I tow a 24' boat with total weight over 6000 lbs with my V8. Your TDI should do fine. Put the weight over the trailer wheels and be careful out there.

 

NO NO NO AND NO!!!

Do not attempt to tow that trailer with a touareg; you will be over the limit on tongue weight and you NEED a weight distribution hitch for a trailer like that which the Touareg is not approved to handle.

Do yourself and everyone else on the road a favor and go smaller with the trailer or bigger with the truck.

If you want to talk towing, shoot me a PM. I've towed a very similar race trailer for 6 years with all sorts of trucks. I am not being overly conservative and the first time you have to stop or change lanes with that trailer quickly, you will agree.

 

I towed a Jayco 25Z which was a 28' overall length, tongue weight around 660lbs and full load weight around 6500 or so. Towed it for many (ie: roughly 20,000) stable and trouble free miles. Its about the same size and shape as what you're looking to tow, so I wouldn't hesitate to pull it with the Treg as long as youdo your math and make sure your tongue weight/towed weight/GCVWR etc. all line up.

There really isn't much different in capability, payload or vehicle weight when you compare the Touareg with a 1/2 ton pickup..the only thing you need to watch out for is overall lenght due to the 110" treg wheelbase...25' box is the biggest I'd go.

For longer lengths or weights over 4 tons then you need to get into an HD pickup.

 

There really isn't much different in capability, payload or vehicle weight when you compare the Touareg with a 1/2 ton pickup..the only thing you need to watch out for is overall lenght due to the 110" treg wheelbase...25' box is the biggest I'd go.

I vehemently disagree with this comment; you could not be further from correct. A half-ton pickup is far more capable than a touareg (with the exception of the v-6 models). The capabilities of a half-ton in terms of payload capacity, wheelbase, use of a wdh hitch, axle capacities, etc make for a far more stable towing platform.

The 7700lb TR on the Touareg is a joke as a result of the 770lb make tongue weight rating. A properly set up trailer should always have 12% of total trailer weight on the tongue. Using this math, the maximum rating decreases to 6415 lbs. Additionally, loading a Touareg to 770 lbs causes a non-air suspension to drastically sink and lifting the front of the vehicle to an unsafe level.

Just because you have done it successfully does not mean it is appropriate or safe.

 

Can the Touareg 4.2TDI handle Airstream Panamerica 34ft ?

Can the Touareg V8 4.2TDI handle Airstream Panamerica 34ft long and UBW (Unit Base Weight) 7,288lb ? I am not planning to carry any bikers in it, but just move it empty from point A to point B.

 

In a similar thread I started on the Porsche racing sub forum of Rennlist, 100% of the responses were to not tow that trailer with a Touareg. I have decided to stay with my open trailer for now, since I am not interested in using a big pickup as my daily driver.

 

Take most info you get on Rennlist with a grain of salt. There are some good contributors, but a lot are full of BS. I am sure if you replaced Touareg with Cayenne they would support it. I know a guy that tows a similar trailer to what you are looking at with a Cayenne GTS, and he has no problems at all. Personally I prefer the open trailer, nobody congrates there, and it is super easy to tow.

What do you track?

 

One Question Jonmacs22 .... Can you give us a break down of your towing experience so we may all be enlightened as your advice appears to be totally at odds with the vehicle manufacturer.

Thanks.

 

One Question Jonmacs22 .... Can you give us a break down of your towing experience so we may all be enlightened as your advice appears to be totally at odds with the vehicle manufacturer.

1. it is amazing that Nick takes an opposing opinion so personally. It is as if I've kicked his puppy and stolen his lunch money all in one moment. It's ok to be wrong Nick. I've done it, and I'm sure you have too.

2. towing a boat is not the same as towing a race trailer. The trailer shown in the photo of the initial post is a totally different animal than a 6500lb boat + trailer.

3. 12% is the proper tongue weight for a standard tag race trailer with electric brakes. This is once again DIFFERENT (Nick) than a boat trailer with surge brakes.

4. My towing experience encompasses 9 years of towing track and race cars throughout the east coast. I've towed with all of the following vehciles (minimum of 5 times, others with less): 2001 F-250 PS, 2006 Duramax, 2008 Denali, 2008 Tundra, 2009 F-450. The trailers I've towed have been open steal, enclosed 24ft Pace, and enclosed 36ft goose. My 24ft Pace is pretty much the exact same trailer as the one shown in this thread (4k lbs unloaded and about 7500lbs with all gear + car) and if I had to venture a guess I've put somewhere in the neighborhood of 12k miles on it over the years.

