Towing a Carvan with Auto Hold & Electric Hand Brake? Opinions Please??

[RickT]

Hi all,

Before I ask the question......

Lets just say im not looking for any caravan jokes etc posting in this thread.

If you want to chat about Caravans, i will create you a new thread where you can discuss as much as you like! LOL !! -

Anyhow..

My Dad will be looking for a new car shortly, (to replace his A4 1.9TDI Quatrro)

Are there any Passats drivers out there, who tow a caravan??

If so, how do you find the electric handbrake??

Any drivers out there who have auto hold on a manual gearbox, how does it fair??

Cheers

Rick

[dunkley201]

I have DSG and Auto Hold and tow a caravan. Really, it is no problem at all. The Auto Hold/parking brake automatically releases as you apply throttle. Pull away is smooth, no hiccups or hesitation, pulling a 'van or not. This also applies with a manual car - as you lift the clutch and tickle the throttle, the auto hold/parking brake disengages. Just keep applying the power for an easy pull away. Stopping is quite normal, as you come to a dead stop, the Auto Hold applies. The car will not roll until you apply power again. I find it works fine on hill starts too. It is great. Just stop thinking "handbrake" 'cos there ain't one! Every car should be like this!

[hartry]

auto hold works perfectly well on a manual, never tried a dsg to compare though

[GeoffW]

I haven't tried a DSG either, but I wouldn't want a Passat without Auto Hold now that I'm used to it.
Have towed a 14' boat trailer, but not a caravan. The Auto Hold just works!

[paulni]

Hi, I tow a caravan with my Passat. Found the autohold works great once I got used to it and learned to trust it with the 'van on the back. No need to worry about it at all.

paul

[Motorway]

i tow a large Swift Conqueror 640Lux with mine and the Autohold is good when in town and the electronic handbrake hold just great with the caravan and four people. the only thing i have added to mine to aid stability is a pair of Mad Springs to the rear. and sixth gear is used a lot on the motorway. better than the brother in laws Laguna he only manages to get into six without his caravan. MPG:- even with this weight of caravan i averaged 34.8MPG on the trip to Hamburg last year. brother in law with his laguna and a considerably lighter van only managed 29MPG. the figures speak for themselves...

[RickT]

Thats for the feedback guys,

I have drove a Passat (the same one) a few times which has Auto hold fitted with a manual box and found it really good,

I have told him he has to get a model with auto hold as im not sure how it would be when towing, ie stop start on a hill with just the electric parking brake...

Does anyone tow without auto hold?? -- I guess you would just have to get used to foot brake to gas while on a hold, but depending what weights on the back could put extra stress on the clutch.. (like i currently drive in my A4 as the armrest covers up the handbrake!

Rick

[angus]

I tow and don`t have auto-hold.

The electronic handbrake is fine even on a hill - if the thing can be ***** to release, but thats no different to when its solo.

Economy is grim, usually 23-25mpg (towing 1375kgs), but did manage 27 last time out, and have to remember to block the caravan underseat vents off or whatever is next to the vents gets covered in soot.

Don`t have this problem with the B5.5 which is a better tow and a good 5mpg better towing. And the handbrake works when and how I want it.

I would use the OH`s B5.5 130TDI Sport for towing every time given a level playing field, but I have to pay for the fuel in that and the company picks up the tab for mine so I`m afraid its no contest.

[The Fingers]

didnt the Passat win a 'best tow car award' at some point.

I think they said the 2.0 TDI mated to a DSG was the perfect tow car.

[bedbug44]

I used to tow with a Mondeo, albeit a 1.8l petrol pulling 1250kg all I can say about that was stress!!!! After following a mate Kia Sorentio decided it was time to change to a better car. Took me a long while and a lot of investigating but finally decided a big 4x4 was not what I wanted so began looking for a family car with 4 wheel drive, eventually took the plunge and started looking for a 4motion Tdi sport. Took about 6 months too hunt one down and wow what a difference. 2 weeks after getting it drove to Annecy, France pulling the van not a problem at all in fact it was easy. The automatic hand brake works a treat - just a great combination. If you can find one get a 4 motion if not still get a Passat great with a van even better without!