I tow about 4500lbs in car and trailer and it tows like a dream.

I go offroad 2-3 times a month and the air suspension is just great.

 

Weight and length of the travel trailer are requirements for this discussion. Personally, I can't see towing with any BUT air.

 

I am looking at trailers in the 25' to 27' range and wet weight up to 7,500 lbs.

 

One handy feature of the air suspension is that the Treg suspension will auto level when you put weight on the hitch. No rear end sag. Though, I haven't loaded anywhere near 4,500 lbs on mine yet so can't comment on auto level at that weight.

 

How often are you going to be towing that sort of weight? I would be very careful if it will be on a regular basis, that is a substantial load.

 

I will be towing on a full-time basis for a while, with two weeks to a month between hauls. I did this before 10 years ago for a year (32,000 miles) with a 31 foot travel trailer with kids, bikes, a canoe & gear (@ 9,000 lbs) using a 3/4 ton Suburban with a big block with no problems. (The Sub had about the same amount of power as the TDI.) Now its just me and the wife, so with higher fuel prices I want to go with a smaller trailer and smaller tow vehicle with a diesel. I've also looked at the 2008 Grand Cherokee diesel, but the Touareg seems like a better vehicle, particularly with the air suspension. Do you think the Touareg drive train would be an issue hauling 7,500 lbs on a regular basis?

 

Besides weight and length, tongue weight is a factor with a max of 770. You will also need to take the weight of any weight distribution hitch into the equation as it DOES add to the tongue weight.

 

If you have air suspension, using the weight distro hitch is redundant, is it not?

I used a weight distro hitch on my Dodge until I bagged it. After that it's just hook up, air up and go.

Now if you are talking sway control, that is a different subject all together.

 

No, not really. The system auto levels, but the weight of the trailer tongue is still on the rear wheels. Not a big problem with lighter trailers, but more important as you reach towing capacities. Of course, the conflict here is that too much weight distribution fights with the air suspension.

 

It can handle 7500 just fine, but with the short wheelbase I wouldn't tow anything in the 31' range. 25' would be my max

 

Suspension and brakes are better than your Tundra or a Denali. It's the lack of wheelbase that is the concern. It is also the short distance from the tongue to the rear axle. Both of those can add to stability problems.

I can say that this is my goal with my V10. I need to get my 28" TT properly hitched behind me, but it needs to be exactly right and I don't feel that the WD/Sway control hitch I have now is going to do it (too much hitch). A Hensley or a ProPride seem to be a minimum requirement. I haven't switched from my big dodge ram for this reason.

 

I think I'm just going to post this photo anytime towing durability or capability comes up...here's the setup I had and did 30K miles on. This was on my '07 V8. The Treg is as capable as any 1/2 ton (and despite what toyota fans think, the Tundra is JUST a 1/2 ton)...remember the Touareg in V8 form weighs 5500lbs and in V10 is around 6000lbs, so just about the same weight as any 1/2 ton.

Comparing the Touareg to my built for towing F250 diesel (156" wheelbase, 18Klbs tow capacity, and over 8000lbs curb weight) the Treg does extremely well...obviously not as good, but excellent within its weight rating.

 

I think I'm just going to post this photo anytime towing durability or capability comes up...here's the setup I had and did 30K miles on. This was on my '07 V8. The Treg is as capable as any 1/2 ton (and despite what toyota fans think, the Tundra is JUST a 1/2 ton)...remember the Touareg in V8 form weighs 5500lbs and in V10 is around 6000lbs, so just about the same weight as any 1/2 ton.

Comparing the Touareg to my built for towing F250 diesel (156" wheelbase, 18Klbs tow capacity, and over 8000lbs curb weight) the Treg does extremely well...obviously not as good, but excellent within its weight rating.

Nice picture! I can't wait to pull our little 18' TT with the egg.
I'm sorry you have a Powerstroke.

 

Here is mine, 27'11", approx 7200 wet, 800 tongue (yes, still working on that) 8.5 feet wide. This was a test tow. I haven't traveled any significant distance with this setup yet. The CIPA tow mirrors were enough to be able to see around.

