Can A Jetta Tow A Trailer? Volkswagen Jetta Towing Capacity (2024)
If you own or are considering a Jetta and you’re looking to pull your rig, you’re probably wondering: can a Jetta tow a trailer?
Yes, a Jetta can tow a trailer or camper up to 1,000 pounds.
There are additional factors you’ll need to consider when towing a trailer or camper with your VW Jetta which we’ll cover below.
Towing A Trailer With A Jetta
So, can a Jetta tow a trailer? Yes: the VW Jetta towing capacity is 1,000 pounds, so as long as your camper, toy hauler, travel trailer, or pop-up camper is under 1,000 lbs your Jetta can successfully tow it.
The Jetta TDI aka Jetta Sportswagen can tow a trailer up to 1,000 pounds.
We’ll be referring to the regular Jetta throughout this guide, but the same info still applies about towing a trailer with your Jetta TDI Sportswagen with the exception of the total towing capacity.
Now we need to explore the additional factors you’ll need to keep in mind when pulling a trailer with your Jetta.
VW Jetta Tow Package Details
Does The Jetta Come With A Tow Package?
The Jetta does not come with a tow package included, so you’ll need to add one yourself or have one installed professionally.
Note that adding a tow hitch to a non-wagon Jetta will void the manufacturer’s warranty.
VW Jetta Trailer Towing: What Do I Need?
At minimum you’ll need a trailer hitch and wiring harness to tow your camper behind your Volkswagen Jetta.
Do I Need A Brake Controller To Pull A Camper With A Jetta?
If your travel trailer or camper has electronic brakes then you’ll also need a brake controller to send a signal from your vehicle to the brakes on your trailer.
Can You Put A Trailer Hitch On A Jetta? Jetta Tow Package Installation
If you’re handy and looking to save money, you can install the trailer hitch and wiring harness yourself.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and use proper safety precautions.
Here’s a great video walkthrough on a Jetta trailer hitch installation:
What Else Will I Need To Tow A Trailer With My Jetta?
Depending on what trailer or camper you’ll be pulling with your Jetta, you may opt for a suspension enhancement kit to reduce rear-end sag and to improve your ride quality and stability.
Additionally, if your trailer or camper has electric brakes then you’ll need a 7-way connector and brake controller kit.
What Trailers And Campers Can A Jetta Tow?
Your Jetta can pull a trailer, camper, or pop-up camper under 1,000 pounds which is going to be most ultra lightweight campers.
The Jetta can safely tow the following travel trailer and camper models under 1,000 lbs:
SylvanSport GO
Polydrop Camper
Livin’ Lite Quicksilver 6.0
Livin’ Lite Quicksilver 8.0
Go Little Guy MyPod
Meerkat Camper
Trailers That A Jetta TDI Sportswagen Can Tow
Your Jetta TDI can pull a trailer, camper, or pop-up camper under 2,000 pounds which is going to be most ultra lightweight campers.
The TDI Sportswagen can safely tow the following travel trailer and camper models under 2,000 lbs:
Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro
Aliner Ascape
InTech RV Luna
Scamp Travel Trailers (all models)
Jayco Hummingbird
This is by no means a full list, but the above are some popular examples of campers that can be towed by a Jetta.
When determining what travel trailers you can pull behind your Jetta, you’ll want to know the following specs:
UVM (Unloaded Vehicle Weight) aka Dry Weight: This is the weight of a trailer as it’s manufactured at the factory. This figure includes all the weight including the axles and hitch of your trailer or camper.
Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC): This is the maximum weight of your personal belongings that can be added. This is the GVWR minus the UVM, full fresh water tank weight, and full LP (liquid propane) gas weight. In other words, CCC = GWVR – (UVM + water + gas).
Tongue Weight aka Hitch Weight: This is the amount of weight that’s pressing down on your vehicle’s hitch or 5th wheel connection when your travel trailer or camper is fully loaded for travel.
The most important factor to look for is the dry weight or UVM of your travel trailer or camper and making sure it’s below 1,000 lbs so your Jetta can safely tow it.
Understand that if it’s close to that number, you must also factor in any additional weight added to your trailer via cargo, water, or propane tanks and make sure the total does not exceed 1,000 pounds.