5. As for the "magic ability to determine tongue weight" being as my trailer is pretty much the same and I've weighed it probably 6 times at various truck scales, I have a really good idea of what it will be. HOWEVER, regardless of what it is, the point of my comment was to show people that the 7700lb towing capacity is not to be followed as simply as they might think. The simple math shown depicts the reality of towing a race trailer where 12% is the proper tongue weight amount. At 12% and using the maxium allowable tongue weight (per VW), you arrive at the 6415 towing capacity. This is my point as 12% of 7000lbs is 840lbs.

6. Finally, I can tell you from experience that towing a trailer of this size with an SUV with a wheelbase of 114" (Touareg) without a weight-distribution AND anti-sway hitch would be a nightmare. I've done it with the bigger trucks I've towed with and never had a problem, but even on my Crewmax Tundra (146" wheelbase) it is still necessary to safely distribute and control the load.

If we want to debate towing safety, proper technique, or vehicle capabilities, I look forward to it. But just as I would never instruct someone on how to properly set up a boat trailer, I look forward to those with experience towing enclosed race trailers voicing meaningful concerns.

Jon

 

Jon, a very simple question: Have you towed with a Touareg? If so, what model and suspension?

 

only on a test drive with an enclosed loaded trailex (5300 lbs or so). 2011 tdi. the reason I've been on this forum is to review the history of this exact suv. As I consider the downsizing route, I know that it will also require going to a trailex (1900lbs empty) which will not be cheap, but likely worth it over the next 3-6 years.

 

Jon, I am evidently following you to some extent. I am also looking at a new Touareg for towing and came to the same Trailex conclusion. I am going to wait and see if we can get air suspension though with the up coming year. Since you haven't towed really with a Touareg, I am taking your opinion with a grain of salt about them though. Sorry.

I have towed with a very short FJ40 and a big trailer and will never do that again. My experience is basically towing with heavy 3/4 ton pickups, but, I don't like living with them. Very curious how this thread sorts out. Mine will be a Trailex and an Ariel Atom

 

Jon, I am evidently following you to some extent. I am also looking at a new Touareg for towing and came to the same Trailex conclusion. I am going to wait and see if we can get air suspension though with the up coming year. Since you haven't towed really with a Touareg, I am taking your opinion with a grain of salt about them though. Sorry.

I have towed with a very short FJ40 and a big trailer and will never do that again. My experience is basically towing with heavy 3/4 ton pickups, but, I don't like living with them. Very curious how this thread sorts out. Mine with be a Trailex and an Ariel Atom

Norm,

Take any of it as you like. Just to be clear, I recommend the Touareg/Trailex configuration, especially for a scenario like yours where the car weighs so little. My race car is 2700 and spares/wheels/tires/gear/etc an additional 500lbs. If I had to nit-pick the Trailex, it would be that due to the location of the tire rack, the tongue weight can rachet up quickly. Unfortunately there is no solution and a Trailex cannot be fitted with a weight distribution hitch (regardless of whether or not the Touareg can). My spares wheels/tires alone weigh about 320 lbs, plus most of my other spares will be in either the belly-box or the nose cabinet, so you can see my attention to the topic.

Best of luck with your search, but from what others have show in photos on this forum relating to the 2011 model, you should be good to go.
J

 

You are spot on regarding the tire rack ...

What is your track car?

 

bmw 3-series.

 

Fun and predictable, nice cars!

 

been racing them for the last decade in various forms and would not change a thing. Predictable is a great word for it.

 

Jon, would you then say that getting a front engine car on to a trailer backwards is better to shift the weight away from the tongue and towards the rear?

 

I'm afraid that making a generalization of "good" is difficult at best.

I am a firm believer in hitting the scales when figuring out a trailer / tow vehicle combination. A trip across the truck scales will not run you more than $10 and is invaluable information.

Another alternative is to find someone local with a tongue weight scale. Althought it is less information than a set of truck scales could provide, it might be free and a friend or fellow board member in your area could already have one.

To generically answer, the worst thing you could do would be to have less than 10% tongue weight with a tag car trailer, again preferrably 12%. When you have too much weight on the back half of the trailer, you are more likely to get sway and the infamous "tail wagging the dog" syndrome.