 

if you are going to tow then you want air. If you don't get it you will just wish you had. I tow my 6000# boat around and i don't even know it's there... but I i just enjoy the other uses for the air susp when i am not towing (both our Touareg and our Q7 have air... it's worth every penny.)

 

Everyone keeps hailing the air suspension, I would love to see photos of a touareg without air and without a weight distribution hitch with a trailer hooked up.

As I'm looking at a 2011 (no air optional and factory statement that a WDH should NOT be used), this is a very important point. If I put 600 or so lbs of tongue weight on it and I'm driving around on the bump stops, that's simply not goint to work.

 

That's why I'm looking for a 2009 or 2010. For towing a heavier trailer or for offroad the 2011 just doesn't have the same capability.

 

Anything over about 500lbs tongue with a steel suspension needs some form of WD. Considerable rear end sag occurs without. Many of us have been using WD with our vehicles for years with no I'll effect or damage. Vw waffles on the no WD provision when asked.

 

Anything over about 500lbs tongue with a steel suspension needs some form of WD. Considerable rear end sag occurs without. Many of us have been using WD with our vehicles for years with no I'll effect or damage. Vw waffles on the no WD provision when asked.

The aluminum trailer (trailex) will not fit a WDH.

 

Perhaps you should look for a gently used Touareg with air or maybe a Touareg is not the correct tow vehicle for your needs. Just sayin..

 

a pictures comparison does not mean anything except for sag maybe.
It is the driving that makes the difference.

However here is a picture of mine with 6000 lbs with airsuspension. Car stays level
I pulled this through the hills with 70mph with little effort

 

I pulled this through the hills with 70mph with little effort

When you say hills, do you know what % the grade was?

 

some 6-8%.

The long haul was on I44 from St louis to Springfield, but locally there are some steep hills here too, however it would not go below 60mph in 4th gear. The V8 impressed me and so did the stability of the combo

 

very cool.. thanks for the info!

 

We all have our preferences and the interior of the 2010's and prior just do not do it for me. Plus the advantage of a 19/28mpg daily driver are very important to our commuting life, compared to 17/25.

It may turn out that the 2011 won't work, but I will certainly do a dry run with a test drive vehicle to find out. In the mean time, I was hoping to see some photos in an effort to garner some commentary (visual, literary, etc).

 

I am towing a 2-horse trailer with my 2004 V8 w/ air, and while I haven't looked for visual signs of sagging yet (will do that next time I'll load up) I have done a fairly thorough analysis of the axle weights when towing (luckily I live right near a commercial scale ) because EVERYONE around me thinks towing with a T-Reg is a bad idea.
I strongly disagree, but I just want to cover all the bases ...
I am rather concerned about the tongue weight (that is actually all I am concerned about when it comes to towing with a T-Reg), and I would love to share my measuring results and get some feedback from long-time T-Reg towers

(Unfortunately I have not been able to figure out how to display the table I pasted properly - will attach as a word doc instead)

I am a bit worried with the amount of weight that gets taken off the front axle, plus my tongue weight is at 17% when towing a 2000 kg trailer, which - being 350 kg - puts it over the legal limit for the vehicle.
So I have been thinking about getting an equalizer hitch, but here I read that I should not use one when I have air suspension?

Thankful for all and any feedback

 

Disclaimer: The comments I offer are based on the regulations that apply to Australian spec Touareg as I understand them which may be different to your vehicle and others if not of AU specifications.

Before I start I need you to confirm that your max allowable ball weight is 280Kgs and not 350kgs, reason I ask is that with the earlier model 03-10 Touaregs (when fitted with a genuine VW tow bar) had a max towing/ball of 3500/350Kg, at least here in AU but not sure if same applies to Canada vehicles.

Can you also confirm that that your GCWR is actually specified as 6445kgs or is that something that you arrived at by adding 3500 to your GVWR?

For most vehicles the gross combined vehicle mass is not the max towing mass added to the gross vehicle mass but a number that the vehicle manufacturer specifies. In my case VW do not quote a GVWR, nor are they willing to give me that figure as I specifically asked them.

I can confirm that my steel sprung '08 has the same max axle loads as you quoted (1460/1610).

