Hi Kenny

I tow a 3t van with, depending on load, around 250kg on the ball. Mine is a TDV6 with air suspension. Up till now I have not used a WDH but the caravan manufacturer is most adamant they be used, regardless of the air suspension. I also have seen the O/S advice where apparently VW are adamant that no leveling device be used with air suspension, steel sprung seems OK. So I read the manual, no mention one way or the other. Next step off to the dealer who advised me to contact the VW web site. Nice response which stated see the experts at your dealership…?!? So for the past two weeks I ring every second day, WHATS THE ANSWER. Well I’m still waiting. As your buying one maybe they can answer you a bit quicker.
I must say that the self leveling system does do a great job, but I’m unsure if it actually sends the weight back to the front wheels. By just “pumping” up the rear bags doesn’t mean any weight is distributed to the front as WDH’s do. It simply means the car is level, where a WDH not only levels the car out, but by a “leverage effect” transfers weight back to the front wheels hence keeping those wheels firmly planted on the ground. Let me know the outcome with the dealer, as I will if I ever get a reply.
Cheers

 

hi kenny,ive been using a hayman reece wdh for 3 years towing a 2200kg van with my 2006 rd5.does a great job and have had no problems. regards

 

Hi Kenny,

I have towed heavier trailers, but not as long, with Touareg air suspension with no problems.

Weight distribution within the trailer is critical to get the balance right, but I assume that you have that sorted.

I suggest trying it first, before you buy all the weight distribution gear.

The air suspension is very competent.

Most weight distribution systems recommend that you disable the load share in an air suspension system, and I can't work out how you could do that with a Touareg.

The rd5 mentioned above has steel spring suspension, and is different to the air suspension.

 

Thanks for the replies, good to see that these have been used with no problems. To clarify further, I have a current WDH setup on a Nissan, so will be putting this on my Touareg which will not have Air suspension.

I will follow up further with the dealer to see what they say and advise the forum on their reply.

Cheers,

Kenny

 

Hi All

Had a reply from Barlowworld Volkswagon in Melbourne, they stated that there is no issue using a WDH (Weight Distribution Hitch) on a Touareg which does not have air suspension.

Cheers,
Kenny

 

Using WDH will NOT reduce the tow ball weight. What it will do is transfer, using the coupling as the pivot point, some of the weight to the front axle. In fact what it does, in simple terms, is to restore weight distribution to the front as well as stabilising the steering. If you have any doubts about the importance of a correctly set-up van and towing system, have a read of the accompanying Coroners Report in which 3 people were killed when a 4wd towing a caravan went out of control. Findings in the matter of Jong

 

Hi Palew
I totally agree, I have been towing heavy vans for for quite a few years, I use WDH's to keep the tow vehicle balanced and adequate weight on the front wheels. You see too many vehicles towing with inadequate set-ups putting at risk themselves and others on the road. I have not tried my van on the Touareg yet, but I expect without a WDH and around 220kg on the towball, that the vehicle would not have a good balance.

Cheers, Kenny

 

So, to clarify, it seems logical to use WDH if you do NOT have air suspension and do NOT use it if you do have air suspension. Is this assumption correct?

 

I checked some time back with the dealer and was strongly advised NOT to use WDH with air suspension. My Bushtracker is 2500Kg tare so is over 3000Kg when travelling. V10 handles it well - power obviously no issue (circa 16l/100) and on road balance seems fine. BTW I use a different set of rims and tyres when going off road or towing and have Tyre Dog pressure monitoring on all eight wheels - not accurate but does alert of a pending disaster which is the real purpose for me.

We are setting off mid April from Brisbane around the coast Clockwise - we'll see how far we get in four months. Wil be taking a full spare and two 19" carcasses so we wont have to wait around for days if we do wreck a tyre. Wouldn' t it be great to be able to match the Van and 4WD wheels - about the only advantage a Bland Cruiser has over the Treg!

IAN

 

Hi Wannabe

yep, that is the info I have been given, no need for WDH for Air Suspension.

Cheers, Kenny

 

Hi Ian

What mileage do you get out of your Treg when towing your Van ? I have a 23.6ft Jayco Sterling, similar sort of weight, although I will be towing with the V6TDI, so I would be interested if anyone has consumption figures towing with the V6

Cheers,
Kenny

 

Hi Ian

What mileage do you get out of your Treg when towing your Van ? I have a 23.6ft Jayco Sterling, similar sort of weight, although I will be towing with the V6TDI, so I would be interested if anyone has consumption figures towing with the V6

Cheers,
Kenny

2016 v6 towing 20 footer from Melb to NSW central coast via Tamworth Oxley Hwy which throws in some hills. Avg 13 lt/100 km We sit on 90/95 km/hr

 

Hey Kenny
TDIV6 - 3T van. When towing I get around 18l/100k. Hills don’t seem to bother the consumption too much, as you come down them! But wind, wow. I have headed into the wind and seen a tank full give me just 24l/100 while a tail wind once returned 14l/100k. The roof line of the van is 3 metres high, it obviously pushes a lot of wind. Most land cruiser 200 owners report around 20l/100, so we have another plus for the mighty T.
Cheers Les

 

Hi Kenny

I average around 16l in the V10 but agree a head wind can REALLY increase consumption. Back in September I was in the middle of the dust storms out west and was using a bit over 20l/100 - and that was after I slowed down (necessarily at times as visibility deteriorated). Was not a pleasant couple of days!

IAN

 

I had this problem also but dont have air suspension Aranda towbars Brisbane made me 1. 3.5 tonne and Cert, 2 grand it cost me there ph no is 07/32083022

 

My recent trip was ~16l/100km (V6 180kw TDI) on Cruise control at 100kph towing a 20½ft, 2700kg van. (based on a single fuel stop full tank using 65l of diesel)

 

I use an Anderson Hitch on my setup. I wouldn't tow big loads without using one. I have had no issues whatsoever with the suspension. I spent a little bit of time getting it set up right though. With mine, it has screw/thread adjustments so I just wound the tension up until the car and van were all level and I was happy with the setup. It also has anti-sway capabilities as well. As long as you're not silly with the WDH tensions, you should be right with these cars. I most certainly wouldn't be advocating the massive stresses put through the tow ball setup like I see some landcruiser owners do. I've seen some seriously saggy rear ends, then they crank on the WDH bars and try to get it level again, rather than taking the time to set the van and rear cargo area up right, but, each to their own. I've even seen one 100 series cruiser with no WDH used on the setup, and it dead set looked like the front wheels were about to lift off the ground as they were hurtling down the freeway at 100km/hr.
Now, with regards to the fuel usage debate, I get approx 16-17L/100km when towing my 22ft 2.6T Jayco Starcraft. But it really does depend on the road situation. Better when on freeways. I mean I have seen my instant fuel consumption screen tell me I'm using about 11-12L/100km when it has been dead flat ground, in 8th gear, and doing 115km/hr.