I have a Niro HEV and tow an 1100kg Bailey and after a couple of thousand miles towing I have found that using Sport mode gives the best results. However I will go back into Eco mode on longish downhill sections, such as on the A30 west of Exeter or the M5 south of Bristol, so that I can use the regerative "braking" system instead of the actual brakes to control the speed downhill. And it recharges the battery more quickly!
Hi do you tow in sport mode because it uses both Ev and ICE combined to give you improved BHP.Our van is 1410 Kgs loaded, and Kodiaq will tow 1800 Kgs so plenty in reserve.
Quote: Originally posted by TrigGLX on 24/3/2025
Hi do you tow in sport mode because it uses both Ev and ICE combined to give you improved BHP.Our van is 1410 Kgs loaded, and Kodiaq will tow 1800 Kgs so plenty in reserve.
Sport mode gives me 201 BHP should i need it.
thks
Chris.
Sport holds the gears differently so it changes at greater revs. It makes no difference to which power source is in use. Allegedly I've got 140bhp available.
Our Tucson tows fine in eco mode, sport gives a fair boost. According to the handbook it holds on to the gears longer and firms the steering.
It certainly shifts in sport when solo. It has around 230hp!
Our van has max permitted weight of just over 1400kg.
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Hi all thanks for this all very worth it. Well will be giving it a try at Easter.
A secondary note. had the tow bar fitted all good, but cannot get the cr coded to it knows a van is attached.
VAG group (volkswagen) dont appear to be releasing the coding for thirds party fitting of towbars.
It appears they want you to have your towbar fitted at source (new purhcase) where it can be coded at the factory. Sadly it was £1370.00 factory fitted, retractable type, or £600.00 third party fitted swan neck.
If had known this when purchased might have thought differently about buying a Skoda.
Dont know how other manufacturers are dealing with this, as it has something to dso with keyless entry and security permissions etc.
Quote: Originally posted by TrigGLX on 26/3/2025
Hi all thanks for this all very worth it. Well will be giving it a try at Easter.
A secondary note. had the tow bar fitted all good, but cannot get the cr coded to it knows a van is attached.
VAG group (volkswagen) dont appear to be releasing the coding for thirds party fitting of towbars.
It appears they want you to have your towbar fitted at source (new purhcase) where it can be coded at the factory. Sadly it was £1370.00 factory fitted, retractable type, or £600.00 third party fitted swan neck.
If had known this when purchased might have thought differently about buying a Skoda.
Dont know how other manufacturers are dealing with this, as it has something to dso with keyless entry and security permissions etc.
Just a word of caution.
br.
New car 'Factory option' tow bars are AFAIK NOT actually fitted at the factory during manufacture, they are fitted at the dealership, and almost certainly by a outside contracted tow bar fitter, not even the dealer's staff - that means the coding info/method is not exactly top secret 'locked in the Head Office Vault'! May be worth having a FRIENDLY word with a dealership to see what they can do for you, I wouldn't dream of stooping to suggest that 'drinks in brown envelopes' may pave the path if no official method open to you!
Now, there are a number of degrees of sophistication with the aftermarket interface box that connects the towbar electrics to the vehicle, NOT ALL have the capability it seems to be 'integrated' into the car computerised systems and are 'dumb' and will always be 'dumb' unless substituted for with a smarter box! ... so retro upgrading may not be an option without a 'better' interface box.
I had my towbar as a factory option, and NO ONE, not the manufacturer, not the dealer, not the tow bar manufacturer KNEW exactly what I should expect from my towbar, and how it's integration into the car system would manifest itself! It IS integrated, and a number of car systems are influence by attaching a trailer, some are obvious like disabling the hands free tail gate opening, some are an uncertainty like bulb failure detection! There was no additional documentation, nor does the standard handbook give a clue!
Quote: Originally posted by TrigGLX on 26/3/2025
Hi all thanks for this all very worth it. Well will be giving it a try at Easter.
A secondary note. had the tow bar fitted all good, but cannot get the cr coded to it knows a van is attached.
VAG group (volkswagen) dont appear to be releasing the coding for thirds party fitting of towbars.
It appears they want you to have your towbar fitted at source (new purhcase) where it can be coded at the factory. Sadly it was £1370.00 factory fitted, retractable type, or £600.00 third party fitted swan neck.
If had known this when purchased might have thought differently about buying a Skoda.
Dont know how other manufacturers are dealing with this, as it has something to dso with keyless entry and security permissions etc.
Just a word of caution.
br.
