Club Touareg Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Help w figuring out if I can tow this

Jump to Latest
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
K

kissser

· Registered
Joined
·
1 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
If a Touareg TDI Executive can tow a maximum of 7,716lbs, it sounds like it can tow a 3 horse trailer that has a dry weight of 3, 170lbs and a GVWR of 7,000lbs. Each of the 3 horses weighs 1000lb. So tow weight with a trailer loaded with 3 horse and no tack or feed would be 6,170lbs. If I added tack and feed it would be a few hundred pounds more. And does not include weight of driver or passengers inside the Touareg.
Can this Touareg TDI, with a gvwr between 6,173 and 6, 305lbs, haul that much safely? If not, what would I need to aim for?
The GVWR are throwing me off as I don't fully understand their implications with different amounts, the higher one being the trailer. Does the Touaregs gvwr mean hauling this trailer isn't possible?
 
#2 ·
Yes you can tow that trailer, as long as the tongue weight of the trailer is not more than 616 lbs, which is the maximum for the Touareg.

The GVWR of the trailer is 7,000 lbs, so you're well within the weight rating for it.

Where I think you're getting confused is with the GVWR of the Touareg. That is the maximum weight of just the Touareg with it fully loaded with any cargo/passengers/trailer tongue weight.

What you need to be more concerned about, is the GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating), which is the maximum allowable weight of the Touareg and trailer combined. The GCVWR is, I believe, just over 14,000 lbs.

With your calculations for the trailer weight, with a fully loaded Touareg, and the trailer loaded the way you describe, you'll be at 12,775 lbs.
 
#3 ·
kissser said:
If a Touareg TDI Executive can tow a maximum of 7,716lbs, it sounds like it can tow a 3 horse trailer that has a dry weight of 3, 170lbs and a GVWR of 7,000lbs. Each of the 3 horses weighs 1000lb. So tow weight with a trailer loaded with 3 horse and no tack or feed would be 6,170lbs. If I added tack and feed it would be a few hundred pounds more. And does not include weight of driver or passengers inside the Touareg.
Can this Touareg TDI, with a gvwr between 6,173 and 6, 305lbs, haul that much safely? If not, what would I need to aim for?
The GVWR are throwing me off as I don't fully understand their implications with different amounts, the higher one being the trailer. Does the Touaregs gvwr mean hauling this trailer isn't possible?
Click to expand...
The horse trailer having a 7000 lb GVWR means that fully loaded to maximum allotted capacity and including the trailer weight it will be a 7000 lb.

That said, you will be absolutely fine pulling that trailer with the Touareg as long as you don't have crazy tongue weight. Do you have air suspension? It's not critical but it will do a much better job at leveling out the load and handling the tongue weight. I've had over a thousand pounds of tongue weight on my Touareg and it handled fantastically.
 
  • Like
Reactions: casioqv
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#4 ·
It's a bit confusing that the Touareg isn't quite rated for a tongue weight at fully 10% of it's towing capacity, as is generally recommended. In practice, things are not that sensitive- both loading up to the rated tongue weight and trailer weight, and doing 10% tongue weight at the full tow capacity are perfectly safe. I'd look up your local laws to be 100% sure the configuration you use is actually legal as well.

You do want to stay within the GVWR, and possibly put some more items in the trailer rather than the tow vehicle if you're approaching it.
 
#5 ·
kissser said:
If a Touareg TDI Executive can tow a maximum of 7,716lbs, it sounds like it can tow a 3 horse trailer that has a dry weight of 3, 170lbs and a GVWR of 7,000lbs.
Click to expand...
I realise that these referenced spreadsheets are in Kg but they may be of help Join Australian Caravan & Towing | Facebook and in the files section you will find a couple of spreadsheets that will help you ensure you are legal> It will also pay to look at the following regarding managing your rear axle load
 

Attachments

#7 ·
Dannyboy485 said:
Tongue weights are lower in Europe because trailers are limited to 100 kph. I think its around 5%.

So long as you have license with B+E or C1 , your golden. I haven't been home to Ireland in 10 years so I can't be 100% certain anything has changed
Click to expand...
EU/UK noseweight limits (tongueweight) are 4% MINIMUM, but typically 5-7% - the EU/UK licence requirement for towing is BE, C1E or CE, these groups may not "translate" directly in other parts of the world.

I have to smile at the theory that Aussies need higher noseweights because they're racing around dirt roads in the outback at speeds in excess of 100 kph.
 
#8 ·
Germany have specific towing regulations for passenger vehicles, where the maximum towing capacity of 3500kg for a passenger vehicle.

