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tsebew

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Greetings from a third-time TDI and first-time Touareg owner, specifically a 2016 TDI Lux 4 door wagon/sport utility with all wheel drive. Here in Club Touareg there are a lot of knowledgeable Touareg owners with a lot of experience with Touareg towing. I know the subject has pretty much been beat to death in here but I'd like to revisit it with three specific questions. First some background:

Currently I tow my travel trailer behind a Super Duty 7.3 Powerstroke. My travel trailer is single axle, 23' long, 8' wide, 10' tall, and has electric brakes. Its dry hitch weight is 300 lbs, dry weight of 3200 lbs, and GVW of 4600 lbs. For towing with my truck there is no need for a weight distribution system. All that said, I now want to tow the travel trailer behind my Touareg.

1. Do I need a weight distributing hitch? Or obey the technical requirements on page 180 of the Touareg owner's manual which states "Never install a weight-distributing or load equalizing trailer hitch on your vehicle. The vehicle is not designed for this kind of trailer hitch."

2. The Touareg is fitted for towing; e.g., it has a hitch and 7 pin trailer plug. However, due to the pristine condition of the hitch, I think its previous owner never towed anything. There isn't even a scuff mark inside it. So I presume I need to get under the dash to complete the wiring and installation for a brake controller. Any recommendations for a brake controller? Or can I simply re-adjust the settings and use the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 controller from the truck?

3. Any recommendations for towing mirrors for a 2016 Touareg?

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
 
#2 ·
tsebew said:
Greetings from a third-time TDI and first-time Touareg owner, specifically a 2016 TDI Lux 4 door wagon/sport utility with all wheel drive. Here in Club Touareg there are a lot of knowledgeable Touareg owners with a lot of experience with Touareg towing. I know the subject has pretty much been beat to death in here but I'd like to revisit it with three specific questions. First some background:

Currently I tow my travel trailer behind a Super Duty 7.3 Powerstroke. My travel trailer is single axle, 23' long, 8' wide, 10' tall, and has electric brakes. Its dry hitch weight is 300 lbs, dry weight of 3200 lbs, and GVW of 4600 lbs. For towing with my truck there is no need for a weight distribution system. All that said, I now want to tow the travel trailer behind my Touareg.

1. Do I need a weight distributing hitch? Or obey the technical requirements on page 180 of the Touareg owner's manual which states "Never install a weight-distributing or load equalizing trailer hitch on your vehicle. The vehicle is not designed for this kind of trailer hitch."

2. The Touareg is fitted for towing; e.g., it has a hitch and 7 pin trailer plug. However, due to the pristine condition of the hitch, I think its previous owner never towed anything. There isn't even a scuff mark inside it. So I presume I need to get under the dash to complete the wiring and installation for a brake controller. Any recommendations for a brake controller? Or can I simply re-adjust the settings and use the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 controller from the truck?

3. Any recommendations for towing mirrors for a 2016 Touareg?

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
Click to expand...
Not to give you a short answer, but there is a current thread on the forum that discusses this Creaking badly and ( Link{ https://www.clubtouareg.com/threads/creaking-badly-while-towing.306241/} repeating all of that is pretty burdensome. Pretty much everything that you need or wonder about is discussed there.
One thing to pay attention to is when compared to your larger truck the Touareg (et al) has the same limitations as a light truck. You can easily exceed the GVWR of the car, just like you can with a 1/2 to pickup.
This is something that I have to watch carefully.
Also you are likely to exceed the rear GAWR of that axle without a WDH shifting some of the tongue weight to the front axle.
If you check the loaded trailer on a set of CAT scales you will see what I am talking about.
 
#4 ·
I have to admit that I did not read your whole post, but I wanted to let you know that there is already a recent thread that is pretty exhaustive.
For your trailer you do not need a WDH with 300 lbs tongue loading,
I towed a 16' Scamp ~ 3000 lbs with a little over 300 lb tongue weight, but then previously I did not have the Touareg but towed with a 2016 Town and Country. The rating for that vehicle specified a WDH for weights over 1800 lbs so I bought a light weight Reese Mini 350 hitch and it did give a better ride with less bobbing going over bumps etc. It also had inherent sway control with the way it was built.
I towed all over the country with that and later traded our Passat for the Touareg and use that and the WDH did still give a more comfortable ride.
With the Touareg there is probably not a weight problem with your small trailer, but my "new" trailer is a 25' Airstream and they are known for having a pretty high tongue weight and to stay within the various limits I had to move some batteries and equipment to get the weight reduced and still you have to be careful with the loading due to the limits of the rear axle and the gross weight on the Vehicle.
Still read the linked thread as you might move up one day.
I did just swap my RedArc Tow Pro for the P3 out of the T&C and it works quite well. The biggest problem with adding the brake controller to the Touareg (et al) is finding the plug for the car side of the cable. There are adapter cabled available for the Teknosha P3. I found that I did not need the one with a built in relay. I did not buy either cable, but just spliced the wires to the cable that came with the P3.
 
