Most people do not know how to strap a car properly either.
Fronts seperately strapped, then with one strap for the rears for me, although just make sure its secure!

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