Hi girl with a V10. My van (trailer) is 7400lbs and I don't use a WD hitch, and yes, it tows it really easy. Need to ensure your hitch mount is at the ideal height and yes you will need a brake controller - assuming your airstream is equipped with electric brakes.. Suggest you trawl through the threads here 'What do you tow?' and there are also various threads on WDH's and brake controllers. Cheers, Dub

 

You will need a brake controller installed for the trailer electric brakes. Make sure the tires on the trailer are not older than 7 years (they should be replaced if older, or worn out). Do some test towing near home and on highway before heading out on a longer trip.

Check for sway , and if it does install a friction sway control on the trailer and hitch.(Cheap).

If you find the trailer is heavy enough and influences the Touaregs ability to travel straight and smooth, then consider a WD Hitch.

Make certain things like the trailer coupler, emergency breakaway switch and cable, and safety chains are in proper working condition and adjusted correctly, that trailer is old, but should be able to tow safely.

 

Milenco seem to be favored/favoured extension mirror for the Touareg.

 

I started towing my 24', 5,000 pounds travel trailer this year with my 2015 Touareg TDI. I had tried the 2014 with and without Weight Distribution and was not happy with the handling without the distribution, but when using weight distribution it is just great. I also use a simple Husky sway control on the trailer. I have driven a little over 1000 km this year and I am very pleased with the setup and handling.

VW does not recommend WD but Can-Am in London, Ontario reinforces the hitch and makes it safe to use WD. At the same time they have installed my brake controller. Can-Am is located 700 km from my home but I am very happy to have done it and feel very comfortable towing my trailer. They are also an Airstream dealer and have fitted over 175 Touaregs for towing travel trailers.

I also purchased the Milenco Aero mirrors at the same time and they work great with the Touareg.

 

We've been going around the US for the past year pulling our 23' Airstream with a 2013 Touareg TDI and have never had a problem.

I get tons of Americans ask me questions about it and they all leave baffled by the Touareg's strength.

I use weight distribution and it makes a big difference in the handling. The Touareg is powerful but still small vs. the Airstream.

I also got the hitch reinforcement from Can-Am done.
This was not necessary but an extra security we did before leaving for out adventure.

I've been really pleased with my Touareg. I know I could easily handle a 25' if I wanted to.
I'm just not sure about the 27' since it really goes over the hitch weight recommended by Volkswagen.

 

Batdelfuego I am buying the same set up. Can you share what you have for the brake controller and what kind of wd and sway control(brand names) you have?

 

Hi Lia!

The brake controller I got was from etrailer and it's the Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Trailer Brake Controller:
Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 3 Axles - Proportional Tekonsha Brake Controller 90250

Worked really well so far.
You can adjust the breaking strength with the remote and it plugs in the 12V in the Touareg (I plug it in the middle box and just let the remote out on the side so I can get a hold of it if I need to add some breaking)

Our Weight Distribution Kit is a 800lbs Reese High Performance Trunnion Weight Distributing Hitch:
Reese - Trunnion Bar Wt.-Dist.

This last one was with the trailer when we bought it used from Colonial Airstreams and it's made the ride really stable. 1 year on the road so far and never lost control with large trucks passing us by. The Touareg is pretty straight and doesn'T even seem to feel the weight on the back.

BTW, we are thinking of selling our 23' to get a 25 or 27.
If you haven't bought yours yet and are interested in a 2009 International 23' let me know!

 

I wish we talked sooner. I already gave Colonial Airstream a deposit on a new one.

 

Haaaaa! Colonial have a great service! Enjoy the BRAND NEW Airstream!! Lucky You! haha!!

 

Hey Batdelfuego, what model trailer are you looking to sell? I just came across this forum as I'm looking to trade in my Toyota FJ Cruiser (reluctantly) to possibly a Touareg for the increased towing capacity. I just spoke with Colonial today and setup an appt this Saturday but I'd love to talk to you and possibly work something out depending on what you have. My email is zbower@gmail.com , shoot me a message and let's talk...
Zach

 

Airstream 27FB Touareg tester

I suppose I'll be the experimental test pilot.