#5 ·
I've towed a LOT in my 2016 TDI Lux. You have no worries. Hook it up and take off. Enjoy that the engine and tranny controls know there is a trailer attached and modify their performance accordingly. The only thing I do differently is to use "sport mode" in dense city traffic.
 
#6 ·
tsebew said:
So I presume I need to get under the dash to complete the wiring and installation for a brake controller.
Click to expand...
Yes.
You buy a pre-made pigtail, or go to VW and order the parts and make it yourself, or get terminals off Amazon, etc.
You'll also need a socket\adapter depending on your towing needs (7pin only, 7 & 4 pin, etc)
Pollak 11-893P 7-Way Sealed RV OEM Socket
Pollak 12-716 Trailer Wiring Connector Adapter Tow Wiring
TB0021
How to Install a Trailer Brake Controller Quick Tip
Tekonsha P3 brake controller on the Touareg
VW Touareg Plug and Play Trailer Brake Controller Harness
 
#7 ·
You asked about mirrors and while these have limitations on slipping a little and need to be checked for tightness occasionally they do work.
Here is a link to what I bought and use :
www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: Universal Clip-on Towing Mirror Extenders for Trucks, Cars, RVs - Side and Rearview Convex Trailer Mirrors : Automotive

Buy Universal Clip-on Towing Mirror Extenders for Trucks, Cars, RVs - Side and Rearview Convex Trailer Mirrors: Towing Mirrors - Amazon.com âś“ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
Also I need to warn you that the plug for the brake controller may be well hidden up under the dash tucked up in the wiring or insulation. Some have said that it was not present at all in their cars (truck, more precisely). Finding mine was the biggest headache in installing my system.
Due to mounting limitations I first installed a RedArch ProTow and it works OK, but is not as smooth or as good at controlling the braking as the P3 that I moved from the older tow vehicle to the Touareg. Still the P3 sticks out to where it can be in the way getting in and out of the car. I ended up copying an installation I saw here mounting it to the left of the area under the black part of the dash. I am sure that my wife will not like it in HER car and I may have to take it out when not towing.
 
#9 ·
tsebew said:
Greetings from a third-time TDI and first-time Touareg owner, specifically a 2016 TDI Lux 4 door wagon/sport utility with all wheel drive. Here in Club Touareg there are a lot of knowledgeable Touareg owners with a lot of experience with Touareg towing. I know the subject has pretty much been beat to death in here but I'd like to revisit it with three specific questions. First some background:

Currently I tow my travel trailer behind a Super Duty 7.3 Powerstroke. My travel trailer is single axle, 23' long, 8' wide, 10' tall, and has electric brakes. Its dry hitch weight is 300 lbs, dry weight of 3200 lbs, and GVW of 4600 lbs. For towing with my truck there is no need for a weight distribution system. All that said, I now want to tow the travel trailer behind my Touareg.

1. Do I need a weight distributing hitch? Or obey the technical requirements on page 180 of the Touareg owner's manual which states "Never install a weight-distributing or load equalizing trailer hitch on your vehicle. The vehicle is not designed for this kind of trailer hitch."

2. The Touareg is fitted for towing; e.g., it has a hitch and 7 pin trailer plug. However, due to the pristine condition of the hitch, I think its previous owner never towed anything. There isn't even a scuff mark inside it. So I presume I need to get under the dash to complete the wiring and installation for a brake controller. Any recommendations for a brake controller? Or can I simply re-adjust the settings and use the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 controller from the truck?

3. Any recommendations for towing mirrors for a 2016 Touareg?

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
Click to expand...
You'll like how the Touareg tows over the gargantuan powerstroke. Only 10hp less and 2500 lb less mass.

