Think Volkswagens can’t tow? Think again! With the proper hitch installed, you can tow a standard trailer, utility trailer, or boat. Of course, it depends on selecting a hitch that matches your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity. Fortunately, you’ll learn all about how to choose the right hitch in this brief guide.
A Brief Overview of Hitch Classes
To select the proper hitch for your vehicle, you need to understand how hitch classes work. Each class can handle up to a maximum amount of weight. Five classes are available, but four of them offer towing capabilities for most passenger vehicles:
- Class 1: Cars and crossovers with 1.25-inch receivers towing up to 2,000 pounds
- Class 2: Cars, crossovers, and minivans with 1.25-inch receivers towing up to 3,500 pounds
- Class 3: Crossovers, vans, SUVs, and trucks with 2.0-inch receivers towing up to 8,000 pounds
- Class 4: Trucks and SUVs with 2.0-inch receivers towing up to 10,000 pounds
It’s important to select a hitch that’s compatible with your vehicle’s maximum towing capability. Meanwhile, you must also consider the receiver size. For instance, you’d think that a Volkswagen Tiguan trailer hitch would only be a Class 1 due to the Tiguan’s 1,500-pound towing limit. However, the Tiguan also has a two-inch square receiver — which calls for a Class 3 hitch.
Hitches for Small, Medium, and Large VWs
To understand more about selecting the right hitch for your VW, let’s take a look at some other popular models. Most VW Beetles, except for model years 2000 through 2011, are not rated for towing anything. The ones that can have a maximum towing limit of 2,200 pounds. A Volkswagen Beetle trailer hitch is a Class 1 type for two reasons: their upper towing limit and their 1.25-inch receivers.
Do any VW vehicles use a Class 2 hitch? Unsurprisingly, no. With smaller models like the Jetta, the Arteon, and the Golf having towing limits of around 2,000 pounds, they all require Class 1 hitches. These allow you to tow very small trailers, some utility trailers, and trailers containing personal watercraft and motorcycles.
In comparison, heavier Volkswagen vehicles require a Class 3 hitch. These include the Taos, the ID.4, and the Atlas — the largest vehicle that VW currently offers in the United States. Again, all these vehicles have two-inch square receivers.
Popular VW Trailer Hitch Brands
When selecting a VW trailer hitch, you have many options from which to choose. CURT is a popular brand, known for its products’ strength, durability, reliability, and performance. Others include Draw-Tite and Husky, both with reputations equally impressive as CURT.
When shopping for any sort of trailer hitch — whether a VW Tiguan, a GMC Sierra 1500, or a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport trailer hitch — you want to source your gear from a reputable auto parts and accessories retailer. Choose a retailer with a large selection of products and world-class customer service. With convenient local store pickup and direct shipping options, you have many ways to get exactly what you need to complete any project.