I purchased a 27FB International Serenity yesterday and plan on my 2014 TReg TDI Exec as the tow vehicle. I was initially going for the 25 footer, but when I realized the 27FB had a lower tongue weight, I figured it would be the safer bet and the 27FB was still in budget.

I have an e-mail out to Can-Am in London, Ontario. I hope to get some feedback and schedule a drive up there and utilize their expertise in getting my tow vehicle sorted out.

If it doesn't work out, I'll have to part with her once I get a buyback offer from the scandal. I hope she tows her nice. The 27FB I purchased is spec'd at:

Base weight: 5,868
GVWR: 7,600
Hitch weight with batteries and propane: 791 (770 w/empty propane only - I could possibly move the batteries aft to unload the hitch)

I'm mainly concerned about the hitch weight, but the 25FB hitch weight was 837!

Stay tuned...

 

Can-Am in London will tell you that you need to reinforce your hitch receiver by welding a 2" X 2" under the véhicule and under the muffler.
The problem will be when you will need to replace the AdBlue heater (and it will happened...), the dealer won't be able to remove the muffler to get access to the heater in the AdBlue tank.

 

Wow that is some serious tongue weight. Now I don't feel too bad about my plan to buy a small 7X20 toy hauler with a 560# dry weight tongue. With 2 30 pound propane bottles(50 pounds each when full) , 2 6V batteries (70 each) , and a heavy ass WD hitch assembly, I'll be pushing 700+.

On my prospective camper the batteries are interior mounted, and almost a third of the way towards the first trailer axle, but the bottle are a couple feet from the couple. I plan on only have 2 20# tanks or one 30. I'm not going camping full time for a month straight.

 

Thanks for the info. You have me reconsidering the plan. I'd like to avoid any welded fixes which result in reduced access.

 

I spoke with Peggy at Can-Am London. She stated they would be able to mount the reinforcement bar with high strength bolts for the long arm section which will allow access to the underside of the vehicle for maintenance purposes. I have my appointment scheduled and will post pics when complete.

 

Touareg towing Airstream 27



Any updates, I have a 2016 TDI and considering the 27FBT flying cloud? Thanks?

 

Hey RussRamz,

Any updates for you fellow forumers. Camping season is approaching here in Canada so we have to start preparing our rigs.

 

2017 ATC Toy Hauler - 4464 pounds without propane or batteries, unloaded

Motorcycle, bike, Fresh Water (25-50 gallons typical), food water, 2 Trojan T105 Batteries (125 pounds), 2 X 20# Propane Tanks (76 pounds)

Last time I CAT scaled after loading it was just about 6000 pounds. Fuel economy is an honest calculated 10-11 mpg at 65mph for 240 miles.

I found nothing difficult with travelling 65 mph on I-91 north and south from central Connecticut to northern Vermont. The Touareg stays in 6-7- or 8th gear for the entire trip and maintains speed without ever exceeding engine speed of 3000 rpm. Typical is 2100 RPM in 7th at 65mph towing.

TurdBurgler, I can only imagine the kind of grades you might be towing up to see a decline down to 40mph. Must be crazy steep. And you say it hunts 4th-5th, that's messed up for an 8 speed AISIN transmission, something is broken with your 2014 Touareg. Get it checked out. TDI is much stronger than that.

 

You're more than welcome to tow your toy hauler from Garden City, UT to Logan, UT, with your Touareg, on Highway 89, and then make comments. Maybe look it up on a Topography map.

I can assure you, there's nothing wrong with my 2014 Touareg TDI.

 

If only I had known this before I bought a TDI and towed 5,500 lbs 34,000 effortless and trouble-free miles around the US.

Nah. I would have ignored it as BS.

28% more torque at 1,500 lower rpm than V8.

After six years, tell me I shouldn't be doing this. haha.