Towing a 2016 VW GTI

Thanks, Whemme.....my first toad behind my first MH. I'll talk to my mechanic about the steering lock.

73driver,

Since my key is removed when towing, the panel is not powered so the digital odometer does not indicate any mileage increase. However, in your case where you must have the ignition switch in the ACC position, your instrument panel may be powered so your odometer may add in your towed mileage. You should know if you have towed your GTI. If so, you may be able to remove a fuse to stop the odometer from indicating.

Prior to getting the GTI, I towed a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu that was also setup with a Blue Ox system. Since I was getting a new tow bar from the Blue Ox factory anyway for the GTI, I advertised the Malibu as a vehicle already setup for towing and would include the existing Blue Ox tow bar, base plate and installed tail light wiring. The Malibu had approximately 93,000 miles on the odometer when I sold it but with approximately 55,000 towed mileage that did not register on the odometer. A person drove all the way from Tennessee to Iowa to look at the car and bought it for $6,000. There is a demand for used toads.

Whemme,

Am I to assume that your mileage doesn't increase as you tow with a cold car? Not that it really matters....I would think the towing gear might give it away as a tow vehicle

73driver,

I had an independent foreign car mechanic cut off my steering locking pin. He charged me around $120 for that work. The locked steering is not a safety feature but a supposed anti-theft feature I could get along without - non of my other vehicles have locked steering.

Anyway it is nice to be able to put the manual transmission in neutral, pull the key from the ignition, lock the car and tow away.

I installed the RVi battery charger, wired to the MH via the cable. I push the start button once to activate the "acc" and leave the key fob in the car. I found that if I kept the key with me and and got out of range, the acc would eventually shut down automatically and relook the wheel. If I left them in the car, it stays on. I learned the hard way that you need to disable the "convinence auto lock" feature as my doors would automatically lock after the car starts rolling. And no, the extra key would not electronically open the door. I would like to be able to leave the car cold and tow it, but I'm a little uncomfotable takin my steering column apart.

73driver,

What did you do about the locked steering? Yes, Blue Ox recommends the the wiring kit that adds the bulbs to the existing tail light fixtures.

Thanks, Whemme. Just finished installing the whole Blue Ox system on my 2016 GTI for towing behind my Winnebago View. The hardest part was my penchant to re-engineer the tail light install. I wanted to use the diode kit but ultimately found out they wouldn't work on the GTI. Had I listened to them in the first place, I wouldn't have fought it for 2 days. So far, it's a nice rig!

I should have held out for the manual tranny on our new '16 Golf Sportwagen.... Oh well.
Our 2012 Canyon 4wd is flat towable, but with a 24' Sunseeker, we've really never needed a toad. Having nothing behind makes it so much easier, particularly the places we tend to go. We've never shied away from gravel roads.