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Volkswagen Transporter towing capacity

January 16, 2025

You've come looking for the towing capacity of the Volkswagen Transporter but in this helpful guide you'll find out much more than simply how much the VW Transporter towing capacity is.

We'll cover the overall towing weights of the Transporter, the gross train weight and gross combination weight, as well as give details on the Transporter tow bar and even how you can tow with a Transporter and tow a Transporter as well.

But... we'll start with the easy stuff and the most important part of this guide, the Transporter's maximum towing capacity. This is a guide for the current Transporter, the seventh generation, which shares a platform with the Ford Transit Custom. For details on the Ford Transit Custom towing capacity check the guide.

What is the towing capacity of a Volkswagen Transporter?

The Volkswagen Transporter has a towing capacity of 750kg for an unbraked trailer and a maximum towing capacity of 2,800kg for a braked trailer - depending on the model.

Some variants of the Transporter have a smaller towing capacity when towing a braked trailer. These are the smaller versions of the van, called the T28 or the T30. The biggest version (the one with the highest gross vehicle weight) is the T32.

Many of the T28 versions are only rated to 2000kg, while the T30s vary based on size and engine. Similarly the T32s are mostly all rated to tow 2,800kg, but there are some versions that can only tow 2000kg.

For a full breakdown on the models scroll down to see the table.

What is the best Transporter for towing?

Any of the T32 size versions of the Transporter will be your best option for towing heavy loads. These are the vans that have the maximum towing allowance of 2,800kg.

It's also best to pick a van with a more powerful engine, which is why we would recommend the 150hp version with an 8-speed automatic transmission. If you're going to be towing off-road, there's also the option of a 4Motion all-wheel-drive variant, or you can look into using a pick-up truck.

For more on the best vans for towing read our advice guide.

Can a VW Transporter van tow a trailer?

Yes. Absolutely, the Transporter is more than capable enough of towing a trailer behind it. It can tow a 750kg unbraked trailer or a braked trailer up to 2800kg depending on the capabilities of the individual model.

What is the Transporter gross train weight?

The gross train weight is the combination of vehicle, payload and trailer that the Transporter can carry with a maximum total of up to 5725kg.

Smaller versions with a gross vehicle weight of either 3- or 2.8-tonnes have a much smaller gross train weight.

The lowest gross train weight is 4800kg for the T28 version of the van. That means that it is possible to overload vans that have a lower train weight than the 5725kg max.

Is the Transporter tow bar standard?

No, a tow bar is not standard on the price list for a Transporter, however, there is the option to specify it with one.

The tow bar preparation, option will cost around £200 with a fixed tow bar hitch costing around £550. If you want to have a powered folding tow bar fitted that will cost around £1000.

Written by: George Barrow 

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