Noseweight limit

[Waddie]

The A6 Allroad has a noseweight limit of a 100kg whereas the standard A6 is only 85kg.

Anyone know why?

[zollaf]

air suspension maybe , or quattro ?

[Waddie]

Unless there are some structual differences between the models I can only think that the air suspension is the difference, and if that is the case then an A6 with air suspension should be the same!

[rowdy-999]

The A6 Allroad has a noseweight limit of a 100kg whereas the standard A6 is only 85kg.

Anyone know why?

You'll find it has a greater towing weight too. 4X4.

[Waddie]

Don't think that 4x4 has anything to do with it as the full A6 range only has a limit of 85kg. You are correct that the Allroad has a geater towing weight limit

[rowdy-999]

Don't think that 4x4 has anything to do with it as the full A6 range only has a limit of 85kg. You are correct that the Allroad has a geater towing weight limit


You'll find it most likely does.

[Waddie]

Would you like to expand Rowdy as the information I have is that all Quattros except the Allroad have a limit of 85kg (A6 prices and spec 2016).

[ukgroucho]

The real question is "Why can an allroad tow 2500Kg when a regular A6 can only tow 2000Kg" - except the A6 BiTdi which has a 2100Kg limit.

The reason that is important is because it has a bearing on noseweight. From the caravan club web site regarding noseweight "EC Directive 95/48, sometimes referred toas the ‘Masses and Dimensions Directive’,states that this load must be not less than4% of the maximum permissible towablemass (i.e. the towing limit) and not less than25kg."

Too much noseweight can be a problem so maybe Audi are erring on the side of caution but meeting the EC directive...
- Regular A6: 4% of 2100Kg is 84Kg noseweight (so call it 85Kg)
- allroad A6: 4% of 2500Kg is 100Kg noseweight

The site also states that "Several factors may be taken into account when specifyingthis noseweight figure, including the capabilities of the car's suspension, the effects on thevehicles steering and its traction (particularly if front-wheel drive) and the strength of thetowbar and its mounting." so you could surmise that quattro and air suspension (which will self level) plus the extra weight of the allroad all contribute to it's extra towing prowess and "required" higher noseweight.

The "one size fits all" noseweight of 85Kg from the 2.0Tdi front wheel drive all the way to the quattro BiTdi (which weighs over 200Kg more) does seem a little "lazy" but I guess for type approval they may need to demonstrate on the lightest model and repeated costs across the range are additional Euros.

[Waddie]

I think that you gave a few valid points Groucho, but doesn't the 4% refer to the towed vehicle not the towing vehicle?
The caravan club recommendation on noseweight is between 5-7% of the weight of the van, so based on this the max weight of a van for an A6 is 1700kg, that, luckily enough, is the max weight of mine!

[ukgroucho]

I think that you gave a few valid points Groucho, but doesn't the 4% refer to the towed vehicle not the towing vehicle?
The caravan club recommendation on noseweight is between 5-7% of the weight of the van, so based on this the max weight of a van for an A6 is 1700kg, that, luckily enough, is the max weight of mine!

Nope

"EC Directive 95/48, sometimes referred to as the ‘Masses and Dimensions Directive’,states that this load must be not less than 4% of the maximum permissible towable mass"

[ukgroucho]

And the more I think about this the more I think the air suspension (self levelling) may play a big part in the higher noseweight. The bottom of modern cars are pretty "smooth" so on a vehicle that does not self level then if the car is slightly nose up because of a heavy load on the tow bar then it will present an airfoil which could cause lift at the nose when travelling at speed. End result would be reduced traction at the front wheels which is not a good thing if you plan to go around any corners at speed....

[Splash]

So when I first got a car with a sticker in the tailgate showing the maximum towbar mass I assumed it was the maximum weight of a person stepping on it. This is my wife's preferred method for (very occasionally) washing the car so that she can reach the roof if I've forgotten to "squat" it. C5 and C6 allroads were easier to wash as there was room in the wheelarch for your foot on top of the tyre - a very clever design feature sadly dropped in the C7. ;)

I've just realised I can use the "aero" argument to ensure she wins the fight for the front seat with my taller son and so helps the car get "on the plane" better. Very important in winter conditions, what with split mu traction. :) Get's proper cold in me trailer too - so it does...

Mum's the word groucho.

[Waddie]

Been reading the directive and the relevant parts are interesting. Scroll down to appendix II, section 2.6 defines towable mass, and section 3 explains the requirements. Needs reading through a few times to understand. Haven't quite got there yet.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:31995L0048