Take your set up to a local set of scales, try it both ways, determine what is safest and then mark the trailer floor with tape or another type of identifier. From then on being safe when towing will be simple and easily repeatable. It seems like the hour and $10-20 it might take to accomplish this is well worth it.

J

 

I have towed different trailers with my Touareg and besides a bobcat (locally for a few miles) I have been towing cars once in a while.
The one below was an example of that. Combo was over 6000lbs and I towed these doing 70-75 on the interstate.
Experience is very stable, no sway, good accelleration (on V8 )over the course of about 200 miles . I have air susp

 

thanks for all the info

 

towing with a 2004 Touareg

Great information, but a couple of questions.
2004 Touareg with air suspension.
Trailer 20' with dry weight of 3700lb. tongue weight 450lb.
I just want to confirm that I should tow without WDH
but what about ani-sway attachments. I think my total weight
(gvw) will be less than 5000lb.
Will I be safe?
Smiling Orca

 

Great information, but a couple of questions.
2004 Touareg with air suspension.
Trailer 20' with dry weight of 3700lb. tongue weight 450lb.
I just want to confirm that I should tow without WDH
but what about ani-sway attachments. I think my total weight
(gvw) will be less than 5000lb.
Will I be safe?
Smiling Orca

No WDH on an air suspension equipped Touaregs, but sways are recommended. Once set up you probably won't notice it back there really.

 

Thanks

Thanks Yeti, there are just to many opinions out there to follow.
Again, thanks for your help.
Smiling Orca

 

I thought the Touareg's towing package came with trailer ESP software as well, so are sways really needed when you use a brake controller?

 

First I heard of this. I am not saying it is a wrong statement, just never heard about it before.

 

Just cause your car comes with anti-lock brakes and airbags does not mean you should disregard the seatbelt.

 

jonmacs22, anti-lock brakes and airbags are nothing to do with ESP - google will help !

 

The difference is that the air will self level.

 

Wow, none of you guys seem to see the sarcasm in what I am saying, and instead took my statement for something serious.

 

You sure sounded pretty serious to my eyes...and taking a shot at Nick to boot.

I pulled our steel enclosed 24 once, but bought an aluminum open '18. I don't even know it's there until I do my mirror seep and see the Yellow Bird on my ass

 

After all these years of folks towing with a WDH, has anyone ever heard of a unibody or hitch failure?

 

The vehicle in the video is a Jetta and the hitch set-up is totally custom.
There are differences between the first and second and third generation Touaregs.
Those with newer models can chime in on the hitch models and mountings.

 

If the recommendations and ratings haven't changed across the model-years, I don't imagine the mounting to have changed much either.

 

Another two cents worth

The most troubling aspect here is the total inability or unwillingness of VW to provide definitive information about WD hitch usage. I suggest the best way to get an answer would be to contact the German engineer responsible for such matters. How to do that - who knows. My extremely limited contact with VW of America was not helpful.

The language in the owner's manual that address hitches, in my opinion, is poorly written and confusing. It discusses addition of after market "trailer hitch(es)" when what it really talking about is installation of an after market receiver on the rear of the vehicle but foolishly confuses that with the word, "hitch." A WD hitch is not "installed" on your vehicle; it is part of the trailer and connects to the receiver's ball at the rear of the vehicle.

The admonition then goes on to correctly state that the Vdub dealer can install a Genuine VW "hitch receiver...etc." But the language in the same paragraph, after suggesting that "trailer hitch" mounting bolts be periodically checked, then goes on to suggest that the "trailer hitch" be removed when you are not towing. Surely VW doesn't mean undo the bolts and take off the "hitch." VW interchanges important technical terms and has totally confused all of us.

Based on all the reading and investigation I have done on this subject as well as testimonials by WD using forum contributors, I agree with the school of thought that it is perfectly OK to attach a WD hitch equipped trailer to the factory installed receiver at the rear of the Touareg, which receiver has printed on it, "WT. DISTRIB. 7700 (lbs)."

 

I have another issue with my 2004 Touareg. The Air bag warning light still comes on after the clock spring was replaced and the wiring harness under the dr. seat was reviewed for correct length. The mechanic has reset the ting 3 times with no change. I'm now told that the fault is in the air bag within the steering wheel and must be replaced. Any advice?