And the tongue weights Europe uses are very different, they use an 8% rule on tongue weight. That means a 280kg tongue weight ( 616 pounds ).

It's a math formula tied to their specific towing regulations, and Europe generally has much lighter trailers/caravans than the USA.

The Touareg can tow 7700 pounds, and you CAN go to 10-15% tongue weight, BUT MUST USE a weight distributing hitch to do so, to prevent excessive sag of the rear suspension and unsafe towing characteristics. The touareg receiver can handle it.

Air leveling suspension does NOT provide weight distribution, only sag prevention.
 
#9 · (Edited)
[QUOTE="ToolmanJohn
The Touareg can tow 7700 pounds, and you CAN go to 10-15% tongue weight, BUT MUST USE a weight distributing hitch to do so, to prevent excessive sag of the rear suspension and unsafe towing characteristics. The touareg receiver can handle it.
Air leveling suspension does NOT provide weight distribution, only sag prevention.
[/QUOTE]

Seems that you have misconstrued the function of a WDH.

The WDH does not alter the ball weight at the Tow-Ball of the vehicle, it actually only transfers some of the weight off the rear axle load to the front of the vehicle and a small amount back to the van axle(s)

Since the vehicle manufacturer specifies the maximum TBM ( tongue weight) that weight is what is permitted. If you have not considered the stress exerted on the ball coupling then I suggest that you watch this video
 
#10 ·
ToolmanJohn said:
Germany have specific towing regulations for passenger vehicles, where the maximum towing capacity of 3500kg for a passenger vehicle.

And the tongue weights Europe uses are very different, they use an 8% rule on tongue weight. That means a 280kg tongue weight ( 616 pounds ).

It's a math formula tied to their specific towing regulations, and Europe generally has much lighter trailers/caravans than the USA.

The Touareg can tow 7700 pounds, and you CAN go to 10-15% tongue weight, BUT MUST USE a weight distributing hitch to do so, to prevent excessive sag of the rear suspension and unsafe towing characteristics. The touareg receiver can handle it.

Air leveling suspension does NOT provide weight distribution, only sag prevention.
Click to expand...
Slight correction - there's no 8% rule in Europe - there's a 4% MINIMUM rule which is why most Touaregs in Europe have a noseweight limit (tongueweight) of 140 kg (309 lbs) - considered adequate with a 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) trailer

But that's academic as the VW importer in Australia and North America uses different figures from European market - so checking locally is the only way.
 
#11 ·
meggsy said:
Dannyboy485
Seems that you have misconstrued the function of a WDH.

The WDH does not alter the ball weight at the Tow-Ball of the vehicle, it actually only transfers some of the weight off the rear axle load to the front of the vehicle and a small amount back to the van axle(s)

Since the vehicle manufacturer specifies the maximum TBM ( tongue weight) that weight is what is permitted. If you have not considered the stress exerted on the ball coupling then I suggest that you watch this video
Click to expand...
What the hell are you quoting my name with someone else's quote in it? Long day for you?
 
#12 ·
Dannyboy485 said:
What the hell are you quoting my name with someone else's quote in it? Long day for you?
Click to expand...
So sorry not sure what happened there but I have removed your name from the quote. I will fix it up properly when next on my PC,
again my apologies
 
#16 ·
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: meggsy and Dannyboy485
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#18 ·
kissser said:
If a Touareg TDI Executive can tow a maximum of 7,716lbs, it sounds like it can tow a 3 horse trailer that has a dry weight of 3, 170lbs and a GVWR of 7,000lbs. Each of the 3 horses weighs 1000lb. So tow weight with a trailer loaded with 3 horse and no tack or feed would be 6,170lbs. If I added tack and feed it would be a few hundred pounds more. And does not include weight of driver or passengers inside the Touareg.
Can this Touareg TDI, with a gvwr between 6,173 and 6, 305lbs, haul that much safely? If not, what would I need to aim for?
The GVWR are throwing me off as I don't fully understand their implications with different amounts, the higher one being the trailer. Does the Touaregs gvwr mean hauling this trailer isn't possible?
Click to expand...
Trailer BRAKES..... A Must....!
 
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
About this Discussion
17 Replies
9 Participants
Last post:
generalist.14ever
Club Touareg Forum
posts
784K
members
105K
Since
2003
Club Touareg Forum is a forum community dedicated to Volkswagen Touareg owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about VW Touareg Sport Utility Vehicles and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Maintenance & Repair Australia & New Zealand Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Wheels and Tires Mobile Electronics and In Car Entertainment General Touareg Discussions