Hi everyone, just bought a 2016 Touareg V6 FSI and also bought a 25 ft travel trailer. Picked up the trailer today. On paper everything checks out e.g. GVWR, GCVWR, towing capacity etc. However, when hooking up the trailer I experienced a 3,5 inch drop (sag) at the back of the Touareg. Have any of you experienced the same? The owners manual and plenty of online forums state clearly not the install a Weight Distribution system. I believe this will help with the sag, but have not installed one because of the warnings. Have any of you installed a WD system and if yes, what has your experience been like? Looking forward to some awesome adventures!
New Touareg Owner and Towing
Myburgh Truter
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Hi everyone, just bought a 2016 Touareg V6 FSI and also bought a 25 ft travel trailer. Picked up the trailer today. On paper everything checks out e.g. GVWR, GCVWR, towing capacity etc. However, when hooking up the trailer I experienced a 3,5 inch drop (sag) at the back of the Touareg. Have any of you experienced the same? The owners manual and plenty of online forums state clearly not the install a Weight Distribution system. I believe this will help with the sag, but have not installed one because of the warnings. Have any of you installed a WD system and if yes, what has your experience been like? Looking forward to some awesome adventures!
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Do you have Air suspension?
He doesn't have air in a 2016 NA TREG,I wish he could as well as many owners of newer TREGs. Hitch weight and trailer weight is very important. I would drive with 3 inches of sag on the tail gate. Maybe some heavy duty rear coils on the suspension would help solve the issue.
Hitch weight is #1. If it's within spec, go ahead and use WD, But do NOT try and remove all the sag. Follow the directions for the WD hitch!!!! The trailer will end up being close to level (your tow ball height must be set first) but there will still be several hundred pounds of tongue weight and that is important for safety and handling. DO NOT try and get the Touareg level with a weight distributing hitch system.
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I never realized that the new ones don't have air as an option. Hmm
Not since a LONG time ago (2010?? IIRC ). They have only had the standard spring suspension since then in North America.
Except for getting a little lift for off-road, it's not needed for towing.
Running sag is fine. But when sag is excessive because of a higher tongue weight (maybe 450+ pounds I would think), then weight distributing hitches are good for removing SOME sag, not all of it.
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I’m surprised Air is a nice money maker for VW
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I think it had more to do with how many people actually used it for it's most beneficial intended purpose (off-road clearance).
If a poll was taken, I wonder how many Touareg owners have actually taken theirs TRULY off-road and required the extra clearance of the air suspension. Seriously, how many? 1% or less would be my guess.
I know the first gen Touaregs followed the Cayenne design philosophy, off road capable, lockers, clearance. They were trying to build a luxury Grand Cherokee for current Porsche owners who wanted an SUV. But how many owners actually took those very expensive vehicles OFF ROAD where risk of damage was higher (rocks, ledges)? I think VW rightly guessed that the overwhelming majority of their customer base wasn't willing to pay a premium for a truly capable luxury 4X4. So it made financial sense to eliminate air suspension and get higher sales and more profits.
If you want to go wheeling, it makes more sense to buy a cheaper used Grand Cherokee, and add a few bits. Or Toyota 4Runner, or Nissan Xterra, or the much older version Pathfinder before they became what they are now (Soccer Mom crossover).
If a poll was taken, I wonder how many Touareg owners have actually taken theirs TRULY off-road and required the extra clearance of the air suspension. Seriously, how many? 1% or less would be my guess.
I know the first gen Touaregs followed the Cayenne design philosophy, off road capable, lockers, clearance. They were trying to build a luxury Grand Cherokee for current Porsche owners who wanted an SUV. But how many owners actually took those very expensive vehicles OFF ROAD where risk of damage was higher (rocks, ledges)? I think VW rightly guessed that the overwhelming majority of their customer base wasn't willing to pay a premium for a truly capable luxury 4X4. So it made financial sense to eliminate air suspension and get higher sales and more profits.
If you want to go wheeling, it makes more sense to buy a cheaper used Grand Cherokee, and add a few bits. Or Toyota 4Runner, or Nissan Xterra, or the much older version Pathfinder before they became what they are now (Soccer Mom crossover).
I agree 100%, I use my TREG TDI for towing boats,so when I replace it it will have to have the capacity to tow 5000 lbs easily. I am hoping against hope that I can find a nearly new TDI Touareg,maybe a 2016 with the fix. I love the car,it has everything I want in a suv with out the bull crap of a MB, BMW or Cayenne.
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I understand that. I go off road, I frequently drive on the beach I just put it in Auto though. I always drive in sport. I haven’t needed more ground clearance yet. Nock wood lol. Only once have I put it in super high mode. And that was when I was plowed in, it came out just fine. I guess you really don’t need that extra highness
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