1- zero need for wdh. at all.
2- its prewired for a brake controller - just plug the new one ine. I like the Tekonsha Prodigy 3 personally.
3- yuck
 
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#10 ·
As to the zero need for a WDH VW lists the max pin weight for load carrying at 5000 lbs and 500 lbs pin weight on my car.
Also it you weigh your vehicle on a CAT scale with a significant dead load pin weight you will easily overload the rear axle GAWR.
It is easy enough to do with a WDH as well and takes some attention to loading to stay within limits, at least on my 2012 Touareg.
Total Gross weight GVWR - 6305 lbs.
Front Axle GAWR - 3064 lbs.
Rear Axle GAWR - 3351 lbs.
Gross Combined GCAR - 14005 lbs.

My Airstream weighs 6270 lbs. with a tongue weight of 750 lbs.
The scales show the weights as on 6/11/2025
Steering axle 2900 lbs.
Rear axle 3420 lbs.
Trailer weight 5520 lbs.
Tongue weight 750 lbs
While this is within the weight limit for the vehicle the loading exceeds the rear GCAR by some 100 lbs.
When I adjusted the WDH for equal displacement front and rear it brought the vehicle within limits both front and rear.
That is why the WDH is necessary over 5000 lbs.
Of course you can operate however you please, but you will not be within the ratings of the vehicle.
The weights are with the two passengers and stuff in the back of the Touareg and the trailer loaded for camping - tanks empty, but the main weight is the fresh water tank when filled and it is between the axles.
Image

It has been a learning curve getting the trailer, hitch and car fine tuned for our next trip.
The car has plenty of power to pull this rig and has been stable in all conditions. I think that with the better suspension and low center of gravity it tows as good as a light truck or better, but the lower rated trucks have the same problem with exceeding the axle limits, even with a trailer well within the max tow ratings.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
redbarron55 said:
Not to give you a short answer, but there is a current thread on the forum that discusses this Creaking badly and ( Link{ https://www.clubtouareg.com/threads/creaking-badly-while-towing.306241/} repeating all of that is pretty burdensome. Pretty much everything that you need or wonder about is discussed there.
One thing to pay attention to is when compared to your larger truck the Touareg (et al) has the same limitations as a light truck. You can easily exceed the GVWR of the car, just like you can with a 1/2 to pickup.
This is something that I have to watch carefully.
Also you are likely to exceed the rear GAWR of that axle without a WDH shifting some of the tongue weight to the front axle.
If you check the loaded trailer on a set of CAT scales you will see what I am talking about.
Click to expand...
Thank you, redbarron55, for your response. I haven't noticed any creaking yet solely because I haven't hitched the trailer to the Touareg yet. But it's likely that will happen sometime over the next couple of days.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
SaVAGeSoot said:
Yes.
You buy a pre-made pigtail, or go to VW and order the parts and make it yourself, or get terminals off Amazon, etc.
You'll also need a socket\adapter depending on your towing needs (7pin only, 7 & 4 pin, etc)
Pollak 11-893P 7-Way Sealed RV OEM Socket
Pollak 12-716 Trailer Wiring Connector Adapter Tow Wiring
TB0021
How to Install a Trailer Brake Controller Quick Tip
Tekonsha P3 brake controller on the Touareg
VW Touareg Plug and Play Trailer Brake Controller Harness
Click to expand...
Thank you, SaVAGeSoot! I think this TEKONSHA | 307200 | Trailer Brake Controller Custom Harness, Vehicle & Brake Control Ends, Compatible with Audi Q5, Q7, SQ5 : Porsche Cayenne : Volkswagen Atlas, Touareg and a bracket to hang my Tekonsha Prodigy P3 controller are all I need for now.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
redbarron55 said:
You asked about mirrors and while these have limitations on slipping a little and need to be checked for tightness occasionally they do work.
Here is a link to what I bought and use :
www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: Universal Clip-on Towing Mirror Extenders for Trucks, Cars, RVs - Side and Rearview Convex Trailer Mirrors : Automotive

Buy Universal Clip-on Towing Mirror Extenders for Trucks, Cars, RVs - Side and Rearview Convex Trailer Mirrors: Towing Mirrors - Amazon.com âś“ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
Also I need to warn you that the plug for the brake controller may be well hidden up under the dash tucked up in the wiring or insulation. Some have said that it was not present at all in their cars (truck, more precisely). Finding mine was the biggest headache in installing my system.
Due to mounting limitations I first installed a RedArch ProTow and it works OK, but is not as smooth or as good at controlling the braking as the P3 that I moved from the older tow vehicle to the Touareg. Still the P3 sticks out to where it can be in the way getting in and out of the car. I ended up copying an installation I saw here mounting it to the left of the area under the black part of the dash. I am sure that my wife will not like it in HER car and I may have to take it out when not towing.
Click to expand...
Good information. Thank you! I got lucky and found the port under the dash on the first try. And now I understand WHERE to mount the controller is a challenge. Same problem here. The Touareg doubles as my wife's around-the-town car and I doubt she's going to like bumping her knee into that thing.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
volkswagens-for-life said:
You'll like how the Touareg tows over the gargantuan powerstroke. Only 10hp less and 2500 lb less mass.