New car 'Factory option' tow bars are AFAIK NOT actually fitted at the factory during manufacture, they are fitted at the dealership, and almost certainly by a outside contracted tow bar fitter, not even the dealer's staff - that means the coding info/method is not exactly top secret 'locked in the Head Office Vault'! May be worth having a FRIENDLY word with a dealership to see what they can do for you, I wouldn't dream of stooping to suggest that 'drinks in brown envelopes' may pave the path if no official method open to you!
Now, there are a number of degrees of sophistication with the aftermarket interface box that connects the towbar electrics to the vehicle, NOT ALL have the capability it seems to be 'integrated' into the car computerised systems and are 'dumb' and will always be 'dumb' unless substituted for with a smarter box! ... so retro upgrading may not be an option without a 'better' interface box.
I had my towbar as a factory option, and NO ONE, not the manufacturer, not the dealer, not the tow bar manufacturer KNEW exactly what I should expect from my towbar, and how it's integration into the car system would manifest itself! It IS integrated, and a number of car systems are influence by attaching a trailer, some are obvious like disabling the hands free tail gate opening, some are an uncertainty like bulb failure detection! There was no additional documentation, nor does the standard handbook give a clue!
my 74 plate Audi A6 Avant 55 TFSI-e PHEV came off the transporter with the electrically deployable towbar all ready fitted .
Everything works as it should including speed limit warnings which alter when my Coachman caravan is connected
My VW most certainly had the electrically deployable towball fitted at the factory.
I seriously doubt the dealer, or whomever they sub con to, would know how to fit electrically deployable towballs.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 30/3/2025
My VW most certainly had the electrically deployable towball fitted at the factory.
I seriously doubt the dealer, or whomever they sub con to, would know how to fit electrically deployable towballs.
No great mystery to a electrically deployable tow bar, just the right interface module and a bit more wiring to plug in!
Have you seen how complicated standard, fully integrated into car system, towbar wiring is on many cars these days? Nothing like it used to be, simply piggy backing off existing wires in the boot! My system has cabling running all over the car to various interface connectors. Pal of mine who's a very competent head maintenance fitter, spent 2 days fitting his system to his Volvo - so much stripping of trim to lay cabling the entire length of car, and connect to engine bay/under dash connectors!
I think a lot of cars popularly used as tow cars probably have standard wiring harnesses pre-wired to simplify tow bar fitting, but for the rest, the tow bar fitters have their work cut out, which accounts for two things, the high cost of modern tow bars, and the often only basic lights wiring! A electrically deployed tow ball is neither here nor there in the grander scheme!
I'd be interested to know whether tow bars really were fitted on the production line, or more likely fitted after the cars come off the line, be it before or after supply to the dealer! Many tow bars require drilling of holes in body/chassis to fit them, and modification in a fairly crude way of hacking holes into bumpers to allow the hitch to project out. Neither of those really lend themselves to an almost sterile production line environment.
Quote: Originally posted by TrigGLX on 26/3/2025
Hi all thanks for this all very worth it. Well will be giving it a try at Easter.
A secondary note. had the tow bar fitted all good, but cannot get the cr coded to it knows a van is attached.
VAG group (volkswagen) dont appear to be releasing the coding for thirds party fitting of towbars.
It appears they want you to have your towbar fitted at source (new purhcase) where it can be coded at the factory. Sadly it was £1370.00 factory fitted, retractable type, or £600.00 third party fitted swan neck.
If had known this when purchased might have thought differently about buying a Skoda.
Dont know how other manufacturers are dealing with this, as it has something to dso with keyless entry and security permissions etc.
Just a word of caution.
br.
Incorrect.
As long as the fitter has the correct programme on their computer he can reprogramme your car, and it is available from several towbar manufacturers. That applies to the whole of the VAG range. When I had the tow bar fitted to my Yeti the fitter had the programme from Westphalia, which is probably the make of your bar.
If not any person with the VCDS programme can also do it, although it is very slightly more difficult.
I suggest you find a local VAG specialist and talk to them as they will have the correct equipment.
I have spoken to a number of fitters and VAG Specialists about this issue, and non have the coding for new skoda's and tiguans.
Its due to VAG not realeasing the coding due to safety concerns with keyless entry and other systems where access c an be gained to inforation stored within the cars computer systems.
It means they are looking for potential new purchases to have factory fitted towbars where coding can be done a source, thus elminating any user interface after purhcase.
So its a wait and see if its released anytime soon.
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Topic: Towing with plug-in hybrid
via mobile 25/3/2025 at 9:03am
