[AbbeyRoad_Man]

Wife and I looking for new vehicle, smitten by the Atlas. Narrowed our choice down (up) to the SEL. Today we visited a dealer and discovered it has a trailer hitch, with a horrible cut-out in the rear bumper - SAD!!! We don't need/want a trailer hitch that is a $800 + option on the non-SEL models. Really degrades the appearance of an otherwise stunning vehicle. Rather spend that $$$ on 2nd row captain chairs!!! Dealer didn't know it was standard let alone if you can order an SEL w/out the hitch. Had an on-line chat with VW, advised to speak with a dealer about ordering an SEL w/out the hitch. Any thoughts and/or experience to share?

 

[Atlasuno]

I've had the opposite problem. I would have been happy with a launch edition 4motion, but couldn't get the 5000# towing package that I need. So, SEL is on order. They've standardized these too tightly, so that alot of potential customers are turned off or less than happy with what they have to accept.

 

[AbbeyRoad_Man]

UPDATE: A dealer contacted me and shared that VW will accept an order for a SEL w/out the hitch, and reduce the cost accordingly. Kudos to VW if that's accurate. I do see that the hitch is currently "unavailable at this time" on non-SEL models but remains an option.

 

[Atlasuno]

I had someone at VW corporate respond to my questions about why I couldn't get a launch edition w/ hitch with the info that it was decided to offer all V6 versions with the hitch option - but, it wouldn't happen until probably next year.

 

[Dukkie]

I had already purchased the the Atlas S and would now like to add a hitch.

 

[Altervarks]

I had already purchased the the Atlas S and would now like to add a hitch.

you can purchase the aftermarket oem hitch kit from VW but its only rated at the 2000 lb limits not the 5k. The hitch is east, the electrical part, not so much...

 

[nripps]

I had already purchased the the Atlas S and would now like to add a hitch.

From my understanding, if you add a tow hitch, only 2,000 lbs of towing is permitted. And yes, some modifications would be needed on the bumper.

I made sure that I purchased an Atlas with a factory installed tow hitch so I could pull 5,000 lbs. To have a tow hitch package, the Atlas must have the factory installed intercooler on the transmission.

Also, towing is really frowned in vehicles that have a panoramic ceiling or a sun window on top. U-Haul will not rent to vehicles without a solid top.

Good luck!

 

[skretch500]

From my understanding, if you add a tow hitch, only 2,000 lbs of towing is permitted. And yes, some modifications would be needed on the bumper.

I made sure that I purchased an Atlas with a factory installed tow hitch so I could pull 5,000 lbs. To have a tow hitch package, the Atlas must have the factory installed intercooler on the transmission.

Also, towing is really frowned in vehicles that have a panoramic ceiling or a sun window on top. U-Haul will not rent to vehicles without a solid top.

Good luck!

U-Haul will allow you to rent a trailer with the Atlas. They do not have any problems with the panoramic roof. Their limitation is with soft top Jeeps. I have both a Jeep and an Atlas and recently rented a trailer to move my kid from college.

 

[nripps]

The Texas U-Haul dealers that I've been to will not rent to vehicles owners with glass on the roof of the vehicle due to danger of roll over. I was told that in several places. Just sayin'

 

[Barry T]

That's really dumb!

 

[nripps]

That's really dumb!

Actually, roof glass becomes a huge safety issue in case the vehicle rolls over, the occupants are exposed or ejected. I've taken care of a few people in my nursing career who had their hands or entire arm go through the glass when the vehicle rolled. If they can save the mangled hand or the limb, it gets sewn into the abdomen to the same artery that fed the natal cord. So (no pun intended) the thumb or what's left of it, gets sewn into the belly button, or the radial artery in some cases if they are trying to grow a skin flap or part of the arm. It's not a pretty picture. Most of you in here are more than capable with towing safety, but there are the below average bears out there that really don't know what they are doing.

We were driving with at night in pitch black when my husband hit a freshly killed deer in the road that the car in front of us had just hit. The left front wheel of the car hit the deer, and the Golf Sportwagen TDI (aftermarket hitch for 2,000 lbs/no glass roof) lifted and rolled a good 30 degrees to the right...we were rolling across this deer on two right wheels...we basically skidded across the deer...then the trailer hit it when is was still tilted. That was not a fun feeling, and I didn't know if we were going to entirely roll over or not. The wagon was good, and unbelievably the only damage sustained was that we had to have the alignment redone on the back passenger wheel. Just blood, guts and fur on the U-Haul. The angels were looking after us!