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Load Equalizer

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Florida Chris

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Anyone here have experience with load equalizers? I have a new '06 V8 non-air suspension. I will be towing an aluminum enclosed race car trailer. The loaded trailer will typically weigh 4500 lbs, but occasionally as much as 6000 lbs.

What load equalizers are recommended with the T-reg?

Thanks.
 
#3 ·
why do you say its not recommended for touaregs? It would probably be combative with air suspension as it is load leveling, but with steel suspension, why not? I beleive there was a thread discussing this a few months ago on here or on the vortex. search.
 
#4 ·
Ross06TouaregV8 said:
why do you say its not recommended for touaregs? It would probably be combative with air suspension as it is load leveling, but with steel suspension, why not? I beleive there was a thread discussing this a few months ago on here or on the vortex. search.
Click to expand...
From the Touareg Owner's Manual:

Never install a "weight distributing" or "load equalizing" trailer hitch on your vehicle. The vehicle was not designed for these kinds of trailer hitches. The hitch attachment can fail causing the trailer to tear loose from the vehicle.

That sounds like a pretty good reason not to use one.
 
#5 ·
Check my gallery

Check my gallery.I have been doing this for some time now.I use an equalizer hitch now and also on my previous Touareg.You can also check with an old forum member xray and Aircooled as he uses an equalizer hitch as well.Me and Aircooled have been towing Our Airstreams and have never had one problem whatsoever.My previous Touareg didnt have air suspension and I used the w/d then.Now I dont need it but I do use the hitch for sway only as I have the airsuspension on the new one.Just make sure you have a w/d hitch because that is a lot of weight for it since you do not have airsuspension.
 
#6 ·
I have the factory dealer installed tow pkg and the air suspension, but was told to use something like the Reese Anti-Sway with elecric brake controls and the weight distribution. Is that not a good idea?
 
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#7 ·
Hitch

You should be able to use it as long as you use it for sway.Just dont put a lot of tension to lift the vehicle to mess with the Airsuspension.The great part about having one of these is if you decide to pull with another vehicle in the future without the airsuspension you are setup with a hitch.More than likely you will have to test the hitch out and drive around to get good feel for the right setting.this is just for seting the weight ditribution though.You will want to set it to the lowest setting but not to loose where the chains and rods are swinging around.give it a nice snug fit.
 
#8 ·
Weight distribution is not recomended because the hitch attaches to the butt of the frame instead of the underside, like a normal truck. Basically there is not enough lengthwise connection of the hitch to the frame to safely use weight distribution. There should be no problem using a sway control, but Equalizers and Weight Distributing hitches put an exceptional strain on the hitch and the 8 bolts holding it in. Although, the suspension would not be compromised, infact air suspension is a very desirable thing in a tow vehicle.
The best load equalizer in any situation is proper loading of the trailer. That is : 60% of the weight ahead of the axle, 40% behind.
 
#9 ·
Air Suspension Settings While Towing

Devoman and Hitchmaster,

Quick question, when towing my RV trailer what setting do you have the air ride suspension set to and do I leave it on? I hear rumors of disconnecting it while towning thus locking the functionality of the system. Any help help is appreciated.
 
#10 ·
Towing

Check out this site.Even thought if you do not have an Airstream like a few of us on the forum have.This is a great website to use when it comes to hitches and W/D.
http://www.airstreamforums.com/forums/

Also I use the comfort setting when I drive and tow.I have a W/D hitch but it is an equalizer hitch.I only use it for the sway control.
Now when I had my first Touareg I used the W/D hitch to tow and it worked flawlessly.
Another recomendation would be to use a hensly hitch but I am pretty sure you know the cost of those.Trailer life magazine did an article on the Touareg pulling a 28 foot Airstream and said it was one of the best vehicles ever tested.I love this vehicle.Best Touareg I ever drove.
 
#11 ·
Thanks for the response. I am do not have a WD hitch but I am getting a OEM hitch put on this week. I have spent over a week reading all of the forums so I feel good about the decision.

I am going with a OEM hitch and I am going to communicate to the dealership to make sure the ECU is set up with the lights programed for the USA not Europe. I will know if it is set up incorrectly by pressing the brake and turning on the left blinker. Then I went with a Envoy brake controller instead of the Prodigy as it will plug directly into the exsisting wiring under the dash using part numbers 000979228 and 1J0972782 and finally I will go to waytekwire.com to get the 7 flat prong adapter, part number 37683.

How is that for obsessive compulsive research.
 
#12 ·
jclem said:
How is that for obsessive compulsive research.
Click to expand...
I'd say that's pretty good, as long as you don't have an '07. The '07s don't have the wiring in the dash for a brake controller, so it needs to be wired up completely, not just from the point under the dash.

Good luck, and welcome to the club!
Matt
 
#14 ·
From what I understand, there is no under-dash wiring provision for a brake controller in the 2007's. Whether it stays that way or not, who knows, but the last I heard was that the 07's don't have the wiring. Sorry.

Matt
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Thanks for the link Matt. I'll scour around under my dash after I take delivery. I guess I can keep my fingers crossed that the V10's have the wiring...after all isn't the only reason anyone drops the extra coin for the diesel so they can tow something? I'll post back here when I know for sure.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Florida Chris said:
Thanks for the link Matt. I'll scour around under my dash after I take delivery. I guess I can keep my fingers crossed that the V10's have the wiring...after all isn't the only reason anyone drops the extra coin for the diesel so they can tow something? I'll post back here when I know for sure.
Click to expand...
Well, I can confirm first hand that there is no plug under the dash on my '07. I have started another thread asking for help or suggestions.
 
#19 ·
That really sucks man! I wonder what all needs to be done to make it happen. I know the hitch wiring harness is in the passenger side rear, behind the panel where the CD Changer resides. Other than that, and tapping into the brake switch wiring, I reall don't know what else is involved.

I don't really know a whole lot about the trailer controllers or what signals they need to operate, but if I can help at all let me know. I'm pretty decent at brainstorming up solutions for things. :D

Matt
 
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