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A3 for towing???

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  • 25-09-2006 11:00am
    #1
    Donie75
    Registered Users Posts: 1,109 ✭✭✭


    Hi folks,
    I have an '04 Audi A3 1.6 petrol and I am in the process of buying a small boat that I will need to tow around. I was wondering if the A3 would be too small to use to tow a 650KG boat. The trailer probably weighs another 250KG so the all up towing weight would be 900KG. The trailer is single axle but it is a braked trailer. I reckon I need to upgrade to a bigger diesel car but some people have said it will be fine.
    What do you guys think?
    Don't really want to put a towbar on the A3 because I'm thinking of changing it soon.

    Dino


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    #2
    L5
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,951 ✭✭✭L5


    there is a towing guide in the back of your car user manual, it should list the max weight you can tow.


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    #3
    Big Nelly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,613 ✭✭✭Big Nelly


    Donie75 wrote:
    Hi folks,
    I have an '04 Audi A3 1.6 petrol and I am in the process of buying a small boat that I will need to tow around. I was wondering if the A3 would be too small to use to tow a 650KG boat. The trailer probably weighs another 250KG so the all up towing weight would be 900KG. The trailer is single axle but it is a braked trailer. I reckon I need to upgrade to a bigger diesel car but some people have said it will be fine.
    What do you guys think?
    Don't really want to put a towbar on the A3 because I'm thinking of changing it soon.

    Dino

    I would think the A3 should be able to pull it but you wont be going anywhere fast, you would be prob better getting a 1.9Tdi version, maybe a A4/Passat and get the 130Bhp model, will pull da ass off that boat, maybe someone on here has experience of pulling a trailer with a petrol? I have always used diesels and smallest engine was a 1.9Tdi


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    #4
    fletch
    Registered Users Posts: 7,398 ✭✭✭fletch


    My Dad regularly used to pull our boat with his 1.4 '90 Escort with a full compliment of passengers (2 adults 3 children)....the A3 should be well up to the job! But watch your fuel consumption tumble!


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    #5
    Big Nelly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,613 ✭✭✭Big Nelly


    fletch wrote:
    My Dad regularly used to pull our boat with his 1.4 '90 Escort with a full compliment of passengers (2 adults 3 children)....the A3 should be well up to the job! But watch your fuel consumption tumble!

    Wat was the max speed?


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    #6
    fletch
    Registered Users Posts: 7,398 ✭✭✭fletch


    Big Nelly wrote:
    Wat was the max speed?
    Drove back from Belfast on the M1 across to the West, sat at 70mph no bother. I'm sure it wasn't a pleasant experience driving it though!


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    #7
    BrianD3
    Registered Users Posts: 8,393 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    Your handbook will say the max braked towing weight for the car. I'd say you'd be alright in this regard - for instance my 1.6 petrol Laguna has a max braked tow weight of 1300 kg, I'd expect the A3 to be similar or a bit less.

    BUT a boat isn't like a normal trailer, remember that you will be maneouvring it in and out on slipways which may be steep, slippy, in poor condition etc. So you may have trouble with traction. Depending on the slipway you could end up with a fair amount of your car submerged in (salt?) water before the trailer is deep enough in to float the boat off.

    IMO the ideal vehicle for towing boats is some old beater 4wd that you don't care about. Eg an old Daihatsu Fourtrak or something. I would not use my "good" car to launch a boat. But perhaps that's just me.


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    #8
    Donie75
    Registered Users Posts: 1,109 ✭✭✭Donie75


    I definitely don't plan on reversing my A3 into the salty stuff. Most people use a piece of rope to prevent driving into the water. I wouldn't plan on reversing down a steep slimey slope in the A3 with the boat behind. I was just thinking of using it for regular road towing.
    I guess I'll have to keep my eye out for an A4 tdi or a Passat Tdi.

    Cheers!


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