Towing Capacity - MK2 Golf

[Coog]

Does anyone know where I can find out what the MAX towing capicity of my MK2 Golf 1.8 GL (Auto) is?

Couldn't see anything in the manual.

[Mew]

Should say in the Haynes manual

[DubFan]

What are you planning to tow? Caravan or trailer?

I towed a box trailer (5ft wide x 6ft high x 8ft long) with my old Mk2 1.8GL (manual). Managed to fit plenty in it and got up to speed ok, but acceleration was lousy.
Basically it's dependant on the weight of the towing vehicle:
"general guidance recommends that the laden weight of the caravan does not exceed 85% of the unladen weight of the car"

Plus you'll need enough power to pull the thing. The 1.8 will be ok for small or older caravans, but the newer caravans are heavier beacause of the extra home comforts.

[Coog]

It'd be an oldish 4 berth caravan. Haven't got one yet but am looking. Dont really want to sell the car just to go caravaning! 

[DubFan]

Depends on the size of it really, my parents had an old 70s Monza caravan that was 4 berth but really small (about 11ft long) so towing that with a 1.8GL would be ok, but anything bigger than about 14-15ft will be too heavy.
Just look at the figures for the caravan before you buy it, the manual should say or it will be written on a panel in/on the caravan how much it weighs when loaded/unloaded.
Then going by the 85% rule I quoted below:
If for example the car is 1100kg when empty (anyone got an accurate figure for a Mk2? ) then the caravan must not weigh more than 935kg when loaded.

Curious though, your sig says you have a Mk2 16v, do you not have that, or do you not want to use the 16v for towing ?
The 16v will be better because of the power, but won't make any difference to the maximum weight you can tow.
Also personally, I wouldn't choose to tow with an older automatic because if it changes gear at the wrong moment it will be annoying (especially if it's not quick at changing), for example when driving up a hill.

[Coog]

The GTi has just been sold 

Didn't want to put a towbar on it either due to cutting the bumper and generally destroying the look of the car.

Well a 935kg caravan would be spot on, I believe my license only allows me to tow up to 750kg anyway so when looking for a caravan I will be ensuring it weighs as close to 750 as possible.

If I encounter a hill on the auto I can manually select gears if required, but I see your point 

[DubFan]

Just found out from:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/towingwithvehiclesfrequently4577
That the towing weight should be shown on the VIN plate under the bonnet.

I know there are limits on how much you can tow on particular licences, but I'm not sure what it is.
So, you just need to work out the weight of the caravan, then you'll be sorted.
If you can't find the weight of the caravan marked on it, you can just take it to a weighbridge, or look up the manufacturer on the internet.
Also beware older caravans might have their weight shown in imperial tonnes, not metric tons. My parents old one did.

Enjoy caravanning.

[sharpie]

I believe my license only allows me to tow up to 750kg anyway so when looking for a caravan I will be ensuring it weighs as close to 750 as possible.

if you get stopped its no exactly like they can weight it...

[Coog]

They can take you to the local weigh bridge. Highly unlikely it will happen, but knowing my luck it flippin will 

Thanks for all the help guys. Mucho appreciated