3500kg

 

Thank you

 

On any car you're thinking of buying, check the VIN plate where it give 4 weights - front axle, rear axle, maximum weight and gross train weight - the arithmetic difference between the last two is the towing limit.

 

Touaregs are one of few current car-based 4x4s that have a maximum braked-trailer towing capacity of 3500kgs. Others that spring to mind are most full-sized Land Rovers and Range Rovers. Not all double-cab pickups have that capability, if you're considering one of those for business use.

Bear in mind that 3.5 metric tons is the absolute maximum permissible towed weight of any trailer and its load. Bodies like the Caravan Club recommend that the maximum loaded weight of a caravan should not exceed 85% of the towing vehicle's kerb weight. In a Touareg's case, this is around 2250kgs, so 85% of that would be just over 1900kgs, allowing almost all caravans currently available to fall within that recommendation. The CC also states that experienced tow drivers can tow up to 100% of the car's kerb weight, so that adds more capacity.

Trailer noseweight is another important consideration. Touaregs have a usefully high noseweight limit of 140kgs; well above that of most cars except LR products. I understand that in Australia, Touaregs have a permitted limit of 280kgs - so 'no worries' there as they say.

Just consider the unladen weight of your trailer when judging what kind of loaded weight you'll be able to tow.

 

You'd be better off with an Amarok.

 

Agreed, Nooby, if the OP wants a high-capacity tow vehicle mainly for business use. Amaroks are probably one of the best double-cab pickups; they can tow up to 3500kgs, and carry around a ton in the load bed as well. Later ones are all V6 TDIs with auto gearboxes - perfect for towing with no hassle. They are now heavily cloned with the Ford Ranger; both models share much of the same architecture. These vehicles are huge though, and don't fit in a standard parking bay - beware when popping down the supermarket!

Amaroks may qualify as private cars for business tax purposes, so that could help to sway a buying decision. Touaregs are probably better as everyday/leisure vehicles, but with less carrying ability.

I had a look around an Amarok whilst in a VW Commercial dealer's showroom. Very impressive, but I was shocked to see it had old-fashioned leaf springs on the rear axle! I gather this allows for a heavy loadbed capacity, but still retains a decent ride quality.....apparently.

Having said all the above, I wouldn't be happy to buy a second-hand Touareg that had been regularly used to tow 3.5 tons!

 

Just a note about noseweight most caravans in the UK have a max of 100kg on the hitch.

 

......and that's why I've happily noted that my Touareg's rear end doesn't visibly drop at all with our caravan attached. 90kgs seems to be a good noseweight balance for safe towing of our 1500kg 'van.
Many cars are restricted to a noseweight of 75kgs or less, which is not really a good thing considering the higher laden weights of most modern caravans.

 

Luckily the government made HMRC do a big U-turn last week over the personal tax and VAT treatment of double cab pick-ups so there is still a huge BIK advantage in running such a vehicle as a company car rather than a car.

Ideally you need about 150 kilos in the load bed over the rear axle to smooth the ride by the way!