Jetta Towing Capacity
So, how much can a Jetta tow?
The Jetta can tow up to 1,000 pounds.
Jetta Towing Capacity: 1,000 lbs
Jetta GVWR: 4,057 lbs
VW Jetta TDI Towing Capacity
The VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen can tow up to 2,000 lbs.
You’ll want to pay attention to the following specs to make sure your Jetta can tow your camper or travel trailer:
CGWR (Combined Gross Weight Rating): This is the max allowable weight including your vehicle, cargo, passengers, and the trailer.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): This is the maximum weight capacity of your vehicle including the vehicle itself, passengers, and cargo without a trailer or camper attached. Exceeding either or both of the Jetta GVWR or Jetta towing capacity can damage the vehicle.
Can A Jetta Tow A Trailer? Wrapping Things Up
Hopefully this guide helped you to understand that yes, you can tow a trailer or camper with a Jetta as long as you pay close attention to the total weight (the camper or travel trailer must be under 1,000 pounds).
Jetta models don’t come with a towing package installed, so you’ll need to add one to the vehicle. Once complete, you’re ready to hit the road and get camping!
What hitch and wiring harness did you choose for your Jetta, and what camper or trailer are you towing with it? How did the hitch installation go? Let your fellow campers know in the comments below.
While you’re here, check out our other helpful travel trailer, camper, and RV repair guides:
Powertrain options include a 2.0-liter TSI Turbo 4-Cylinder with 235 horsepower or an available 3.6-liter VR6 V6 with 276 horsepower along with an optional 4MOTION® all-wheel drive system. When equipped with the optional trailer hitch and V6 engine, the Volkswagen Atlas can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Curt Trailer Hitch for 2020 Volkswagen Jetta There is one pretty big difference between the two trailer hitches that fit your 2020 Volkswagen Jetta, the Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch Receiver #24978 and the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C11540.
Towing capacity is the most weight your car can pull both legally, and safely. Towing too much weight can lead to your trailer swinging, and pulling your vehicle out of control.
The heavier the vehicle, the more weight it can tow with confidence. Modern SUVs and Trucks are lighter than they used to be, but are still capable of towing heavy loads. The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axle, and the longer it is, the safer the vehicle is for towing.
The towing capacity of the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta supports up to 1400kg. This is a braked figure, while the maximum load for any vehicle without using trailer brakes is 750kg, if rated to tow that much in the first place.
When you overload a vehicle it puts tons of strain on it. The tires can wear out quickly as well as overheat. This leads to expensive tire failure and the possibility of a dangerous blowout. Extra strain means the engine is also working harder to make the vehicle move.
Braked Towing Capacity. Refers to the ATM of the trailer which has its own brakes. Un-braked towing capacity. Refers to the ATM of the trailer which does not have its own brakes. This is significantly less than the braked towing capacity as the vehicle has to absorb much of the braking force.
Expert Reply: It is highly likely that you can carry 5,000 pounds on two 3,500 pound axles. The carrying capacity of two 3,500 pound axles is 7,000 pounds. The axles support not only the cargo's weight but also the weight of the trailer's frame and body.
The towing capacity of the Volkswagen Beetle supports up to 1000kg. This is a braked figure, while the maximum load for any vehicle without using trailer brakes is 750kg, if rated to tow that much in the first place.
The 2021 Kia Sorento is an impressively powerful SUV. On its LX and S trim levels it can tow up to 2,000 pounds, but once you upgrade to the EX or beyond, the Kia Sorento Towing Capacity reaches a maximum of 3,500 pounds.
This powerful three-row SUV is capable of towing up to 5,000 lbs. To experience this Hyundai's towing capacity to the fullest, you will want to purchase the available tow hitch.
Max towing capacity should not be taken lightly. Exceeding what your vehicle is designed to tow can strain your engine and transmission, accelerate brake wear, damage your tires and even warp your chassis. This could in turn trigger catastrophic failure while driving and could lead to property damage or serious injury.
Towing causes additional strain on your vehicle, from the engine to your brakes. So, it will slowly wear on your engine over time, no matter your vehicle or trailer. However, some big things will lead to faster wear and more substantial damage.