1- zero need for wdh. at all.
2- its prewired for a brake controller - just plug the new one ine. I like the Tekonsha Prodigy 3 personally.
3- yuck
Click to expand...
Thank you. My confidence in Touareg towing grows with each response to my discussion starter. And I haven't even hitched to trailer to it yet :)
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Mike in Anchorage said:
I've towed a LOT in my 2016 TDI Lux. You have no worries. Hook it up and take off. Enjoy that the engine and tranny controls know there is a trailer attached and modify their performance accordingly. The only thing I do differently is to use "sport mode" in dense city traffic.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Mike in Anchorage. "the engine and tranny controls know there is a trailer attached and modify their performance accordingly"? Yikes! I have a lot to learn about Touareg Towing!
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
redbarron55 said:
As to the zero need for a WDH VW lists the max pin weight for load carrying at 5000 lbs and 500 lbs pin weight on my car.
Also it you weigh your vehicle on a CAT scale with a significant dead load pin weight you will easily overload the rear axle GAWR.
It is easy enough to do with a WDH as well and takes some attention to loading to stay within limits, at least on my 2012 Touareg.
Total Gross weight GVWR - 6305 lbs.
Front Axle GAWR - 3064 lbs.
Rear Axle GAWR - 3351 lbs.
Gross Combined GCAR - 14005 lbs.

My Airstream weighs 6270 lbs. with a tongue weight of 750 lbs.
The scales show the weights as on 6/11/2025
Steering axle 2900 lbs.
Rear axle 3420 lbs.
Trailer weight 5520 lbs.
Tongue weight 750 lbs
While this is within the weight limit for the vehicle the loading exceeds the rear GCAR by some 100 lbs.
When I adjusted the WDH for equal displacement front and rear it brought the vehicle within limits both front and rear.
That is why the WDH is necessary over 5000 lbs.
Of course you can operate however you please, but you will not be within the ratings of the vehicle.
The weights are with the two passengers and stuff in the back of the Touareg and the trailer loaded for camping - tanks empty, but the main weight is the fresh water tank when filled and it is between the axles. View attachment 270775
It has been a learning curve getting the trailer, hitch and car fine tuned for our next trip.
The car has plenty of power to pull this rig and has been stable in all conditions. I think that with the better suspension and low center of gravity it tows as good as a light truck or better, but the lower rated trucks have the same problem with exceeding the axle limits, even with a trailer well within the max tow ratings.
Click to expand...
Thanks. That's a lot of really good information. I need all of it because currently I'm at rock bottom of a very steep learning curve.
 
Discussion starter · #19 · (Edited)
Image

Wait! One more thing....
The coupler height of my travel trailer is 23". The receiver height on my truck is 21". So I flip a fixed ball mount that has a 2" rise for a tried-and-true smooth, safe ride.
Image

The receiver height on my Touareg 18". So for the Touareg I need a ball mount with a 5" rise and I'm thinking this fixed ball mount is the ticket: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mount/CURT/C45336.html

Are you aware of, or foresee, any vehicle/trailer control problems with this plan? Or will I be better off with an adjustable ball mount?
 
#20 ·
tsebew said:
View attachment 270824
Wait! One more thing....
The coupler height of my travel trailer is 23". The receiver height on my truck is 21". So I flip a fixed ball mount that has a 2" rise for a tried-and-true smooth, safe ride. View attachment 270823
The receiver height on my Touareg 18". So for the Touareg I need a ball mount with a 5" rise and I'm thinking this fixed ball mount is the ticket: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mount/CURT/C45336.html

Are you aware of, or foresee, any vehicle/trailer control problems with this plan? Or will I be better off with an adjustable ball mount?
Click to expand...
Fixed ball is almost NEVER the answer. Every single vehicle and trailer will require a different configuration.
 
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