2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN tow

WARNING
Heavy loads will influence the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can cause loss of control and serious
injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that a change in the center of gravity
also changes the way your vehicle handles:
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects properly as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps using the tie-downs in the
luggage compartment.
– Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
x Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the
vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
x Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Stowing luggage

Driving with an open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury. If you have to drive with an open
rear hatch, make sure that all objects and the hatch itself are properly secured and take appropriate
measures to keep toxic exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with an unlatched or open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury.
x Never transport objects larger than those fitting completely into the luggage compartment,
because the rear hatch cannot be closed properly.
x After closing the hatch, always pull up on it to make sure that it is properly closed and
cannot open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.
x Always stow all objects securely in the luggage compartment. Loose objects can fall out
of the luggage compartment and injure others on the road behind you.
x Drive carefully; anticipate what other drivers will do.
x Avoid abrupt or sudden acceleration, steering, or braking, because the unlatched rear
hatch can move suddenly.
x Always mark objects sticking out from the luggage compartment clearly for others to see.
Obey all applicable legal requirements.
x Never use the rear hatch to “clamp” or “hold” objects that stick out of the luggage
compartment.
x Always remove any luggage rack or other rack mounted on the rear hatch (along with any
luggage on the rack) before driving with an open rear hatch.
WARNING
Driving with an open rear hatch can cause poisonous carbon monoxide in the engine exhaust
to get into the passenger compartment.
x Carbon monoxide causes drowsiness, inattentiveness, poisoning, and loss of
consciousness. It can lead to accidents and severe personal injuries.
x Always keep the rear hatch closed while driving to help keep poisonous exhaust fumes
from being drawn into the vehicle.
x Never transport objects that are too large to fit completely into the luggage area, because
then the rear hatch cannot be fully closed.
x If you absolutely must drive with an open rear hatch, do the following to reduce the risk of
carbon monoxide poisoning:
– Close all windows and the power sunroof.
– Switch off the climate control system's air recirculation feature.
– Open all air vents in the instrument panel.
– Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.
NOTICE
The open rear hatch changes the vehicle's length and height.
Driving a loaded vehicle

x Securely stow all luggage
x Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.
x Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
x If applicable, observe information about driving with a trailer
WARNING
Heavy loads can change the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can shift suddenly, causing loss of
control and serious injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that they change the vehicle's center
of gravity and also the way it handles.
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Use your vehicle's luggage compartment tie-downs with suitable straps.
x Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps.
x Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
x Always adapt speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the
vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
x Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Weights and axle weights

WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly stowed items can fly through the vehicle, causing serious personal
injury during hard braking or sharp steering or in an accident. Loose items can also be struck
and thrown through the passenger compartment by the front airbags if they inflate. To help
reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
x Always stow all objects securely in the vehicle. Always put luggage and heavy items in the
luggage compartment.
x Always secure objects in the passenger compartment properly with suitable straps so that
they cannot move into the deployment zone of a side or front airbag during a sudden braking,
in a sudden maneuver, or in a collision.
x Always keep storage compartments closed while driving.
x Never stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in the vehicle's open storage compartments, on
the shelf behind the rear seat bench, or on the top of the instrument panel.
x Always remove hard, heavy, or sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle
interior and stow them securely in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Transporting heavy objects causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change and
increases braking distances. Heavy loads which are not properly stowed or secured in the
vehicle can lead to a loss of vehicle control and cause serious person injury.
x Transporting heavy items causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change by
shifting the vehicle's center of gravity.
x Always distribute luggage evenly and as low as possible within the vehicle. The vehicle
capacity weight figures apply when the load is distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers
and luggage).
x Always stow luggage and heavy items in the luggage compartment as far forward of the
rear axle as possible and secure them with appropriate straps to the tie-downs provided.
x Never exceed the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Gross Axle Weight Ratings,
which are printed on the Safety Compliance Certification Label located on the door jamb of
the driver door. Exceeding the permissible weight can cause the vehicle to skid and behave
differently.
x Always adapt your speed and driving style to accommodate your payload and its weight
distribution within your vehicle.
x Be especially cautious and gentle when stepping on the accelerator pedal and avoid
sudden braking and other maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
NOTICE
x The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window can be damaged by objects that
rub against them.
The ventilation slots between the rear window and the luggage compartment cover must not be
blocked so that stale air can escape from the vehicle.

WARNING
Elastic straps have to be stretched when being attached to the tie-downs in the luggage
compartment Hooks on elastic straps can cause serious personal injury if not handled
properly and attached securely.
x Always protect eyes and face from injury from the hooks when attaching them to the
vehicle and do not let them snap back and hit you.
x Always hold the hooks on elastic straps firmly when attaching to the vehicle and do not let
them snap back and hit you.
x First attach hooks to the tie-downs at the rear seat backrest in the luggage compartment
and then to the tie-downs near the loading edge of the luggage compartment. This way, if one
of the hooks on the elastic straps snaps back, it will move away from you, decreasing the risk
of personal injury.
The maximum load for the tie-downs is about lbs. ( kg).
For suitable ratchet straps and luggage stowage systems, please see an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Shopping bag hooks

Fig. In the luggage compartment: Shopping bag hooks.

WARNING
The elastic luggage net has to be stretched when being attached to the tie-downs in the
luggage compartment. The metal hooks can cause serious personal injury if not handled
properly and attached securely.
x Always hold the hooks on the luggage net bag firmly when attaching to the vehicle and do
not let them spring back and hit you.
x Always protect eyes and face from injury from the metal hooks when attaching them to the
tie-downs in the luggage compartment.
x First attach the luggage net bag hooks to the tie-downs on the rear seat backrest or on the
shopping bag hooks in the luggage compartment and then to the tie-downs near the loading
edge of the luggage compartment. If one of the hooks on the luggage bag net snaps back, it
will move away from you and not towards you, increasing the risk of injury.
Variable luggage compartment floor

Fig. In the luggage compartment: Opening and securing the variable luggage compartment floor.

Fig. Extending the luggage compartment floor forward or downward.

x To secure, push the retaining pin to the right.
x To close, push the retaining pin (1) to the left and guide the luggage compartment floor
downwards.
Extending the luggage compartment floor forward
x Remove the luggage compartment cover
x Remove the rear head restraints
x Push both sections of the rear seat forward
x Fold the rear backrests forward
x Fold the cover forward ⇒ fig. (1).
Extending the luggage compartment floor downward
x Remove the luggage compartment cover
x Raise the luggage compartment floor, pull from the side pins (2) and remove it from the vehicle to
the rear.
There may be a foam element with the spare wheel ⇒ fig. located beneath the variable luggage
compartment floor. If a spare wheel is present, remove it and remove the foam element from the
luggage compartment.
WARNING
During hard braking or an accident, loose objects can fly through the passenger
compartment and cause serious or even fatal injuries.
x Even if the luggage compartment floor panel is properly raised, it is still necessary to
secure all objects.
x Objects stowed between the rear seat bench and the luggage compartment floor panel
must never be more than 2/3 as high as the raised floor panel.
x Objects stowed between the rear seat bench and the raised luggage compartment floor
panel must never weigh more than about 16.5 lbs. (7.5 kg).
NOTICE
Do not let the luggage compartment floor fall freely when closing it. Always guide it down into
place. The trim or the luggage compartment floor could be damaged.
If you slide the rear seats forward, there is a gap between the luggage compartment floor and the
rear seats. Make certain there are no objects in this space before sliding the rear seats back again.

Trailer towing