Rear-wheel drive cars are widely considered the best two-wheel drive option for towing, as front-wheel drives tend to be more sensitive to weight distribution. Testing has shown that two-wheel drives are more fuel efficient, even when towing, than four-wheel drive vehicles.
You can find your truck's towing capacity in the owner's manual or calculate it on your own. To find your truck's towing capacity, subtract your truck's curb weight from its Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR). The GCVWR is the maximum weight of your loaded truck and the weight of its attached trailer.
Longer trailers will have more sway. A short bed truck will struggle to control that sway even with the addition of sway bars. If you're planning on towing a long travel trailer(over 30 feet), you'll want to consider a long bed for the added stability because of the longer wheelbase.
What is Payload Capacity? A vehicle's payload capacity is the maximum amount of weight it can safely carry. In a car or SUV, that includes all of the weight in the cabin and trunk. In a truck, it consists of all of the weight in the cabin and bed.
The new Subaru Ascent is the largest SUV Subaru has ever built. As expected, it has the greatest towing capacity. While the base 2019, 2020, and 2021 model offers 2,000lbs of towing, higher trim levels of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Subaru Ascent can pull up to 5,000lbs.
The Volkswagen Tiguan has a low towing capacity of 1500 pounds. Keep in mind that towing capacity is the amount of weight a vehicle can safely pull. A towing capacity of 1500 pounds is meager, but it's not uncommon in many mid-size SUVs.
The Volkswagen Tiguan has a low towing capacity of 1500 pounds. Keep in mind that towing capacity is the amount of weight a vehicle can safely pull. A towing capacity of 1500 pounds is meager, but it's not uncommon in many mid-size SUVs.
Can the VW Tiguan tow? Yes, the Tiguan is a stand-out compact SUV for its three-row layout and its ability to tow up to 1,500 pounds1 when properly equipped. This maximum towing capacity applies to VW Tiguan SUVs from the 2018 to 2022 model year.
Learn more about the 2022 Volkswagen Taos towing capacity at Gene Messer Volkswagen. The Taos has up to an estimated 5,000lbs of max towing capacity. An exceptional amount of excitement that's matched with functionality, is the tagline the Taos lives by.
The Volkswagen Beetle isn't designed for towing, especially models produced after 2011. Beetles from 2000 to 2011 can tow up to 2,200 pounds—however, towing any cargo with the Beetle could void your warranty. It's recommended to consider other cars if you want to tow items frequently.
The towing capacity may be published within the handbook of the vehicle. It can also be calculated from the VIN plate, where line one is the maximum allowable mass and line two is the maximum trian mass. Simply deduct line one from line two and you have the vehicle towing limit.
To calculate the maximum weight your car can tow, all you need to do is subtract the gross vehicle weight (GVW) from the gross train weight (GTW). This is the absolute maximum weight your vehicle can tow.
Braked Towing Capacity. Refers to the ATM of the trailer which has its own brakes. Un-braked towing capacity. Refers to the ATM of the trailer which does not have its own brakes. This is significantly less than the braked towing capacity as the vehicle has to absorb much of the braking force.
The towing capacity of the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta supports up to 1400kg. This is a braked figure, while the maximum load for any vehicle without using trailer brakes is 750kg, if rated to tow that much in the first place.
The new Subaru Ascent is the largest SUV Subaru has ever built. As expected, it has the greatest towing capacity. While the base 2019, 2020, and 2021 model offers 2,000lbs of towing, higher trim levels of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Subaru Ascent can pull up to 5,000lbs.
The dual-motor 2022 VW ID. 4 Pro AWD and 2022 VW ID. 4 Pro S AWD models bump the horsepower up and increase the towing capacity. With these dual-motor models, you'll find a maximum towing capacity of 2,700 lbs4 when properly equipped.
One of the main differences between the 2022 Volkswagen Taos and 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan is their sizing: the 2022 Taos is a compact crossover that offers seating for five, while the new VW Tiguan is a 7-passenger midsize SUV.
A hard-sided pop-up, similar to an Aliner, can vary in weight from 1,180 to 2,700 lbs.; while tent style pop-ups range from 1,300 to 3,700 lbs. Today's pop-ups even offer an extreme sport style in the weight range of 1,722 to 3,377 lbs.
Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
