Towing advice

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Razor344

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I've done lots of googling and come up with so many different figures

We have a 2011 11 plate A4 avant 2.0tdi (143bhp)

The manual states a towing capacity of 1800kg

Parkers website states 1900kg, but also states a car kerb weight of only 1535kg

I'm confused as im fully aware that I can only tow 85% of the car weight

Please some one help be work this out

What can I tow

Thanks in advance

Marc
 
The 85% figure is just a guide and is not a rule.And was more relevant 20-30 years ago. These days cars are a lot more capable and If the manufacturer states the vechicle is capable of pulling 1800Kg then that is the figure that I would work with. In the handbook there are usually several figures with different gradients quoted and some all up car and trailer train weights.
Go with the lower figure on the highest percentage gradient.
If it's a caravan you are looking to tow then loading it correctly is probably more important than the absolute weight.
Put as much of the heavy stuff as you can in the boot of the car. Get the nose weight correct on the hitch.
Put as much weight as possible close to the axle line of the caravan and as low as possible. I put things such as the spare wheel / awning etc on the floor of the caravan above the axle.
 
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If some one can explain the above then. And what I can tow.

This will then tell me:

1. What caravan
2. Do I change the car to an A6 estate
 
the car is lowered with lowering springs

35mm front and 30 mm back, will i have to raise the car back to standard to tow ok
 
2095Kg is the Gross vehicle weight, this is the max weight the car including the max load that can be carried safely while used on the road. This is also known as permissible maximum weight or maximum authorised mass (MAM).
3765 Kg is the maximum train weight. So that is the weight of the car and the trailer. So a fully loaded car at 2095Kg could tow a 1670 Kg braked trailer/ caravan.
The other 2 figures are the permissable axle weights
1 is the front axle and 2 is the rear axle. Add them together and they come to more than the gross vechicle weight but this is there to stop you doing something like filling the boot with concrete paving slabs.
The image below is from my handbook and shows the permissable maximum towing weights for a 2.0 TDI you can see that the gross vechicle weight and axle loads are the same as your car. I would say you would be good upto 1700Kg which is pretty big caravan.
As for a lowered car my car is lowered on Eibach springs and copes fine fully loaded pulling our caravan which is around 1350Kg all up.

Resized car and caravan



B8 A4 towing weights
 
If you are really concerned about the suspension being a little low at the rear you can fit some of these suspension assistors. I used these on my Passat with no issues. Easily fitted without taking the spring out, I used to put them in and out on the Passat without even taking the wheel off.
Jack the car up and support with an axle stand. Slide them in the spring and lower the car, repeat on the other side.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEST-PRIC...isters-And-Raisers-For-18-28mm-/252565234312?
 
My caravan's max plated weight is 1800kg and I towed it with my A4 3.0tdi cabby on sline suspension, max trailer weight also1800kgs, with no issues (apart from getting some funny looks!).
Desertstorm is spot on regarding the importance of loading correctly, nose weight is very important, get it as close to the max as you can, I used a set of bathroom scales on a stick cut to the height of the towball to measure it.

IMG 0403
 
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Pretty sure mine is around 1500kgs Loaded and I'm at around 74% ratio
 

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