Get Driving tips -> Driving a loaded vehicle Guide for Volkswagen Beetle 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2019)

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.

ꢀ

Never transport objects larger than those that fit completely in the luggage compartment,

because the rear hatch cannot be fully closed properly.

After closing the rear hatch, always pull up on it to make sure that it is properly closed

and cannot open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.

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.

ꢀ

Drive carefully; anticipate what other drivers will do.

Avoid abrupt or sudden acceleration, steering, or braking, because the unlatched rear

hatch can move suddenly.

Always mark objects sticking out from the luggage compartment clearly for others to see.

Obey all applicable legal requirements.

Never use the rear hatch to “clamp” or “hold” objects that stick out of the luggage

compartment.

Always remove any luggage rack or other rack mounted on the rear hatch (along with any

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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.

ꢀ

Carbon monoxide causes drowsiness, inattentiveness, poisoning, and loss of

consciousness. It can lead to accidents and severe personal injuries.

Always keep the rear hatch closed while driving to help keep poisonous exhaust fumes

from being drawn into the vehicle.

Never transport objects that are too large to fit completely into the luggage area, because

then the rear hatch cannot be fully closed.

ꢀ

ꢀ 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 length and height.

Driving a loaded vehicle

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

For good handling when driving a loaded vehicle, please observe the following:

ꢀ

Securely stow all luggage.

Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.

Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.

Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.

If applicable, observe information about driving with a roof rack.

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.

ꢀ

Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.

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.

ꢀ

Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.

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.

ꢀ 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.

ꢀ

Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.

Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.

Weights and axle weights

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The actual gross weight of any vehicle depends on the engine, basic equipment, any factory-installed

optional equipment for the given model, and any accessories that have been installed. The Gross

Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross front and Rear Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) for a

given vehicle are printed on the vehicle's Safety Compliance Certification Label on the driver door

jamb.

The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating includes the weight of the vehicle itself with all of its factory-

installed equipment, plus a full tank of gasoline, the engine oil and coolant, all vehicle occupants

(150 lbs/68 kg per seating position) and cargo.

The Gross Axle Weight Ratings specify the maximum allowable load for each axle.

The cargo payload may not be increased by using a roof rack without commensurately reducing the

weight from vehicle occupants ⇒ꢀ . Determining the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating., Tires and

wheels.

Vehicle payload consists of the combined weight of the following:

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Passengers.

Total luggage and other cargo.

Roof load including the roof rack system.

Factory-installed or retrofitted accessories.

Please refer to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross front and rear Axle Weight

Ratings (GAWR) for your vehicle, which are printed on the vehicle's Safety Compliance Certification

Label on the driver door jamb.

Driving tips -> Driving a loaded vehicle for Your Volkswagen Beetle 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2019)

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