If the proper tow kit was fitted by VW or an authorised fitter, the ball weight is 350kg.

Generally the ball weight is 10% of the towing capacity.

Regards


Gerald

 

rating on my factory towbar says

280 kg, 350 kg after MY 2006

On that basis T2 would be 350 kg as per Gerald above

 

Armdlo,
What sort of off-road van do you tow?
Typically Euro vehicles only have a light ball rating. I only bought our V10 when they changed the OEM rating to 350Kg (with a bar made in NZ). It is very clear on the bar that it is 350Kg, plus a sticker in the drivers door.
No doubt they don't worry in Europe hence the manual still quoting the low spec but bars here are definately 350Kg - but I guess you need to specify that to be sure. (I made it a condition of the V10 purchase as they hadn't fitted any at that time).

We tow a 2.7t tare Bushtracker which comes in close to the 3.5t with water (400l) etc on board.

IAN

 

Armdlo,
What sort of off-road van do you tow?
Typically Euro vehicles only have a light ball rating. I only bought our V10 when they changed the OEM rating to 350Kg (with a bar made in NZ). It is very clear on the bar that it is 350Kg, plus a sticker in the drivers door.
No doubt they don't worry in Europe hence the manual still quoting the low spec but bars here are definately 350Kg - but I guess you need to specify that to be sure. (I made it a condition of the V10 purchase as they hadn't fitted any at that time).

We tow a 2.7t tare Bushtracker which comes in close to the 3.5t with water (400l) etc on board.

IAN

The manufacturer provides instructions for a range of maximum permissible weight limits for your vehicle as described in the owners hand book or an Australian supplement. back in 2005 VW upgraded the TBM for the 7L to 350Kg Volkswagen uprates Touareg rating - carsales.com.au the7P is 280Kg even if the tow bar and hitch state 350Kg TBM one MUST comply with the manufacturers requirements. from 7P manual see below >

There are many new off road vans produced in Australia that are rated ATM of 3500Kg however when one looks at the data plate one sees a TARE figure and a TBM expressed as a Tare rated TBM -- this is now often around the 8% or less figure, typically these vans are designed to operate safely with that TBM/ATM ratio so there would be no reason not to continue to operate that van with less than 10% TBM/ATM ratio. Typically these reduced TBM weights are achieved by a longer draw bar its only when we add heavy lockers etc to the drawbar that it stuffs up a good design. Critical also are the tow ball dimensions set out in the owners manual. Especially the distance aft of the centre of rear axle to the centre of the towball as this normally places around 130 - 135Kg on the RAL for each 100 Kg of TBM moving the tow ball centre aft increases that load significantly.


Ball mount dimensions
􀁸 The drop height (A) from the center of the ball to the center of the hole for the securing pin on the ball mount must be at least 11 /4 inches (32.3 mm) and at most 27 /8 inches (73 mm).
􀁸 The pin-to-ball distance (B) from the centre of the ball to the centre of the hole for the securing pin on the ball mount must be no more than 61 /8 inches (157.3 mm).
􀁸 The ball diameter must be no more than 2 inches (51 mm).

 

Mel and Toby and others, thanks for the replies. Factory fitted bar. Yes I thought it was that but the Euro speced book threw a spanner in the works. I also would not have bought it with anything less, but the failing grey matter got the better of me.It all came about as I was testing a ball weight device and it was coming up with 400kg, but the hitch was fouling and not allowing an accurate reading, finally it was 150kg.
We have a Trakmaster 17' and loving it. just spent the Easter on the Murray.

Greg

 

140kg tow ball weight

Folks,

I have a 2004 V6 petrol Touareg. My book says 140kg and the OEM towbar says 140kg. When did VW revise this to 350kg? And is the re-rating backwards compatible, eg. I can fit (legally) at 350kg tow bar.

Thanks

 

Are you sure you have an OEM hitch? It has always had a 350Kg (770lbs) tongue weight limit.

 

My OE hitch is also 140kg, but I have the "goose-neck" type. Maybe that's the difference...?

 

Thanks for the response guys.

Yes the hitch is definately OEM. The compliance plate has a nice big Volkswagen on it. If someone has a VW accessories parts list, which may include a spec, the PN is VGA80392170U04, batch 38/03.

What's a goose-neck type of hitch?

Mach

 

This is the goose-neck type.

The other detachable type fits into a 2" square receiver, which was the standard OE towbar in the US.

 

Goose-neck is Euro std I think. All Australian OEM ones are the square receiver type, with manufacture of at least some of them by "Best Bars" of New Zealand.

 

Thanks AndrieK,

My hitch does not look the one you showed. My hitch has a tongue which fits into a 2" square receiver.

Anyway, I rang VW Australian today, gave them my VIN. They said that I could fit a more recent VW 350kg ball weight hitch to the car, and the towing capacity would be speced to 350kg. They also said that they would update and verify my manual and any spec associated with the vehicle saying it was capable of of 350kg ball weight.

My worry was that I could put anything on the car, but then the insurance company's would get out of gaol free if I had an accident because the manual was still saying 140kg.

So this solves the problem. Well accept I need to buy a new tow hitch from VW.

Mach

 

I realise this is an old thread but I'm in a similar situation. My 2005 Treg has a Hayman Reese bar/hitch receiver and tongue which is rated at 350kg towball weight. The owners manual definitely states 140kg towball limit. Is it just a matter of contacting VW Australia and arranging for them to update and verify my manual?
thanks in advance.
Chris.

 

I’ll be rechecking with a dealer shortly so I’ll keep you up to date.

 

I am pretty sure I’ll be up for a whole new hitch - as mine has a welded on HR plate that states 3500/140!

but has anyone got a straight answer from VW about what needs to be completed for the vehicle? I’ll happily buy a new hitch from Hayman Reece if it’ll make me compliant!!!

my research says all VW did between 2004 and 2005/06 was change the bolts!