Towing with Electric SUV

Faults and Technical chat for the Skoda Enyaq
GppP
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2020 6:03 pm

Post by GppP »

I am advised that one manufacturer does not supply a 'factory fit' towbar - the suggestion being weight distribution - particularly over the front axle, makes towing inadvisable. (they do provide a wiring kit and adaptor??)
Does anyone have experience/advice?
(My need is for a light unbraked trailer - not caravan use.)
Nissan since Early 2000's Primera - Almera Tino, Note Note Note Note (NTEC+ with the square boot usually with the rear seats down as well!)
I did once hire a Micra Cabriolet for a holiday - but not much room for boxes in the boot!

KrisN
Posts: 45
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 4:15 pm

Post by KrisN »

That's old electric car advice. The low end torque of an electric motor arguably makes it a better towing option than ICE

I specced the towbar on my Enyaq so I could tow my windsurfing trailer and have found it works really well, although there is the expected range penalty (about 20%)
scratch113
Posts: 186
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:48 pm

Post by scratch113 »

GppP wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:42 pm I am advised that one manufacturer does not supply a 'factory fit' towbar - the suggestion being weight distribution - particularly over the front axle, makes towing inadvisable. (they do provide a wiring kit and adaptor??)
Does anyone have experience/advice?
(My need is for a light unbraked trailer - not caravan use.)
Erm, not sure what to make of this...

Are you talking about manufacturers other than Skoda? You can have either a towbar prep for £170 or the electrically deployable towbar for £750 as factory fit options on an Enyaq, and it is definitely homologated for towing, but I have read somewhere that the max towing weight for the 60 or 80 is only 1000kg, whereas the 80x is more (1200kg iirc?). I might have completely made up those numbers, but think it's in that ballpark. I also think the max nose weight for the electrically deployable towbar is only 80kg (but could be 100kg?)

*Edit: it's 75kg, found it on the Enyaq brochure*

Not sure about your comment about the problem of weight distribution over the front axle - the Enyaq 60 or 80 are RWD anyway. If you load whatever you're towing correctly, then there shouldn't be an issue. You do see some people towing large caravans with the rear suspension of their cars almost down on the bump stops and the nose of the car way up in the air, but that's just an issue of putting everything heavy in the front of their caravan - not recommended!
Last edited by scratch113 on Tue Aug 24, 2021 12:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Current: 22 Kodiaq Sportline 2.0TDI 200
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Fossilnot
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Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2021 4:15 pm

Post by Fossilnot »

Study of the paper booklet confirms that not all Enyaqs are legally able to tow in the UK. If the VIN plate does not indicate an approved towing weight of either 1000kg (as mine does) or 1200kg then whilst a towbar is a legal fitment (upon which to mount a bike rack for instance) it is not legal to tow with it.
I am keenly awaiting the availability of aftermarket tow bar kit…

Fossilnot
scratch113
Posts: 186
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:48 pm

Post by scratch113 »

Fossilnot wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 7:03 am Study of the paper booklet confirms that not all Enyaqs are legally able to tow in the UK. If the VIN plate does not indicate an approved towing weight of either 1000kg (as mine does) or 1200kg then whilst a towbar is a legal fitment (upon which to mount a bike rack for instance) it is not legal to tow with it.
I am keenly awaiting the availability of aftermarket tow bar kit…

Fossilnot
Well I'm confused now as the electrically deployable towbar is available on all versions of the 60, 80 and 80x - I'd be surprised if Skoda would factory fit an optional extra that you weren't legally allowed to use and just expect owners to inspect the VIN plate to find out whether they can or can't tow a caravan with the factory fitted towbar!

Below is page 30 (of 35) of the Enyaq brochure that's available from the Skoda website and it clearly states the maximum towing capacity of all Enyaqs as either 1000kg or 1200kg for a braked trailer on a 12% gradient (both figures increase by 200kg for an 8% gradient) and all models reduce to 750kg for an unbraked trailer. On that basis, all Enyaqs currently available for purchase in the UK are homologated for towing. There are rumours of a model below the 60 (50?) that might not be, but at present there is little detail about this model and also it's not available yet.