Looking at the data you supplied, you cannot legally exceed the max axle loading of 1610kgs, your figures show that with two bales on board you exceed rear axle loading by 190Kgs.

You may be able to shift some/most of the 190kg weight to the front axle by fitting WD bars but VW recommend that they not be used but I know that many owners with steel suspension (myself included) do use them and over the years I have not heard of anyone with air suspension using them.
My understand of what WD does is to move some load from the rear axle to the front axle, whether you have steel or air that principle stands so would be interested in hearing some technical argument why they should not be used with air suspension.

Unfortunately I cannot give you my actual figures as I have not weighed each axle pre and post fitment of WD bars but next time I get to a weighbridge I will get those as I am interested in having those numbers.

In a nutshell, personally would not be overly concerned with the lighter front axle load, would not exceed the VW rear axle load nor exceed the VW tow ball mass whether it be 280 or 350kgs nor the 3500kgs, as that can bring legal remifications.
Not concerned at all with 10%, 17% or any other figure to do with ball/towing ratio.
Would seek advice re using WD in conjunction with air suspension.

Easiest immediate solution for you is to drop one bail from your load.

Hope my take on this helps and starts and some discussion on this issue.

TonyB

 

Thank you Seafarer for your reply!
The numbers without '?' behind them I know for sure (eg. from the label at my door) - the other numbers came from the attached manual - don't remember when/where I found that
My Westfalia hitch says 770 pounds, which would be the equivalent of 350 kg - but that is the hitch rating, not necessarily the vehicle rating ...
I heard the vehicle rating might be 616 (or something in that range) - but I don't have confirmation of that yet ...
It is so hard to get reliable information! (As you have apparently experienced as well )
My user manual says: "Data not available at time of printing" ...
As far as I know in general the recommended tongue weight should be 9-15% - any less and your trailer might sway on you, any more you lose manuverability because you don't have enough weight on your stearing axle ...
Am I not correct?
But with the allowable 3500 kg of trailer weight and up to 350 kg of tongue weight the ratio should be around the 10% mark I guess?
I can certainly haul one bale at a time, but my trailer has an allowable max gross of 6900 pounds, and even though I will mostly haul just one horse at a time (about 2/3 of 2 bales weight wise), I would like to have the option of hauling 2 horses if needed ...
Like I said - my only concern regarding that would be the tongue weight, rear axle weight respectively ...
I happy to learn that I am not correct with my assumptions
Thanks again!

 

My reply in red font below.

My Westfalia hitch says 770 pounds, which would be the equivalent of 350 kg - but that is the hitch rating, not necessarily the vehicle rating ...
I heard the vehicle rating might be 616 (or something in that range) - but I don't have confirmation of that yet ...

Disregard what the hitch sticker says, your manual states max TBM to be no mere than 280kgs so the 350kgs is not applicable to you.

It is so hard to get reliable information! (As you have apparently experienced as well )
My user manual says: "Data not available at time of printing" ...

As far as I know in general the recommended tongue weight should be 9-15% - any less and your trailer might sway on you, any more you lose manuverability because you don't have enough weight on your stearing axle ...
Am I not correct?

You are right, theory is low TBM more chance of sway/high TBM less chance but that is a "recommendation" not a regulation used in towing publications, there are countless travel trailers European mostly) with ridiculously low TBM in use every day.

But with the allowable 3500 kg of trailer weight and up to 350 kg of tongue weight the ratio should be around the 10% mark I guess?

You need to keep below the 280kg max as per your manual, disregard the %.

I can certainly haul one bale at a time, but my trailer has an allowable max gross of 6900 pounds, and even though I will mostly haul just one horse at a time (about 2/3 of 2 bales weight wise), I would like to have the option of hauling 2 horses if needed ...

Although your vehicle can legally tow 3500kgs (manual) you must not exceed your trailer's legal GVM of 3170kgs (6900lbs) no option here to tow a greater weight.

Like I said - my only concern regarding that would be the tongue weight, rear axle weight respectively ...

Exactly, your manual states you must not exceed rear axle load of 1680kgs/TBM of 280kgs, no discretion here, reduce or distribute load so not to exceed this figure.

I happy to learn that I am not correct with my assumptions
Thanks again!