Volkswagen ID.3 Forum

I have checked the documentation and there is conflicting info. On the car plate it says 55kg. In the supplementary book entitled Technical Modifications ID.3 it says "The maximum load (carrier system including load) of the bicycle carrier fitted on the ball coupling is 75Kg." This supplementary book came along with the main manual in the document wallet. I'm puzzled. My ball coupling was definitely factory fitted.

Could they be weights with the bike rack attached plus 55kgs or 75 kgs total load without the bike rack attached? My Atera Strada without the fourth bike attachment weighs 18kgs so a 20kg buffer for the weight of the rack seems reasonable.

Should have read your reply more closely as I've just repeated what you said!

I do think total weight of 75 including rack is the correct one and 55 plus the rack is what is on the sticker.

Oh, I found also a paper.
Die maximale traglast (trägersystem inklusive zuladung) des auf dem kugelkopf montieren fahrradträger beträgt 75 kg.
Google translate: The maximum load (carrier system including payload) of the bicycle carrier mounted on the ball head is 75 kg.
So it is, when you use VW bike rack, what should then be 20 kg.

I've been thinking, that can I give some smaller car a little tow, or the tow bar leaves the car with bumper and maybe half a car.
There is no place/permission for tow hook on the back.

Ah well, 55kg max load counts me out of buying an id3. My 2 ebikes weigh about 43kg, plus bike rack 14.5kg, 57.5kg total. Shame. Looks like I'lkl have to consider id4 instead.
Ah maybe not, have just read latest comments re it poss being 75kg including weight of bike rack. Will have to be certain about this!

My interpretation is that it has to be 75Kg including the carrier, but as you say you'd have to be sure. Just how you would confirm this I don't know, perhaps a direct contact with VW? Not sure a Dealer would know.

I've got the Tech with bike prep. and the information in the technical modifications addition to the manual definitely states 75kg total weight on the ball head.

It's a heavy piece of kit and was tied to a luggage cleat using the quick release strap on the bag when I picked up the car, which leaves it lying on the boot floor. I've added an extension strap so it can go in the under-boot which is neater. You certainly wouldn't want it flying around in a crash.

gwr,

Is there a data plate behind the number plate, to the right of where the tow bar fits in? In another forum an owner posted a photo of this plate on his car which showed 55 kg. He believed his tow bar had been factory fitted, but there seemed to be some possible doubt about this.

If yours has such a plate, and you could perhaps post a photo of it showing (presumably) 75 kg, I would find that very reassuring.

Here is the plate, the technical modification title page, and the section referring to the towball capacity. The plate lists 55kg and the manual 75kg. Both are quite specific so it seems most likely the plate is allowing 20kg for the carrier.

Thank you.

VW do seem to be trying hard to cause confusion. I wonder how one is supposed to reconcile the 'maximum two bicycles' symbol with the fact that the ID3 price list includes an optional VW bicycle carrier that carries three bicycles.

It's a pity that the car can't take more than 75kgs total. We use the towbar on my Q7 for 4 adult bikes that weigh around 60 kgs total and the rack itself with the 4th bike attachment would weigh around 23-24 kgs I think. MInd you, the towbar is rated for 140kgs and the bike rack for 75kgs load.

I was hoping we could take the wife's ID3 to the cycle park, etc but no go unfortunately. It would have been nice to drive carbon free and then cycle carbon free!

VW seem to be further increasing the confusion over the weight limit for the tow ball with the latest revision of the manual.

The November 2020 edition of the online manual says "The maximum load (carrier system including load) of the bicycle carrier fitted on the ball coupling is 55 Kg or 75 kg depending on the equipment." They give no explanation of what the different equipments are.

Hi, this is from my ID.3, retired at the end of May 2021. An addition to the paper manual clarifies the maximum allowable load.

Thank you, that's very helpful.

This is the first evidence I have seen that VW do produce a 75 kg limit tow ball for this car. Now they just need to fix the user manuals, and give accurate information to their dealers.

It is interesting that in addition the higher weight limit of 75 kg, compared to the 55 kg limit photos posted earlier in this thread, the maximum offset distances for the centre of gravity of the load have also increased, so further increasing the moment of the load on the mounting points.

I also meant to ask about "retired at the end of May 2021".

Have you disposed of your ID3?

No, no. I apologize for my terrible english. I meant "taken from the VW dealer".

Gemma 1 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 10:03 am Hi, this is from my ID.3, retired at the end of May 2021. An addition to the paper manual clarifies the maximum allowable load.

Was that factory fitted, or installed by your dealer?

I’ve read that factory fitted is 75kg but retro-fitted is only 55kg.

Factory fitted.

I had one fitted by dealer and it's also rated to 75kg. I think they changed the towbar after March/April this year, earlier versions were 55kg, I had to wait almost 2 months for mine with the higher rating. I'm glad I did as this one is much more usable.

On a related issue, is anyone's rear number plate falling off? Had to reattach mine to the sticky pads and I wondered whether it's because of the different stress when it is folded down for the bike attachment.