There is however this little get-out at the bottom of the page:
"Please note: If a tow bar or tow bar preparation is not fitted on the car, the VIN plate may not show any towing weights and the car will never be eligible for towing.
As such it may not be possible to retrospectively fit a tow bar if the car is not fitted with tow bar preparation at Factory. Please speak to your Retailer to confirm the exact towing eligibility."

So it would seem that if you choose (or buy) a car that didn't come with either the factory towbar prep or the factory fitted towbar, then it may not be possible to legally add one later and that's when you'd need to check the individual VIN plate for that particular car. I know this applies to the manual 1.5 petrol Kodiaq as it has caught a few people out over on the Kodiaq Forum, but it is possible to have the electrically deployable towbar fitted from new to that model, so it would seem that it's not universally true that any given model can/can't have a towbar fitted as an after-market addition.

Hope this helps!:

Screenshot 2021-08-24 at 12.44.23.png

Current: 22 Kodiaq Sportline 2.0TDI 200
Prev: 19 Kodiaq
16 LR Disco Sport HSE Lux
08 Audi A5 3.0TDI
03 Audi S4 4.2 V8
98 Audi A4 2.8 quattro
95 Audi A4 1.8T Sport
92 VW Golf Mk3 1.9 TD
90 Ford Escort Mk5 1.6 LX
83 Vauxhall Astra Mk1 1.3 S
Perchede
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 12:09 pm

Post by Perchede »

I believe that the Enyaq 50 (Not sold in UK, I think) is not rated for towing.
IV60 Energy Blue, Loft, Matrix LED Lights, Drive assist+, Parking Assist+, HUD, Transport, Comfort, Tow bar. Schneider EV Link charger, 7000 Govt Grant - France, Delivered June 21.
Fossilnot
Posts: 200
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2021 4:15 pm

Post by Fossilnot »

As I have mentioned in previous posts we purchased our car from stock. Due diligence was somewhat delayed! We bought another new car at the same time, also from stock, to which we intended fitting a towbar. Tough Matey… It, although superficially identical to a previous version of the same model to which we fitted a towbar, will never be able to accept one.
Never mind the Enyaq has a capacity of 1200 kg ‘cos the dealer said so. Well no actually, it has a capacity of 1000kg ‘cos the VIN plate says so and the VIN plate is what roadside inspection will look at to ensure compliance with construction and use regs. (It could well have been the case that we sloppily bought two cars which were both unable to tow! Phew.) Our Enyaq was NOT specified with towbar prep (so far as I am aware) so I have a couple of questions/points arising which other owners may be kindly able to help me with:

1) What physical evidence does a towbar prepped Enyaq have of it having been so prepared? Ie is there a socket somewhere in the wiring harness in readiness for a plug in sub harness? If so where and what?

2) the various clauses in the book of words are ‘open to interpretation’ methinks. Has anybody taken delivery of an Enyaq that is NOT rated for towing?

Thanks,

Fossilnot
Perchede
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Post by Perchede »

I read that the IV 50, not sold in the UK, does not tow and my French IV 60 is rated for 750kg un-braked and 1000KG braked at 12%
I also read that you can have one fitted following sale with or without prep. This may have been aftermarket however.
IV60 Energy Blue, Loft, Matrix LED Lights, Drive assist+, Parking Assist+, HUD, Transport, Comfort, Tow bar. Schneider EV Link charger, 7000 Govt Grant - France, Delivered June 21.
Fossilnot
Posts: 200
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2021 4:15 pm

Post by Fossilnot »

I have fitted towbars to many of my cars since the 1960s and fully intend fitting an aftermarket one to the Enyaq (when they become available). I baulk at the price of the Skoda item though! It enters the territory where serious consideration might be given to a ‘tip car’-and would be if it were not for the price of fleet insurance or an additional stand alone policy.

The prime lesson from this experience, for me, is to thoroughly check the towing capacity/status/type approval before purchase of any future vehicle.

Fossilnot
Perchede
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Jun 15, 2021 12:09 pm

Post by Perchede »

Is this of any interest - I guess they could also fit a different socket if you needed.
https://www.tow-trust.co.uk/vsks/skoda/ ... c_suv/2021
IV60 Energy Blue, Loft, Matrix LED Lights, Drive assist+, Parking Assist+, HUD, Transport, Comfort, Tow bar. Schneider EV Link charger, 7000 Govt Grant - France, Delivered June 21.
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